This excellent article originally comes from IrishNews.com where it is nicely formatted and part of a comprehensive web site. It is only presented here for archive purposes.

In the late 70s and early 90s The Undertones became one of Ireland's most popular bands.

Tim Brannigan talks to drummer Billy Doherty about the groups reformation without their lead singer Fergal Sharkey-

Together again: The reformed Undertones include Billy Doherty, Damian O'Neill, Paul McLoone, John O'Neill and Michael Bradley Picture: Margaret McLaughlin

IN one of the greatest crimes of the 20th century U2, and not the Undertones, will go down in history as Ireland's finest-ever band. If there is any justice in the world this glaring error will be rectified and the 'Derry wans' will be given the accolade they so richly deserve.

While Bono was accepting his gong at the MTV Awards in Dublin last week for single-handedly wiping out the third world debt, the Undertones were quietly preparing for two sell-out gigs in their home town tonight and tomorrow.

The contrast between the two bands is stark and perhaps a little depressing.

U2, and Bono inparticular, latch on to trendy causes and publicity stunts, whereas the Undertones have simply been a name on the back of some aging punk's jacket since they split in 1983.

Bono may indulge his penchant for gesture politics and pointless stunts, but the Undertones can take comfort in the fact that, for those lucky enough to have been around during the new wave era, they really meant something.

There is no doubt that U2's stadium rock and bombastic lyrics have struck a chord with the MTV generation, but rarely have they ever matched the sublime pop moments of the Undertones.

No stadium rock anthems or massive stage sets were ever needed for Fergal Sharkey and his friends to electrify the audiences.

And when it comes to unforgettable moments in rock, no Irish band or artist has ever surpassed the pure and simplistic pop genius of Teenage Kicks.

While U2 were busy with The Big Anthems about The Big Issues from their homes in south Dublin, the Undertones were keeping it real with songs of teenage love and rejection and annoying know-it-all cousins.

Undertones drummer Billy Doherty is looking forward to the gigs, which will mark the opening of The Nerve Centre, a multi-media project, in Derry's Magazine Street: "It should be a great night and will help put the Nerve Centre on the map."

Of his band's former glories he says: "I'm friendly with Larry from U2 and he said to me that the reason why they were successful and the Undertones weren't was because they knew what they were doing and they treated the whole thing like a business. We were just in it for the laugh, but it was them who reaped the rewards."

Still, for a few years at least the Undertones were the main men, and the fact that their 15-minutes now seem to be up hasn't led them to be bitter and twisted.

"No, when the band broke up we all went our separate ways and that was grand. There was always an offer there for the band to reform, albeit with Fergal, but because he declined we never really considered it. We just said that's the past so we just got on and did our own thing."

Billy used to team up with former Undertone Micky Bradley and together they would go down to Galway to hang out with The Sawdoctors. While there, they were asked if they would like to get the rest of the band down. They did and the gig was electric.

"It was great to do the songs over again. I mean they haven't been played by us since 1983 and I know it sounds a wee bit boastful they still sound as good now."

The reformation will not feature former lead singer Fergal Sharkey who still lives in London. Although he is a cousin of Billy's, they don't have much contact now and Fergal has been consistent in his refusal to play any comeback gigs.

Paul McLoone, a friend of Billy's, has been standing in as vocalist. Old hands Mickey Bradley, John O'Neill, Billy Doherty will all be there.

He's a lucky man, because he now gets the chance to sing such classics as Teenage Kicks, Jimmy Jimmy, Here comes the Summer and My Perfect Cousin in front of an eager audience tonight.

Tonight's gig sold out so quickly that the band were asked to play a second show tomorrow. Limited tickets are still available for tomorrow's show.

On one of the band's early singles the record appeared with a photo of the lads on the cover. On the wall beside them, somewhere in Derry was a crudely painted slogan which implied, in very strong terms, that the band were not very good.

Although they never knew who wrote it, they knew it was one of their peers. His identity was revealed however when he came forward to enquire about the possibility of payment for his art work after the single was released.

Typically Undertones, typically Derry.

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