Here is the Paul Lennon 12 inch extended dance remix of the history of the NMS - which after much research and soul searching (and several stiff drinks) includes the definitive list of all the NMS gigs from 1981 until1988 including many of the legendary gigs from Drogheda Boxing Club. Enjoy!
NEW MUSICAL SOCIETY In the years preceding the establishment of the New Musical Society in1981, the ripple effect from New York 1974, London in 1975 and 1976,Manchester in 1977 and 1978 and Dublin in 1978 finally hit Drogheda in 1979 and 1980 with an explosion of new wave bands.Two gigs were held in the Jayteens club rooms on Bachelor¹s Lane featuring up to five local bands. These were held in autumn/winter of 1980/81.A number of local groups also played in the Penny Farthing (later Joey Maher¹s), The Gem and The Hideout, both as headline and support acts.
On the alternative disco front, Paul Thomas ran a weekly bash in the White Horse Hotel on a Saturday night in late 1980 and early 1981.In late spring and early summer 1982, original NMS members Roger ŒGoosey¹O¹Reilly, Mary Roden and Joe McCormack set up the successful Subterranean alternative disco in the former Bibas nite club at number one, Shop Street.
It ran until early autumn.It was the tragic events of the Stardust fire on Dublin¹s northside on the night of February 13/14, 1981 that sparked the idea of holding a benefit gig to raise funds for those bereaved and injured.
That went ahead on March 8 and it was from this concert that the NMS was born.
Venues BC: Boxing Club,
Haymarket/Dyer Street.BIB: Bibas, Shop Street.BVH: Boyne Valley Hotel, Dublin Road.CEN: The Central, Peter Street.H: The Hideout, Dyer Street.JM: Joey Maher¹s, George¹s Street.KC: Karate Club, Scholes¹ Lane.RH: Rossnaree Hotel, Dublin Road.S: Sarsfields, Laurence Gate/Cord Road.SW: Swan Inn, George¹s Street.WH: White Horse Hotel, West Street.
------- 1981 ------- March 8: The Rock Cabaret (Stardust Benefit Gig) featuring The Prost Rejects, The Frustrated Barristers and No Go Dancers, Warr, Ulterior Motives, Against The Grain, Baldy Scaldies, Midnight Blues, Enzymes, Aztec Demons, Prophecy(BC).
July

ate XXXXX: The Last Retreat From Russia (BC) November26: Gig (S)
December1: Joe McCormack elected treasurer of the NMS at a meeting in the Community Services Centre, Fair Street with Paul Lennon elected chairman. A seminal moment in Irish rock Œn¹ roll!
3: Gig (S)6: Futurist Disco (BVH)10: Gig (S)21: Futurist Disco (WH)31: New Year¹s Eve Party (KC)
------ 1982 ------ JANUARY2: The Last Dance On The Titanic (BC) **** During the first week on January the NMS hosted an art exhibition in the Sound Shop, Mayoralty House, North Quay. 12: Jim Page (H)
APRIL18: Virgin Prunes (WH) MAY Date XxX: Outcasts (R)
SEPTEMBER At a meeting in Mick Reid¹s house at Cherrymount in September 1982, a decision was taken to concentrate on running gigs. Money accrued in the NMS account at that point (from records £222 punts) was handed over to a new youth group in which Brian Conyngham (former editor of the Drogheda Independent and later editor of The Local News) was involved.Enda Murray, Mick Reid, Gavan Kierans, Niall Kierans, Jack White, Ann McAuley, Paul Lennon and Joe McCormack were the members involved in the NMS at this stage.
A decision was taken to investigate the possibility of staging gigs in JoeyMaher¹s on George¹s Street where promoter Jim McQuillan had run concerts for a number of years, both as Joey¹s and the Penny Farthing. McQuillan had quit operations in late 1981/early 1982.
OCTOBER23: The Alsatians (JM)30: Some Kind of Wonderful (JM) NOVEMBER6: Eugene (JM)13: The Business (JM)20: The Outfit (JM)27: Freddie White (supp Seanie McPhail) (JM) DECEMBER11:18: Tokyo Olympics (JM) 31: Coup d¹Etat (New Year¹s Eve Party) (BIB)
--------- 1983 ------------- JANUARY1: Mama¹s Boys (JM)8: Auto de Fe (JM)15: Zen Alligators (JM)Joey¹s closed at the end of January when sold b
Dom Wilton
Dom Wilton 0 ReplysJust a short note from -GISTY- he said to thank everyone for the great night it was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves and hope everyones is not to hung over and that yis were all well behaved and that he did,nt have to kick ass [joke] . it was a pleasure meeting everyone ...
This Boxing Club revival has proven to be a very sucessfull project,as indeed last Saturday night proved the incredible support it has generated.Speaking for myself, it was heartwarming to see some of the "ole" heads back, dancing as if their lives depended on it.I was proud to be part of it.
Ralph Jordan 0 Replys...