Interview

The Shenanigans

Band Members: (with names, short description of each + and who plays what instrument):

  • AISLINN SULLIVAN - FIERCE, CHARISMATIC, FASHIONISTA - VOCALS AND GUITAR

  • DAVID O’BRIEN - FUNNY, SHY, PROLIFIC SONGWRITER - LEAD GUITAR

  • SEAN O’GRADY - PHILOSOPHER, GEEK, VOICE OF REASON - BASS

  • PATRICK MACFARLANE - HANDSOME, ROMANTIC, LONER - DRUMS

City/Country of Origin: UK/IRELAND

Dates Active: 1981-1988

How did the band form: AISLINN’S THEN BOYFRIEND NOW HUSBAND KNEW DAVE, SEAN AND PATRICK FROM BOARDING SCHOOL. THE BOYS WERE LOOKING FOR A VOCALIST FOR THEIR BAND.

Musical Style / Influences: THE JAM, THE SMITHS, JOY DIVISION

First Album: UP TO NO GOOD, 1981

First Single: UP TO NO GOOD

Political Attitudes: NON-DISCLOSED

High point of career: SUMMER IN HYDE PARK GIG, LONDON IN 1985

Low point of career: DEATH OF SEAN O’GRADY IN 1988 OF BRAIN CANCER

OPTIONAL INFO

Additional Albums and / or Singles:

  • UP TO NO GOOD (1981) WITH SINGLES UP TO NO GOOD, TERRIBLE BEAUTY

  • SUMMER OF ’74 (1983) WITH SINGLES SUMMER RAIN, LET’S, ENJOY

  • CALL OF DUTY (1985) WITH SINGLES PEACE, I WONDER, STAY

  • ARMY OF LOVE (1987) WITH SINGLES ARMY OF LOVE, ROOTLESS, NO MORE CRYING

How was the music received? By critics? By fans? In the charts? Success (or maybe an underground cult following) overseas? MUSIC WAS WELL RECEIVED MORE OBVIOUSLY BY COLLEGE RADIO IN THE US. CRITICS LIKED IT, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS TOO MUCH IN THE SHADOW OF ANOTHER BAND LIKE U2. FANS ADORED IT. THEIR FIRST AND ONLY NUMBER 1 SINGLE AROUND THE WORLD WAS FROM THE THIRD ALBUM AND WAS CALLED « I WONDER ». IT WAS THE HIT OF THE SUMMER.

Have they made the news for something other than music? Scandals? Celebrity Gossip? Political Stands? Publicity stunts? PRETTY QUIET ON THAT FRONT. THE BAND WAS MOSTLY IN THE PRESS BECAUSE OF THE RELEASE OF AN ALBUM OR A TOUR. ALTHOUGH THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN AISLINN AND DAVE HAS ALWAYS SPARKED AN INTEREST IN THE TABLOID: ARE THEY, ARE THEY NOT DATING? AISLINN, IS MARRIED, BUT…

Are any of the members dating? Have history? AISLINN’S HUSBAND KNEW THE OTHER THREE MEMBERS OF THE BAND AND INTRODUCED HER TO THEM.

Are any of the members related? NO.

Who thinks they’re the best musician? Who is actually the best musician? DAVID O’BRIEN IS THE OBVIOUS MUSICIAN IN THE BAND, WRITING MOST OF THE SONGS. AISLINN WRITES MOST OF THE LYRICS.

Do they have a rivalry with another band? Are they friends with other bands? THEY HAVE HAD TROUBLE COMING OUT OF THE SHADOW FROM U2, BUT THEY ARE ALL MATES.

What was the last argument the band had? NOT APPLICABLE.

Do any of the band members have a criminal record, Have they been arrested? Have they been involved in any sort of lawsuit? NO.

Did the band have any rough patches/years? what happened? 1988 WHEN SEAN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN CANCER

Were the members in any previous bands? Did they go on to form other bands? How did those projects compare? NO


canadian, prose, scribbling, text, WIP, writer, writingSandrine KwanSandr, kwaned, interview, music, band, fiction, sandrinekwanComment