The Moondogs

The Moondogs formed in September 1978 when drummer Austin Barrett and vocalist/guitarist Gerry McCandless approached young Jackie Hamilton from Ventura Highway (who happened to be going out with Gerry's sister Maria at the time), to replace Vinny O'Neill, brother of The Undertones' John and Damian, on bass, who had left the band they had recently formed. Austin Barrett was also a cousin of Undertone Billy Doherty and this close association with The Undertones was to be of much benefit to the band in the coming years. Jackie couldn’t play bass, but it was the time of ‘three chords and you've got music’, so undeterred, Jackie purchased a second-hand bass and went to the first rehearsal above the Bogside Inn, where the backroom was an Undertakers! They got straight down to business, and soon had a few self-penned tunes -"You Said", "Hey Joanna", "She's 19" and "Ya Don't Do Ya". 

It was around this time that fellow Derry contemporaries The Undertones signed to Sire Records, and they asked Jackie, Gerry and Austin to do the warm-up spot at their celebratory gig from the back of a coal lorry in Bull Park. The band still hadn't a name, so, as they were all Beatles fans, Gerry suggested The Moondogs, after an early incarnation of The Beatles, and they all agreed. 

From there they went on to hone their skills playing around all the local haunts in their native Derry, often as support to The Undertones (earning them the description of 'Spiritual Sons of The Undertones'). New songs such as "Popstar" and "Two-Timed" were added to a set that included several covers such as the early Beatles rouser "Boys" and Showaddywaddy's "Hey Rock 'n 'Roll". In November 1978 the band cut their first demos at a two track studio at Magee University. The three tracks recorded were “My New Girl” “Jenny”, “Hey Joanna” and “Two Timed”. This was quickly followed by a session for Downtown Radio. The band also made their debut gig in England that year as part of the ‘A Sense Of Ireland Festival’ in London. After their gig the band all went out to a Slade gig in the capital. [SOURCE: SPIT RECORDS]