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Tearjerkers Biography

The band started in 1978 when Howard Ingram and Groover from the Detonators the original 1976 punk band, joined forces with Cobra's Nigel Hamilton and Speeds Paul Maxwell. An Irish punk supergroup hmm. We signed to Belfast’s Good Vibrations label and then Phonogram in the UK and Mercury worldwide.

L - R Brian, Howard, Paul, Groover, and Nigel

The Tearjerkers enjoyed support from fans from all over Britain and Ireland during the late seventies. What set the Tearjerkers apart from their Northern Irish contempories was that every member of the band was a songwriter with a keen ability to write catchy and fun pop songs. They were not impressed by the ram-a-lama dole queue version of punk rock, they wrote short fast high energy intelligent songs. The bands members age's ranged from eighteen to twenty four and all were accomplished players having cut their musical teeth playing in other bands.

The Tearjerkers were out to have as much fun as they could and constantly toured playing every venue that put on live music all over Ireland both north and south and also in the Greater London Area. This constant touring won the band many fans especially in the South of Northern Ireland which was generally ignored by Belfast bands.

The Tearjerkers line up where

  • Paul 'Westie' Maxwel - Vocals

  • Howard 'Throb' Ingram - Bass Guitar

  • Paul 'Groover' McIlwaine - Guitar

  • Brian 'Brinsley' Rawson - Guitar

  • Nigel 'Squatty' Hamilton - Drums later replaced by Gregg Lindsay 

The band signed to local cult label Good Vibrations before signing to Phonogram label releasing the following singles:-

  • Love affair - Good Vibes

  • Murder Mystery - Phonogram

  • Through the Back Door (American compilation album) Phonogram

  • Where's Julie - Blue Rhythm Audio

  • The Tearjerkers also released a live album originally on cassette titled "Everybody Wants To Shag... "The Tearjerkers - This has become a highly sought after collectable

The Tearjerkers scored a minor hit in the UK reaching number 74 in the UK singles chart with the single Murder Mystery produced by John Astley & Phil Chapman who had previously worked with the Who and Eric Clapton. This single was also released in France, Sweden, and Belgium where it was well received reaching the lower reaches of European hit parades. Murder Mystery was reviewed favourably on Radio One's Round Table on which Johnny Rotten gave it a thumbs up! This single now exchanges hands at very high prices and is one of the most prized 'rare' singles from the punk era - so if you have one hang on to it.  

L - R Howard, Paul, Groover, Nigel and Brian

Subsequently, the band recorded sessions in Parkgate Studios in Sussex with Chris "Merrick" Hughes who was the drummer/producer of Adam & the Ants. Another recording session followed a short time later and this time it was produced by Lawrence Juber of Wings at Radio Luxembourg's studios in London.

The band toured Ireland with a number of well known international bands i.e. Thin Lizzy, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Doll By Doll and Rachel Sweet. The TJ's where also featured on local TV and national radio with sessions on RTE's Dave Fanning Show, the BBC's John Peel Show twice as well as Belfast's local Downtown Radio, in whose studio the band recorded a number of sessions. 

 

 Brian and Phil Lynott on tour  

1980 founding member and drummer Nigel left the band, he was replaced by Johnny Lee for a short English Tour and latterly with Greg Lindsey.

The Tearjerkers in 1980 decided to release a studio album and worked with a variety of producers in London studios; including Lawrence Jauber (Paul McCartney), Chris Hughes (Adam and the Ants). Not entirely satisfied with the results the band continued to work on a new set of songs and produced the sessions themselves with the assistance of Stephen 'Rasta's' Nelson (DTR). Unfortunately the band split before the record could be issued.

In 2007 the band will release an Internet version of this album which can be downloaded from www.soundclick.com via this site along with other releases to be announced. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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