News
BIRTHDAY SONG 7”
Damian has recorded a limited edition 7” single titled ‘BIRTHDAY SONG’, set for release this April and available for purchase at the upcoming Undertones shows.
300 copies pressed and available at the forthcoming Undertones shows
New Everlasting Yeah release
I am very excited to announce that the new Everlasting Yeah album ‘Staying Cool Staying Free’ will be released soon. Check out here for further details
Damian O’Neill - What’s The Story?
BBC Radio 6 - 22nd April 2024. Damian talks to Steve Lamacq about the conception of the classic track Teenage Kicks
Damian O’Neill - Palestine
I have recorded and released a new song in order to support the British charity ‘Medical Aid For Palestine’ which offers medical services in the West Bank, Gaza. Please support this by making a donation and downloading the new song here
All proceeds will go to Medical Aid For Palestine.
MAP works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees.
"It's extraordinarily sad that Palestinians feel as if they somehow need to convince the Western world that they live and they love and they laugh and they hurt just like the rest of us”.
Arwa Damon (president and founder of INARA- a charity she set up largely to provide care to children injured or traumatised by war)
This instrumental piece is (in a small way) my expression of love and solidarity with the people of Palestine.
We are all Palestinians.
For more information about the Medical Aid for Palestine please click here
Thank you for your support
Damian
The Undertones: Derry band pointed the way for us says German punk rock star
Click on the image to read
Guitar World Interview with Damian
Damian with Eugene Reynolds from The Rezillos
Photo Viv Cosby October 2023
Undertones multi-instrumentalist Damian O’Neill shares new EP
A Big thanks to IMRO Ireland for this feature on my new EP. Thanks also to Ger Eaton - Music.
Click on the image or here to read.
New Video - Más o Menos
My new EP 'Más O Menos' is out now! Features mixes by The Limiñanas and Kevin Sharkey.
Available to download on Bandcamp: https://damianoneill.bandcamp.com
Available to stream on your service of choice at: https://orcd.co/damianoneilmasomenos
From Punk Rock to Exquisite Instrumentals: Damian O’Neill on his Musical Journey
My thanks to Jason Barnard at The Strange Brew Podcast for this recent interview we did.
Click on the image to view the interview.
Colin Murray highlights the Northern Irish musicians whose careers were boosted by the support of BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel. We hear from members of The Undertones, Therapy?, Ash, Tunic, Boys of The Lough and Joyrider as they start their John Peel journey as listeners, then hearing their records played on his show and once on his radar, securing that all important Peel session. Click on the images to listen.
To listen to both episodes click on the image above.
Ralph McLean Interview 10th Jan 2023
Damian was interviewed on the Ralph McLean's show on BBC Radio Foyle on Tuesday January 10th discussing his new album 'an crann' amongst other things.’
Click on either image to listen.
Louder Than War ‘an crann’ Review
‘‘An Crann is not about selecting individual tracks, it’s more of a complete experience with the variety of the tracks only enhancing the complete listening experience. Do yourself a favour, lock the door on these merciless winter nights, give this a spin and let your mind float downstream.’
Click on the an crann image to read the full review'
The Irish News
Review Friday 22nd December 2022
The Irish Mirror
Review Friday 25th November 2022
The Irish Independent
Review Saturday 26th November 2022
Wisperinandhollerin ‘an crann’ Review
‘The album is named after An Crann or The Tree which is an organization that worked to allow people to share their experiences during the Irish troubles, to hopefully work towards peace and reconciliation’
For the full review click on the image on the right
Vive Le rock ‘an crann’ Review
Sonic Abuse ‘an crann’ Vinyl Review
‘…….The album ensnares the listener from the moment the needle hits the groove…….’
‘……This is music to get lost in, music for the soul…..’
For the full review click on the image on the right
Click on the image below to listen to the Podcast
Photo - Steve Worrall
Retrosonic Podcast
We captured a great evening's entertainment at the Heavenly Social in London on November 6th with Undertones guitarist Damian O'Neill promoting his excellent new LP "an crann" in a Q&A session hosted by Brian O'Neill of Dimple Discs Records and music journalist Ann Scanlon. As well as the story behind the record and its various influences, Damian also treats us to anecdotes from his time with The Undertones, That Petrol Emotion and The Everlasting Yeah. As well as tales of The Undertones on Top of The Pops, touring with The Clash and news of the forthcoming That Petrol Emotion box-set, we also find out how Damian nearly joined Dexys Midnight Runners and how he should have been a famous footballer! The episode is soundtracked by Damian's personal selection of songs from the new album. You can subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast for free at Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or direct from our SoundCloud site below.
Q&A with Damian O’Neill
A great evening's entertainment was had by all at Damian’s Q&A on Sunday 6th November to promote his excellent new LP "An Crann" . The event was hosted by Brian O’Neill of Dimple Disc Records and music journalist Ann Scanlon. As well as the story behind the record and its influences, Damian also discussed various anecdotes from his time with The Undertones, That Petrol Emotion and The Everlasting Yeah. It was nice to see Brendan Kelly from TPE and Everlasting Yeah there too. The Q&A will be turned into a new Retrosonic Podcast very soon, so keep an eye out for news on the release date.
Photo - Steve Worrall
Photo - Steve Worrall
Photo - Steve Worrall
Photo - Steve Worrall
Damian O’Neill’s new solo album
Damian O'Neill’s new solo album 'an crann' is available for pre-order as a digital download. Pre-order and get the first track "Más O Menos" as an instant download. All the details at: http://damianoneill.bandcamp.com
The CD and Limited Edition Blue Vinyl will be available from record shops on November 25th. Visit: http://ffm.to/damianoneill for details.
Album Photography - Rosa O’Neill
The long-awaited second solo album from The Undertones guitarist Damian O'Neill is an exquisitely inventive collection of largely instrumental tracks, mixed by veteran producer Paul Tipler (Stereolab, Placebo, Julian Cope, House Of Love). The title An Crann is Irish for "The Tree", a symbol of growth and inspiration. As Damian himself explains…"If some-one listened to this record without knowing anything about me, they'd probably never guess that I started life in a punk band. I unashamedly wanted to present instrumental pieces that are emotional, evocative and personal and offer to the listener textures and layers of music that can be melodic, childlike and even melancholic at times. There's obviously Irish folk traditional influences as well as French, Japanese, American and British. I'm playing virtually all the instruments myself, with added percussion on a couple of songs. It was recorded mainly at home over the last couple of years in the loft of our house on a laptop with an array of instruments such as electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, bass, organ, vibraphone, toy marimba and glockenspiel, melodica, mouth organ, squeezebox, kalimba, bells and various percussion and human voices."
Classic Album Thursday with Damian O’Neill
22nd September 2022 - A wonderful night was had by all last Thursday as Damian took to the stage at the Cat Clubs ‘Classic Album Thursday held at The Robin Hood in Pontefract. Interviewed by Bryn Law, Damian played the Undertones seminal debut album with accompanying anecdotes and stories.
Photos below curtesy of Kevin 'Rev' Reynolds
Damian & Billy join Baby Shakes on stage
‘One of the joys of live music is that you never know what special moment you could be there to witness …..’ Steve Worrall talks about one such moment.
Click on the image for the full story on Steve’s Retro Man Blog.
My Perfect Cousin - Early Demo
This is an early recording of Damian messing about with My Perfect Cousin on the guitar. Note the variation on intro and middle.
It’s Going To Happen
The tail end of this clip was included on the Damian O’Neill & the Monotones ‘Refit, Revise, Reprise’ record but failed to make the CD. Here’s a chance to listen to the full clip. This rare recording documents Damian showing the other members of the band, for the first time, the early beginnings of It’s Going To Happen. This all took place up at The Pit (Damian’s bedroom) in early 1981
Sex Drugs and HIV
In 1995 Mat Sargent (Sham 69, Chelsea and Splodgenessabounds) decided to ask a few fellow musicians to help him put an album together to give something back to the charities that had helped him on his journey in life. Fast forward 25 years, over 200 guest musicians, 40 original songs and the Sex Drugs and HIV was finally born! This new 8 disk DVD version includes out-takes, extras and bonus songs previously unreleased from the album.
Amongst the 200 musicians that took part you’ll see Damian O’Neill, Adam Ant, Beki Bondage, Brian Robertson, Captain Sensible, Charlie Harper, Jerry Dammers, Jimmy Pursey, Lee Thompson, Mark E. Smith, Mickey Fitz, Nicko McBrain, Paul Grey, Pauline Black, Poly Styrene, Sonja Kristina, Tony Hadley, TV Smith, Wurzel (Motorhead) and many more
Proceeds from the sale of the album will go to Cancer research, Rape Crisis, Release and Terrance Higgins Trust. Click here for more information along with order details.
Mat Sargent
The Studio Sessions DVD - 8 disk digi box
Exclusive Demos
The first five tracks below, Tired Shattered Man, Another Day, Compulsion, Mine and Gnaw mark are Damian’s original Fostex 4 track demos. The fifth track, Jesus Says is a ‘cover’ Damian has recently recorded.
Damian’s new album is now finished ….. Watch this space for news of it’s forthcoming release.
Damian has been working hard writing and recording some brand new material for his new album. The photos show Damian enjoying the process at Press Play studios.
Watch this space for the release date announcement which will be very soon.
Eileen Gogan and the Instructions
A great photo of Damian and Brian O’Neill (no relation) holding the new Eileen Gogan album ‘Under Moving Skies’ on the Dimple Discs label. The LP is full of lovely tunes and singing with accompaniment from so many talented musicians, including Damian. Click on the sleeve image below to order.
Baby Shakes Really Really Promo Video
Billy Doherty’s brilliantly penned ‘Really Really’ gets a Baby Shakes ‘glam’ make over. The track, originally the B side of get Over You, now appears on the flip side of Baby Shakes new release ‘Sweet ‘n’ Sour’. The vinyl comes in 4 colours, magenta, silver, crystal & black and is released on Damian’s own Dimple Discs label.
