Reunited: The Undertones and the music guru who signed them

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Undertones stars John O'Neil, Mickey Bradley and Billy Doherty will help celebrate the founding of Good Vibrations record label by Terri Hooley

Rock heroes celebrate DIY record label

Friday, March 14, 2008

It mightn't have been a very rock 'n' roll form of transport, but The Undertones took a bus ride to Belfast to support the man who made them famous.

Billy Doherty, Mickey Bradley and John O'Neill travelled up from Derry on an Ulsterbus yesterday to catch up with Terri Hooley and help celebrate 30 years of the Good Vibrations label.

Terri, godfather of the local music scene, founded the record label in April 1978 and ran it out of a small shop on Great Victoria Street.

One of the bands he signed was Derry group The Undertones, whose classic track Teenage Kicks went on to become a huge hit and was also the legendary DJ John Peel's favourite song.

Other bands Terri helped along the way were punk outfits The Outcasts and Rudi.

Now, The Undertones are set to repay the debt by headlining a one-off concert at the Mandela Hall on April 25, with support from Shame Academy, The Panama Kings and a line-up of special guests yet to be revealed.

At the Oh Yeah Centre in the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast, the doyens of the local music scene came together yesterday to hear the details of the anniversary concert.

John O'Neill of The Undertones said: "The three of us travelled up by bus from Derry for a fiver.

"Everyone's joking that in a few years time we'll be able to travel for free."

John added: "We made demos and sent them off to various record companies at the time but heard nothing back. Then Terri heard us and took a chance on us, so we really owe it all to him.

"Teenage Kicks is our most famous song and the most easily recognised. Thanks to Terri, it took on a life of its own and we're really grateful to him for believing in us."

Also at the launch was Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody, who presented the Fate magazine/Oh Yeah Legends Award along with local author Glenn Patterson to Terri last month.

Gary said: "I got to know the man and the myth myself and it's been a hell of a ride. He is one of Belfast's most colourful characters and a real Northern Ireland music legend.

"Terri's the most important musical beacon in Northern Ireland's history, the flame that musical moths are attracted to and his punk ideals are very similar to the Oh Yeah philosophy, that everyone is welcome."

Terri said he was delighted that the gig was going ahead.

"It's not going to be a nostalgic show, but a celebration of all things positive about the Northern Ireland music scene.

"It's great to see so many people here today and Gary Lightbody has been so supportive."

Northern Ireland's hottest new band The Panama Kings, who played a storming set which included Teenage Kicks at the Fate Awards, will support The Undertones on April 25.

Singer Niall Kennedy said: "We're really honoured to have been asked to do this gig and all of us jumped at the chance.

"But I don't think we'll play Teenage Kicks on the night. We'll leave that to the big boys."