The Hitchers
Encyclopedia
The Hitchers are a band from Limerick
City, Ireland
who formed in early January 1989.
It's All Fun & Games 'Til Someone Loses An Eye
Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company March 1997 Ireland, June 1997 UK Formats: CD (Mur CD02)
For The Want Of Some Better TV
Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company May 1999 Ireland & UK Format: CD (Mur CD10)
A Well Earned Break For The Firing Squads
Released: by 4-3–3 December 2003, Ireland Format: CD (4-3-3CDNOREG)
EPs:
The Streaking Chicken From Mercury Who Exposed Himself To Everything - Released: July 1989 Formats/Reg: Cassette
Fruit - Released: by Xeric Records June 30, 1990 Ireland Formats/Reg: Cassette (Xer 06)
She'll Be Sorry - Released: by Lodge Records Nov 1994 Ireland Formats/Reg: CD (LDCDS 1005)
Liver - Released: by 4-3–3 December 2001, Ireland Format: CD (4-3-3CD01)
The English Stole Our Potatoes - Released: by 4-3–3 December 2006, Ireland Format: CD (4-3-3CD05)
Singles:
Blame It On His Hormones - Released: by Xeric Records October 17, 1990 Ireland Formats/Reg: Cassette (Xer07)
Holy Spirit Level - Released: March 2, 1992 Ireland Formats/Reg: Cassette
Killed It With My Bare Hands - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company Jan 1997 Ireland, April 1997 UK Formats: CD (Mur CD01) / 7" Vinyl (Mur VINL 01)
You Can Only Love Someone... / Strachan - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company June 1997 UK & Ireland Formats: CD (Mur CD03) / 7" Vinyl (Mur VINL03)
Big Mug - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company October 1997 Ireland & UK Formats: CD (Mur CD04)
I Can't Breath In Outer Space - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company November 1998 Ireland & UK Formats: 7" Vinyl (Mur VINL09)
Austin Cusack - Released: by 4-3–3 December 2009, Ireland Formats: CD & Download
, England
released an album called "Unspoken Truths". This has allegedly led to at least one music fan purchasing the album in error. This band released another album on 9 January 2007 ("Tees Valley Deadbeats"), which is likely to lead to more confusion for fans of the Irish band, particularly as internet searches now appear to produce many results that refer to the Teesside band, and searches on Amazon.co.uk produce results for both bands without obvious differentiation.
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
City, 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...
who formed in early January 1989.
History
Timeline:- 6 January 1989: “10.6 Rothmans & a Stolen Barrel of Heineken Please” officially shorten their moniker to “The Hitchers” – a name derived from the Rutger Hauer ‘80s road movie, The Hitcher.
- 20 January 1989: First gig in Limerick Youth Service Center non-alcoholic teen disco “The Oasis Club”.
- Summer 1989: following several lineup changes and a local band slam win, first studio recording emerges “The Streaking Chicken From Mercury Who Exposed Himself to Everything E.P.”.
- Spring 1990: “Alice is here” on The Reindeer Age, a compilation of Shannonside bands. The Hitchers win ‘Skool Band 90’ Band slam (see press below). First TV appearance on Jo-Maxi.
- Aug 1990: Video for "Alice is here" shown on Network 2s Puirini.
- 18 October 1990: Release second single "Blame it on His Hormones".
- April 1991: Perform "Blame it on His Hormones" and 'Dirty Diane the Deceased Citroen" on Network 2's Scaoil Amach an Bobailinn.
- 5 March 1992: New three-piece lineup, Andy, Niall and Hoss, release third single "Holy Spirit Level".
- Autumn 1992: Niall wins inaugural Hot Press Songwriter of the Year award for ‘Red Mohair Jumper’.
- Summer 1993: Invited to play RTÉ 2fmRTÉ 2fmRTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
Cork Rocks …Cassette EPs ‘Spermgargle’ and ‘New Improved Spermgargle’ released. - Spring 1994: Red Mohair Jumper’ makes final of 2TV new band challenge.
- Autumn 1994: The Hitchers become a four piece with the addition of Eric Fitzgerald on guitar. Release fourth single ‘She’ll Be Sorry’.
- Summer 1995: The Hitchers play FreiburgFreiburgFreiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
Music Festival, Germany and support ‘A HouseA HouseA House was an Irish band from the 1980s to the 1990s, recognized for the clever, "often bitter or irony laden lyrics of [frontman] Dave Couse ... bolstered by the [band's] seemingly effortless musicality". The single "Endless Art" is one of their best known charting successes. A House were managed...
’ on southern Irish tour. - Feb 1996: Sign to Murgatroid Independent Record Company and spend first half of 96 in Xeric studios recording debut L.P.
- 7 January 1997: ‘Killed It With My Bare Hands’ is The Hitchers fifth single and their first for Murgatroid.
- Mar 1997: Debut L.P. ‘It’s All Fun & Games ‘Till Someone Loses An Eye’ is released in Ireland. The Hitchers perform on Kenny Live.
- April 1997: The Hitchers First UK dates coincide with the release of ‘Killed It…’ in Britain. Positive reviews in the UK press (see press below). Video shown on MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Alternative Nation and on No Disco. - June 1997: Support The Divine Comedy (band)The Divine Comedy (band)The Divine Comedy are a chamber pop band from Ireland, fronted by Neil Hannon. Formed in 1989, Hannon has been the only constant member of the group, playing, in some instances, all of the non-orchestral instrumentation bar drums. To date, ten studio albums have been released under the Divine...
in Belfast’s Mandela Hall. The Hitchers set later broadcast by BBC on Steve LamacqSteve LamacqSteve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
show. Double A-side single ‘You Can Only Love Someone’/’Strachan’ released in Ireland & UK – receive positive reviews in NMENMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
/Melody MakerMelody MakerMelody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
. Single of the fortnight in Hot Press. See press below. - July 1997: Coventry City F.C.Coventry City F.C.Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
manager Gordon StrachanGordon StrachanGordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
phones to wish the lads well on first major UK tour as ‘It’s All Fun & Games…’ is released in the UK. The Hitchers kick off their tour with an appearance at the Phoenix FestivalPhoenix FestivalThe Phoenix Festival was set up by Vince Power of the Mean Fiddler Music Group in 1993 as an alternative to the established Glastonbury and Reading Festivals...
and while in London record session for John Peel at BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Maida ValeMaida ValeMaida Vale is a residential district in West London between St John's Wood and Kilburn. It is part of the City of Westminster. The area is mostly residential, and mainly affluent, consisting of many large late Victorian and Edwardian blocks of mansion flats...
. - Oct 1997: ‘Big Mug’ is final single lifted from ‘…Fun & Games…’.
- Spring 1998: Monthly trips to UK for showcase and demo-ing second L.P. Spend St. Patrick’s weekend playing in Paris, France.
- April 1998: In Belfast on the day Good Friday Agreement is reached as nominees in best Irish single category of Heineken Hot Press awards. –‘A Life Less Ordinary’ by Ash (band)Ash (band)Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
wins. - August 1998: Record second L.P. in just eleven days at Xeric studios just before it closes for good.
- Nov 1998: "I Can’t Breathe in Outer Space" – the first single from the new L.P. is released in UK and Ireland. Bob GeldofBob GeldofRobert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...
describes The Hitchers as "…the best Irish band in the last twenty years…". - May 1999: The Hitchers' second L.P. For the Want of Some Better TV is released in UK and Ireland. However shortly after its release Murgatroid cease trading and release their artist roster, which also includes The Shanks, Figment and Siobhan McGowan from their contracts.
- Spring 2000: The Hitchers set up their own record label 4-3-3. Universal PicturesUniversal Pictures-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
use the song "You Can Only Love Someone…" in a new Steve BarronSteve BarronSteven "Steve" Barron is a director and producer, best known for directing the films Coneheads , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the innovative music videos for a-ha's "Take on Me" and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean"....
movie, Rat. - April 2000: Bassist and founder member Hoss Carnage announces his retirement and plays his last Hitchers gig.
- Sep 2000: Frank Ryan—lead singer and guitarist with Limerick band Barberskum—joins as the Hitchers new bassist and plays his first gig in Galway. Rat is released in Ireland.
- Dec 2000: The Hitchers play the AMCs first birthday party in Dolan’s, Limerick. The gig is recorded for future release.
- Feb 2001: The Hitchers announce they are to split, saying that their 286th gig, in The Basement at The Globe on Thursday February 15, will be their last.
- Dec 2001: The Hitchers briefly reform to release their farewell CD EP Liver with a gig at Dolans Warehouse, Limerick on 30 December.
- Spring 2002: Liver video receives repeat plays on Irish language TV's Pop TV (TG4) and No Disco (Network 2).
- Dec 2002: The Hitchers are back at Dolans Warehouse, Limerick on 29 December, despite having claimed to have split.
- Jan 2003: A Well Earned Break For The Firing Squads - The Hitchers 1989-2001 is released.
- July 2006: Irelands national 2FM re-broadcasts The Hitchers 1997 Dave Fanning Session on Dan Hegartys Classic Session series.
- Dec 2006: The English Stole Our Potatoes is released.
- Jan 2009: On the 20th Anniversary of their very first live performance The Hitchers return to Dolans Warehouse as part of Limericks Living for the City celebrations.
Discography
Albums:It's All Fun & Games 'Til Someone Loses An Eye
Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company March 1997 Ireland, June 1997 UK Formats: CD (Mur CD02)
For The Want Of Some Better TV
Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company May 1999 Ireland & UK Format: CD (Mur CD10)
A Well Earned Break For The Firing Squads
Released: by 4-3–3 December 2003, Ireland Format: CD (4-3-3CDNOREG)
EPs:
The Streaking Chicken From Mercury Who Exposed Himself To Everything - Released: July 1989 Formats/Reg: Cassette
Fruit - Released: by Xeric Records June 30, 1990 Ireland Formats/Reg: Cassette (Xer 06)
She'll Be Sorry - Released: by Lodge Records Nov 1994 Ireland Formats/Reg: CD (LDCDS 1005)
Liver - Released: by 4-3–3 December 2001, Ireland Format: CD (4-3-3CD01)
The English Stole Our Potatoes - Released: by 4-3–3 December 2006, Ireland Format: CD (4-3-3CD05)
Singles:
Blame It On His Hormones - Released: by Xeric Records October 17, 1990 Ireland Formats/Reg: Cassette (Xer07)
Holy Spirit Level - Released: March 2, 1992 Ireland Formats/Reg: Cassette
Killed It With My Bare Hands - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company Jan 1997 Ireland, April 1997 UK Formats: CD (Mur CD01) / 7" Vinyl (Mur VINL 01)
You Can Only Love Someone... / Strachan - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company June 1997 UK & Ireland Formats: CD (Mur CD03) / 7" Vinyl (Mur VINL03)
Big Mug - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company October 1997 Ireland & UK Formats: CD (Mur CD04)
I Can't Breath In Outer Space - Released: by Murgatroid Independent Recording Company November 1998 Ireland & UK Formats: 7" Vinyl (Mur VINL09)
Austin Cusack - Released: by 4-3–3 December 2009, Ireland Formats: CD & Download
Name Confusion
On 24 November 2003, a band also going by the name "The Hitchers" from TeessideTeesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
released an album called "Unspoken Truths". This has allegedly led to at least one music fan purchasing the album in error. This band released another album on 9 January 2007 ("Tees Valley Deadbeats"), which is likely to lead to more confusion for fans of the Irish band, particularly as internet searches now appear to produce many results that refer to the Teesside band, and searches on Amazon.co.uk produce results for both bands without obvious differentiation.