Dublin band Lir have released The Early Demos - 1989-'92, Volume 1: Rare Recordings from the Archive. We asked the band’s guitarist Ronan Byrne the BIG questions . . .
Lir emerged in the late eighties from Dublin’s thriving rock scene and were renowned for their shamelessly proggy sound and a stage craft and image that set the apart from their contemporaries.
They released their debut album, All Machines Hum in A, in 1992, followed by the albums Magico Magico!, Nest, the EPs This Appeared in 1995, 7000 Apes 600 in 1997.
A documentary on the band, directed by Shimmy Marcus and entitled Good Cake Bad Cake: The Story of LIR, was released in 2011.
The band still reconvenes annually to play shows in and around Dublin.
The tracks on The Early Demos - 1989-’92, Volume 1: Rare Recordings from the Archive were originally recorded in various studios across Dublin and the USA, with many of the songs becoming part of the band’s Irish shows in the late '80s and early ‘90s.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I’m a musician, I’m from Donaghmede and I follow Arsenal FC.
How would you describe your music?
Tough question....probably falls under the indie rock banner in the main.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Way too many to go over...a few notables would be Nick Drake, Bob Marley, Shakti, Gong, The Smiths, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jimmy Webb to name just a few.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
The Communards at the National Stadium, Dublin in 1986. I attended with a girl I really fancied from school called Tara Doyle which only added to the overall experience. Amazing night...saw them in the SFX a few years later which was also pretty cool but just not the same as the National Stadium. Truly wonderful experience.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Glen Campbell Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell . I was only five years old and so my parents bought me the single perhaps for Christmas. I absolutely adored the song and funnily enough it's about a songwriter. I love Glen Campbell and the songs he sang - in particular, Jimmy Webb’s songs like Wichita Lineman and By The Time I Get To Phoenix, which I refer to as by the time I get to Finglas.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Messy by Lola Young is the best song I've heard in years from a truly excellent artist, stands out a mile with its gorgeous chords and melodies and sincere lyrics and amazing vocal, I cover it all the time and I'm considering doing it with one of my other bands -Earthquake Hair at Vicar St on the 20 of December, opening up for my good friend and fellow Donaghmede man Damien Dempsey. Can’t wait.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"Don't be shy, you'll learn to fly and see the sun, when day is done if only you'll see, just what you are beneath the star that came to stay one rainy day in autumn for free, just be what you'll be" - Things Behind The Sun by Nick Drake.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
River Man by Nick Drake. What can I say...simply in my estimation the best song of all songs of all time by the best songwriter in the universe. I had the fortune to correspond with his mam, Molly, a number of years before she passed away. She couldn't have been more gentle and sincere and endearing and just absolutely wonderful....it is and always will be my most prized possession.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Spotify and all streaming services.
Alan Corr
