One of Ireland’s most successful singer/songwriters, Paul Cleary’s legendary band, The Blades, was powered by a rich and memorable songbook including all-time classics Ghost of a Chance, Downmarket, and Revelations of Heartbreak. Fuelled by Paul’s Ringsend roots, an iconic voice, and heartfelt musical poetry, the band remain as dynamic and relevant today as they continue to attract new fans and pack out venues nationwide.
In a rare public Q&A session, expect Paul to have an honest, entertaining, and insightful conversation with radio host, writer, and musician Tom Dunne (Something Happens).
Biography
The Blades began in the summer of 1977 when five friends got together to play a gig in the hall of the Catholic Young Men’s Society in their local parish of Ringsend. The lineup was whittled down to three: Paul Cleary on bass and vocals, his brother Lar (sadly RIP) on guitar, and friend Pat Larkin on drums. Pat left the band in March 1981 and was replaced by Jake Reilly on drums. The new lineup of Paul, Larry, and Jake played their first gig at The Magnet Bar on Pearse Street on 18 July 1981. After Larry left the band in 1982, Paul switched to guitar, bringing in bassist Brian Foley and later adding a brass section with Paul Grimes on trombone and Frank Duff on trumpet.
Over the decades, The Blades’ legacy endured and expanded annually, as radio stations across the country played their slate of classic pop tunes. In 2001, The Blades released a double CD box set titled Those Were the Days, which included both of their celebrated albums, The Last Man in Europe and Raytown Revisited. In Roddy Doyle’s The Commitments, The Blades are mentioned when Jimmy Rabbitte remarks that he recognises people in the audience as having ‘been at Blades’ gigs years earlier,’ implying that both fans were working-class soul fans and knew their music.
After a hiatus, The Blades reformed to play live in 2013 and two years later released their first new recordings since 1985 with a four-track EP, Smalltime, followed by the album Modernised in 2016. Today, Paul is revered as one of Ireland’s most successful singer/songwriters. With his current brilliant band of musicians, he has revisited his rich and memorable songbook, including all-time classics Ghost of a Chance, Downmarket,, and Revelations of Heartbreak, complete with a live horn section. The Blade’s live performances remain as powerful and relevant today as they continue to attract new fans and pack out venues nationwide, thanks to Paul’s Ringsend roots, his iconic voice, and heartfelt musical poetry.
