Nicky WoulffeThe first time I saw Horslips was in the early 70s. They performed on a program on RTE television called “Fonn” and thereafter on the BBC on the “Old Grey Whistle Test” with the great Bob Harris. They say first impressions last and in the case of this wonderful Irish band, they did.
I was a fan of the band from the off. They were, for many young men and women of a certain age in Ireland, a breath of fresh air. We had not heard our witnessed anything like the music they were playing up to this point.
I can remember someone describing them as a cross between T-Rex and the Tulla Ceili Band. Its fusion of Irish traditional dance tunes with a rock sensibility invented and defined Celtic Rock in the aftermath of the folk revival.
From Ballrooms to the Big Stage
Horslips were unique in many ways apart from the music. They played all the ballrooms across the island of Ireland which had been the mainstay for the now declining showband scene. The band provided a first experience of Irish rock music for many Irish people.
Folk rock’ was very much in the air during the early 70s especially in England with bands like Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, or Jethro Tull. Horslips were touring with many of these bands and, as they say, learning their craft and picking up a lot of tunes along the way.
The Breakthrough: The Táin
The band broke on the Irish music scene when they released the single “Johnny’s Wedding” in 1972. Musically, it set out the direction the band were going to take for the next ten years. In 1973 they released the album The Tain, a concept album based on an ancient Irish legend. This would the first of two albums they would complete over the coming years based around Irish mythical legends.
The highlight of The Tain was the track “An Dearg Doom” containing that unforgettable guitar riffs by the late Johnny Fean. The riff is still one of the most recognizable sounds within the vast cannon of modern Irish popular music.
A Remarkable Run of Albums
Horslips would continue to tour as well as making four albums: Dancehall Sweethearts (1974), Drive The Cold Winter Away (1975), The Unfortunate Cup of Tea (1975) before releasing The Book of Invasions – A Celtic Symphony in 1976, which many people describe as the bands crowning glory.
After this record, Horslips turned to more radio friendly sound in pursuit of a different audience and started to record more commercial sounding tunes. It went away from the celtic rock image the band had created back in the early 70s.
The Tain and Horslips still relevant 53 years on
The album was again celebrated 53 years on when it was rewarded the classic album at the recent Choice Music Awards. It will certainly give the album a new lease of life to a whole new audience who would probably never heard of the band Horslips.
I know for this here music fan can still hear the opening chords of the track “Setanta” which still resonates with me to this very day. The haunting and beautiful, “You Can’t Fool The Beast” is a really great song and still one of the stand out tracks on the album. And of course, let’s not forget the legendary “Dearg Doom” one of the greatest Irish tracks of all time.
A Classic for a New Audience
The album deserves to be heard by a new audience and I hope it will with its re-release on very stunning red Vinyl. The artwork on the album cover is also worth a mention as it is a stunning cover. One of many Horslips did during their wonderful career.
Without doubt Horslips left their mark on many people and I hope a new generation of fans will enjoy this bands body of work. For many music fans of the 70s this band changed the musical landscape in a dark and dreary Ireland for the better.
