About The Blades
The Blades are an Irish new wave band who formed in the late 1970s in the South Dublin neighbourhood of Ringsend, with Paul Cleary on bass and vocals, his brother Laurence on guitar and friend Pat Larkin on drums. The original line-up released two seven inch singles: "Hot For You" and "Ghost of a Chance", the latter of which they performed on The Late Late Show in 1981.
The Blades began in the summer of 1977 when five friends got together to play a gig in the Catholic Young Mens Society hall in Ringsend. The lineup was whittled down to three: Paul Cleary on bass and vocals, his brother Lar on guitar and friend Pat Larkin on drums.
The band regularly played in Dublin's famous venues like The Magnet on Pearse Street, McGonagle's on South Anne Street and The Baggot Inn on Lower Baggot Street, where they did a six-week residency with U2, with whom they would have a rivalry which would dominate discussion of the group. Although U2 were from the Northside and the Blades were Southsiders, the Blades were considered to have a more working class following.
Their first single, "Hot For You", was released on Energy Rekords in 1980, followed by "Ghost Of A Chance" in 1981 which they played on The Late Late Show. The record producer John Porter produced their first album, Last Man in Europe, but due to personnel changes at the record company, it never got released in England.
Pat left the band in March 1981, to be replaced by Jake Reilly on drums, the new lineup of Paul, Larry and Jake played first gig in The Magnet on Pearse Street on 18 July 1981, later that summer Paul switched to guitar, bringing in bassist Brian Foley and added a brass section including Frank Duff . Larry left in 1982.
The band signed to Irish label Reekus, and a double A-sided single, "The Bride Wore White" / "Animation" was released in March 1982. In the Hot Press National Poll, "The Bride Wore White" was voted best single while The Blades were voted 'the most promising act in Ireland' and Paul Cleary beat Van Morrison and Bono to the 'best Irish songwriter'. However, by this stage they had been eclipsed critically and commercially by their rivals U2.
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