It's funny but there does seem to be a genuine pride in Derry now about the Undertones which is a bit of a change because I know a lot of people hated them when they were starting off. Terry Hooley told me that when he went up there, someone actually crossed the road to spit at Sharkey. To be on the receiving end of such treatment on a daily basis is bound to effect anyone. Whilst I don't think it was the same for other band members - it was still there to a large degree and the fact that they rose above it and wrote such great tunes speaks volumes about their qualities. Whilst there is an appreciation for them in Derry now - most of the hoaxes and spite that's appeared on the site would seem to emanate from Derry. Happily it's a larger world made smaller by the Internet. The reason that this site functions and people from everywhere are interested in the band is because their songs struck a chord (exscuse the pun) with them. I've always thought it interesting that it needed someone like Terry Hooley to put out their record because no one in Derry would have. As far as new materiel is concerned - I've no doubt that it will be quality because I thhink John O'Neill is very talented. How it is received depends on how the Undertones are perceived. They can either go the Blondie way (legends return) or they can go the punk nostalgia way (which I don't think they'll do). As they were never fashionable anyway they haven't dated - they were always just the Undertones - singing songs about everday things. I can't see why they can't sing about things that relate to them as 40 year olds in the same qay they did as teenagers. The growth of Radio 2 is proof that the majority of record buyers are in our age group. As far as the band are conerned - they seem fresher to me now than the last tour they did with Feargal when they seemed to be going throug the motions. If this translates to a record they're made. Whether that record sells is another point. There finished!

I think John would have to be very very confident about any new material before he recorded it.I don't see why he couldn't write a more mature type of Punk/new wave/garage music.Obviously when he wrote the original songs they reflected the age he was then,as did all the other members of the band who contributed to or wrote songs.20 years later he has lots of other experiences in life to draw from.I really can't see a new song with Paul on vocals starting "I never kissed a girl before",or anything remotely similar,can you?

Thats spooky Arthur,we must have written those messages at the time but both made virtually the same point about John writing new stuff.

Unless of course Paul hasn't ever kissed a girl before ;-))

Spooky weird eh Cliff? Opened the Guarian last weekend to see a 4 page article on Half Man Half Biscuit who have been trawling the circuit for years. Basis of the article was to reinvent the songwriter. Similar exposure for the Undertones would be fantastic.

That should be Guardian and Half Man Half Biscuit are on Probe Plus which was mentioned here about a week ago.

Thanks for the VCDs CMoS, they've just arrived. Now to figure how to play them........

Yeah,I have the same problem Jackie.Thanks CMoS but mine wont play.

Lindsay,are you sending those photo's from Termon Hall to CMoS?

Arthur hit the nail on the head, The Undertones were NEVER fashionable. They are therefore TIMELESS and in that respect, their comeback is unique. The Buzzcocks, SLF, Damned, etc are seen as punk 'revivalists' selling nostalgia shows. Ditto the Selecter & Bad Manners with their 2-Tone revival tours. But the Undertones are not reviving an era or fashion, they're just playing their great songs live again and the very fact they don't even have the same front man any more just emphasizes that. I can't think of any other band from any era this would apply to. The Undertones: truly the uniquest band in the world :o)

Time to break open the money boxes again, more live dates have been announced! August 23rd – Bryan Adams –Prehen Playing Fields, Derry – CONFIRMED December 19th – Savoy Theatre, Cork - CONFIRMED December 20th – Olympia, Dublin - CONFIRMED

Speaking from personal experience Cliff, I can confirm that Paul has indeed kissed a girl before but sadly I can't confirm the same of Damian. I'll send some photos in soon but was waiting until I got the rest back first. Brilliant one of Henry outside the pub with his scarf! Dublin sounds the best Christmas present ever - I'm saving up already. Talking of unfashionable bands, I've just rung up for 911 tickets and the woman apologised for being rude but asked me who they are. Now I know why I like this band so much.

CR - that is so true. Who wants to be fashionable - fashion dates.

If I had to choose between the dublin or cork date I would probably chose Cork cos' I have never been there before. Except I did have a brilliant time in Dublin last December. After all these weekend concerts they manage to arrange three mid-week dates. The 20th December means I would need to miss the christmas party at work, unless there is a very early flight back to Newcastle. I had better get saving now or perhaps persuade the children to accept more practical (cheaper) presents for christmas.

Jesus - I don't care how much I like the Undertones - don't know if I could bear the shame of going to buy a Bryan Adams ticket. If I do decide to go I would have to head straight to the pub after the Undertones. Why oh why does such a great band have to play support to such a boring prat? Oh well they will blow him off stage anyway.