The Blades (band)

Origins (1977–81) 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 (born 9 September 1959) on bass and vocals, his brother Lar (born 21 June 1957) on guitar and friend Pat Larkin (born 25 November 1956) 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. Reshuffle (1981–86) 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 (formerly of The Vipers) and added a brass section with Paul Grimes on trombone and Frank Duff on trumpet. Larry left the band in 1982. In March 1982, the band released a double A-sided single, "The Bride Wore White" / "Animation" on Reekus. 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. and later led an eight-piece pub rock band called The Cajun Kings. He also released solo material. In 2001, Reekus records released a double CD boxset, Those were the Days, which included both The Last Man in Europe and Raytown Revisited. Reunion And Smalltime EP (2013–present) The Blades reformed in 2013 for some live performances in Dublin including an appearance on The Late Late Show in November 2013. In November 2015, they released their first new music as The Blades since 1985 with a 4-track EP entitled Smalltime, including the single "Harder Times" which received positive reviews. In January 2024, they reunited for a performance on RTE's The Tommy Tiernan Show. ==Discography==

Studio albums • Modernised (2016) CD – Raytown Records – RAYCD 2 LP – Raytown Records – RAYLP 1 • The Last Man in Europe (1985) LP – Reekus Records – RKLP1 – IRL – 1985 – matte B&W cover +inner; distributed by WEA Ireland LP – Reekus Records – RKLP1 – UK – 1985 – slick colour front cover adds "featuring Paul Cleary"; different back cover LP – Disc AZ/Reekus Records – 509 – France – 1987 – shiny textured sleeve +inner; slightly different from UK cover w/ red logo +2 bonus tracks CD – Reekus Records – RK CD1 – 2000 • Raytown Revisited 1980-85 (1985) LP – Reekus Records – RKLP3 – IRL – 1985 CD – Reekus Records – RK CD2 – 2000 – with three bonus tracks (including two 1979 demos) Compilation albums • Those Were The Days (2000) 2xCD – Reekus Records – RK BOXCD1 – 2000 – box/slipcase Two-CD set in slipcase consisting of RKCD1 + RKCD2 • Too Late To Stop Now: Reekus Records 30th Anniversary Compilation (2011) 2xCD – Reekus Records – RKBOXCD1 – 2011 – box/slipcase • RTÉ Radio 2 Presents in Concert (1985) LP – RTÉ Records – RTÉ 92 – IRL – 1985 Singles • "Hot For You" / "The Reunion" (1980) 7" – Energy/Polygram Records – NRG-3 [2001 959] – IRL – PS paper labels 7" – Energy Records – NRG-3 – UK – PS plastic labels • "Ghost of a Chance" / "Real Emotion" (1981) 7" – Energy/Polygram Records – NRG-5 – IRL – PS paper labels 7" – Energy Records – NRG-5 – UK – PS plastic labels • "The Bride Wore White" / "Animation" (1982) 7" – Reekus Records – RKS005 – IRL – PS +insert • "Revelations of Heartbreak" / "Rules of Love" (1982) 7" – Reekus Records – RKS007 – IRL – PS • "Downmarket" / "You Never Ask" (1983) 7" – Reekus Records – RKS010 – IRL – PS • "Last Man in Europe" / "Sadlands" (1984) 7" – Reekus Records – RKS013 – IRL – PS • "Those Were The Days" / "Stand By Me Now" (Paul Cleary) (1985) 7" – Reekus Records 7" – Reekus Records – picture disc CD "Smalltime" EP-Reekus Records RKCD 157 (2015) CD Raytown Records RAYCD1 • "The Great Wall of America" / "Kingfisher Blue" (2016) CD Raytown Records RAYCD 2 • "Modernised" (2016) ==References==