* Feargal Sharkey (lead vocals),
* John O'Neill (guitar),
* Damian O'Neill (guitar, keyboards and vocals),
* Michael Bradley (bass and vocals), and
* Billy Doherty (drums).
John O'Neill was the original main song writer, with his brother Damian and Mickey Bradley writing in various solo & combined variations for most of the remainder.
Sharkey's power pop tenor was distinctive, and the band regarded a tight ensemble. By 1977 they were performing their own three-chord pop punk material influenced by Nuggets-type material and Ramones, and in 1978 released their debut four-song EP Teenage Kicks on Good Vibrations. It became a hit with support from DJ John Peel, who considered that EP's title song (Teenage Kicks) his all-time favourite. The song has been covered by many including boyband Busted (at the 2003 Brit Awards), American group The Raconteurs, Swedish band [aritst]Sahara Hotnights and French band Nouvelle Vague.
The original band released four studio albums:
* The Undertones (1979)
* Hypnotised (1980)
* Positive Touch (1981)
* The Sin Of Pride (1983).
Falling sales linked to their changing musical direction and tensions within the band, leading to their split in 1983. A compilation album titled All Wrapped Up featured a woman dressed in lunch meats wrapped in clear plastic on the (non band approved) cover. Several other compilations including the superb BBC sessions CD Listening In (named after a song on their first album) (2004) exist.
The O'Neill brothers went on to form That Petrol Emotion. The Undertones reconvened in 1999, initially to play a few shows in their hometown of Londonderry, replacing singer Feargal Sharkey with a similarly warbling new recruit, Paul McLoone. Since this time, the band has continued to play a small number of gigs each year in various places around the world.
The band have also released two further studio albums:
* Get What You Need (2003)
* Dig Yourself Deep (2007)
NOTE: There is another band with this name - The Undertones, a subset of the University of Notre Dame Glee Club who sing a capella arrangements of popular songs. For more information on these guys, check out www.nd.edu/~utones.
Casbah Rock
The Undertones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now before you know
If you're not thrown out
Then you'll want to go
Cos you'll never get pop at the Casbah Rock
You'll never get pop at the Casbah Rock
Ooh you won't get pop at the Casbah Rock
Casbah Rock is a song by The Undertones that talks about a specific venue where people go to enjoy rock music. The lyrics suggest that it won't take long for visitors to get into the vibe of the place and start dancing to the music. The first line of the song bears testimony to this, "Now it won't take long". The lyrics reflect the energy of the venue and the music played there. It's a place for those who genuinely appreciate rock music - it's not the place to go if you're looking for the latest pop hits. The refrain repeats the idea that "you'll never get pop at the Casbah Rock," emphasizing the genre of the music the venue focuses on. Overall, the song highlights the character of the Casbah Rock and the type of people who frequent it.
In terms of the composition of the song, it's relatively simple musically. The guitar plays the opening riff, which is then carried by the bass and drums in the verses. The simple yet catchy riff highlights the energy of the venue and the easy-to-follow chorus makes it a song that is easy to sing along to. The song is just over two minutes long and is relatively upbeat, which is typical of The Undertones' style.
Line by Line Meaning
Now it won't take long
It won't be long until you realize the true nature of Casbah Rock
Now before you know
Before you even understand the situation, you'll be caught up in Casbah Rock
If you're not thrown out
If you're not kicked out for being uncool or out of place
Then you'll want to go
You'll feel the need to leave and find a place where you fit in better
Cos you'll never get pop at the Casbah Rock
At Casbah Rock, you'll never find the mainstream pop culture that you might be looking for
You'll never get pop at the Casbah Rock
Reiterated point that Casbah Rock is not a place for mainstream pop music
Ooh you won't get pop at the Casbah Rock
Slightly emphasized point that Casbah Rock is not a place for mainstream pop music
You'll never get pop at the Casbah Rock
Final confirmation of the fact that Casbah Rock is not a place for mainstream pop music
Contributed by Benjamin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tony Hughes
love it - thanks for uploading, brother!
John Barry
The Undertones "Indra/Kaiserkeller"!!!!! Should have been made a national place of "Homage"!!!!
nothing sacred but the benjies anymore.
love from Eugene Gallagher ..VERY proud son of Peggy and i know she's smiling on you-n-urz!!