U105 STAR JOHNNY HERO SAYS HE HOPES SUNDAY’S GIG WITH HORSLIPS WON’T TURN INTO A RIOT LIKE WHEN HIS BAND SUPPORTED THEM IN 1980
U105 star Johnny Hero has revealed he’s looking forward to taking to the stage with his band the Ex-Producers this week to support Celtic rock legends Horslips.
Johnny’s band first supported Horslips in 1980 at University of Ulster in Coleraine and the star was due to meet with the band afterwards for a beer but revealed the party got cut short after a riot broke out.
Johnny, who drums with the Ex-Producers said he’s finally looking forward to reminiscing with the band about that night.
He said: “We last played with Horslips in 1980. We were big fans and having met the guys, couldn’t believe how cool they were. They were really down to earth and helpful.
“We had all arranged to meet up backstage after the show for a bit of a party but it didn’t go to plan.
“Everything went pear-shaped when a local gang from Coleraine started ripping into the students who were bopping around to Horslips.
“It turned into a bit of a riot and even spread to outside with at least one of the vans being set on fire.
“We were hastily bundled into our van with a case of beer by the University bouncers and high tailed it back to Belfast as fast as we could.
“It’ll be great to finally have that post gig beer on Sunday we were denied all those years ago.”
Horslips will be playing Belfast’s Ulster Hall on Sunday October 26 as part of the Ulster Bank Festival at Queen’s.
Also on the bill is Omagh singer/songwriter Ciaran McElhinney who will be performing a set of well known covers and his own music.
The Ulster Hall has great significance for Horslips. 34 years ago, almost to the day, they played their final show in the venue with no announcement to the fans on October 12, 1980.
Jim Lockhart said: “Everyone one knows the Ulster Hall is special for us. Our last ever gig was there, well we thought at the time it was our last ever gig.
Barry Devlin added: “We finished in 1980 simply because we were knackered. We’d done 10 studio albums and two live ones in just under eight years and we’d played about 1700 gigs.
“We are looking forward to getting back into the Ulster Hall again and I still have the programme from the 1967 Queen’s Festival. So I’m delighted to be linking up with it again through City Of Rhythms Promotions.”
Special guests of the show are Belfast band The Ex Producers and Omagh born singer/songwriter Ciaran McElhinney.
Horslips will play Belfast’s Ulster Hall on Sunday October 26. Tickets priced £35 (standing) and £39.50 (seated) are available from www.ticketmaster.ie or www.ulsterhall.co.uk, 028 9033 4455
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