Blue in Heaven
Encyclopedia
Blue in Heaven was a 1982–1989 Irish rock
quartet from Churchtown, Dublin
, Ireland
led by singer Shane O'Neill. They reformed in 1990 as The Blue Angels. Shane later went on to form Supernaut with Dave Long from Into Paradise
.
Blue in Heaven released a few singles on U2
's Mother Records
before being signed to Island Records
in 1985, when they released their first LP entitled All The Gods Men which was produced by Martin Hannett
. The album conveyed a lush, gloomy aesthetic by focusing on its heavy bass, combined with O'Neill's often incomprehensible vocals. It was favorably compared to Joy Division
, however the album was not a commercial success.
Their follow-up, Explicit Material (1986), saw them team up with Island Records
chief Chris Blackwell
and Eric Thorngren, showing them evolve into a more upbeat rock 'n' roll sound with clear Iggy Pop
influences, particularly in O'Neill's vocals, but still retaining their new wave
image and pop
style lyrics. Their popularity grew thanks to touring with The Chameleons
, Echo & the Bunnymen
, and The Damned, alongside achieving a minor college radio hit with "I Just Wanna". The album appears on many "best of" and "favorites" lists.
Two years later they released an EP on the Solid label, Rock 'n' Roll R.I.P., which was a chronological compilation of their work: a 1983 track ("On and On") produced by The Edge
, four from 1987—three Iggy-esque studio cuts and a live cover of The Stooges's song "Loose."
, and currently, for Hothouse Flowers
)
bass - Declan Jones
guitar, keyboards, vocals - Shane O'Neill
guitar, keyboards - Eamonn Tynan
in Dublin.
Irish rock
Rock and roll has been a part of the music of Ireland since the 1960s, when the British Invasion brought British blues, psychedelic rock and other styles to the island...
quartet from Churchtown, Dublin
Churchtown, Dublin
Churchtown is a largely residential suburb on the southside of Dublin, Ireland, between Dundrum and Rathfarnham. It is in the postal districts Dublin 14 and Dublin 16.- Ely's Arch :...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
led by singer Shane O'Neill. They reformed in 1990 as The Blue Angels. Shane later went on to form Supernaut with Dave Long from Into Paradise
Into Paradise
Into Paradise were a indie rock group from Dublin, Ireland, whose influences included Joy Division and Echo & the Bunnymen. They formed in 1986 as Backwards into Paradise, and released their debut EP, Blue Light, in 1989 on the independent record label, Setanta...
.
Blue in Heaven released a few singles on U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
's Mother Records
Mother Records
Mother Records was a record label founded by the band U2 in 1984 and distributed by parent Island Records. The intent was 'to unearth fresh musical talent in Éire '...
before being signed to Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
in 1985, when they released their first LP entitled All The Gods Men which was produced by Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer and an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
. The album conveyed a lush, gloomy aesthetic by focusing on its heavy bass, combined with O'Neill's often incomprehensible vocals. It was favorably compared to Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, however the album was not a commercial success.
Their follow-up, Explicit Material (1986), saw them team up with Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
chief Chris Blackwell
Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
and Eric Thorngren, showing them evolve into a more upbeat rock 'n' roll sound with clear Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
influences, particularly in O'Neill's vocals, but still retaining their new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
image and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
style lyrics. Their popularity grew thanks to touring with The Chameleons
The Chameleons
The Chameleons were an English post-punk band that formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England in 1981. They consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever...
, Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
, and The Damned, alongside achieving a minor college radio hit with "I Just Wanna". The album appears on many "best of" and "favorites" lists.
Two years later they released an EP on the Solid label, Rock 'n' Roll R.I.P., which was a chronological compilation of their work: a 1983 track ("On and On") produced by The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
, four from 1987—three Iggy-esque studio cuts and a live cover of The Stooges's song "Loose."
Original Recording Members
drums - Dave Clarke (later played drums for The Black Velvet Band, Warren ZevonWarren Zevon
Warren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known...
, and currently, for Hothouse Flowers
Hothouse Flowers
The Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock group that combines traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock.-Career:The group first formed in 1985 when Liam Ó Maonlaí and Fiachna Ó Braonáin began performing as street musicians, or buskers, on the streets of Dublin,Ireland as "The...
)
bass - Declan Jones
guitar, keyboards, vocals - Shane O'Neill
guitar, keyboards - Eamonn Tynan
Supernaut
In 1997, Shane O'Neill played mostly rhythm electric & acoustic guitar & bass and sang and wrote words and music with Dave Long from Into Paradise doing the same thing as Shane, while Dave Clarke played drums and percussion, Paul McQuillan who later played & wrote with Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions played electric guitar & ray gun with Supernaut and released a self-titled album on Dirt Records.http://www.redsunrecords.com/product_info.php?products_id=268&language=nl Today, O'Neill runs a recording studioRecording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
in Dublin.
Compilation albums
- Live for Ireland (1986) -- "Tell Me" (recorded live during their performance for Self AidSelf AidSelf Aid was a benefit concert held in Dublin, Ireland on 17 May 1986. The concert performances were primarily by Irish musicians, although Elvis Costello and Chris Rea were designated "honorary Irishmen" for the day; the event was promoted by Jim Aiken...
)
Singles
- "The Lights Go Out" (1983)
- "Julie Cries" (1984)
- "Across My Heart" (1984)
- "I Just Wanna" (1986)
- "Track 01" (1988)
External links
- Blue in Heaven in the Irish Music Database
- Trouser Press Blue in Heaven profile
- Supernaut review
- Explicit Material cover
- Blue in Heaven publicity pic
- Blue in Heaven thread on "I Love Music"
- Blue Angels in the Irish Music Database
- New York Times articles
- Blue in Heaven - Irish Punk & New Wave Discography
- Blue Angels - Irish Punk & New Wave Discography