![[Undertones]](/ub4.png)
In 1995 I'd landed myself illustrious employment as a storeman in a freezing cold, filthy dirty warehouse. Amongst my colleagues was a guy called Danny, with whom I shared a common interest in music. However, it was music in a different genre - there was me and my Undertones and Danny and his Cliff Richard. Yes, Cliff bloody Richard!! By day Danny was a warehouse assistant and by night he impersonated Cliff in a Cliff & The Shadows tribute band.
One morning Danny casually mentioned to me that "someone connected with that band you like" (The Undertones) was part of a seminar being held locally in a few weeks time. I took the news with a pinch of salt, thinking that even if this were true it certainly wouldn't be an ex-band member. I somewhat arrogantly voiced this opinion to Danny, who didn't care either way, but said he had the flyer at home and would bring it in the following day. Sure enough, the following day arrived as did the flyer. I hurriedly perused the yellow card in a desperate attempt to identify this mystery Undertones person. Then it appeared - Fergal Sharkey, as it was in-correctly spelt. The 'seminar' was the second of two talks being held and was titled "Giving Up The Day Job?" and was aimed at giving advice to anyone interested in a career in the music industry. Feargal was billed on the flyer as "A&R Manager (EXP Ltd, ex Undertones)", along with two further guests.
The venue for the seminar was the Madcap Theatre in Wolverton (an area to the north of Milton Keynes, which existed before Milton Keynes as we know it ever did!). Having never visited the venue before I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had a vague notion that the Madcap acted as a kind of 'arts'/community centre, which wasn't a bad ixogy as it turned out. The venue is somewhat out of step with the majority of Milton Keynes' clinical modernism and put me more in mind of the sort of places I'd imagine The Undertones spent their formative years frequenting.
There was never any doubt as to whether I wouldn't be at the seminar, even though I had this nagging doubt that it would really be Feargal there. The day in question, Monday 13th November, couldn't arrive quickly enough.
Upon arriving at the Madcap, Danny and myself found a number of local musicians and familiar hangers on loitering and littering the venue's many alcoves. I had no idea how many people would show up, or what scale the seminar would be on. I went along armed with a number of Undertones items in the hope that Feargal would grace them with his signature. With a short while to kill before the seminar kicked off we went and sat in a side room/makeshift bar. Danny began thumbing through the various sleeves I'd bought along for potential signing when I heard an indecipherable comment from nearby in a Derry accent. To my amazement, Feargal was sat just a few yards away from me! The sight of my Undertones memorabilia had obviously given him cause for alarm.
Interpreting Feargal's comment as recognition of my presence, I nervously gathered my memorabilia and made my way over to where he was sat. I asked him if he'd mind signing a few items from the past for me and he was more than willing to oblige. In fact, I was treated to a tale for nearly all of the sleeves he signed. For instance, the very first copies of the Good Vibrations pressing of 'Teenage Kicks' have the song titles printed upside down (for which Feargal took the blame). The picture sleeve for 'Get Over You' was designed in fifteen minutes, but it was never intended as the finished sleeve - Sire just went ahead and used it!
I'd also taken along with me a paper embryo copy of an Undertones fanzine I intended to, and later did, produce. Feargal seemed genuinely taken back and yet bemused by the whole thing (once jovially, I think, declaring me a "sad bastard"!). Upon thumbing through the pages of various foreign issues, promos and the like, Feargal told me that he didn't own a copy of 'Teenage Kicks' himself. In fact, he owned very little of his past output due to a house fire that he'd once suffered. The only surviving artefacts of any great note were, apparently, Feargal's diaries. I asked Feargal if he'd be prepared to help with information for the fanzine. I'm not quite sure whether or not he actually agreed fully but he did give me his work phone number.
After chatting to Feargal for a few minutes the seminar was ready to begin. The evening's host was a local musician by the name of Big George Webley (I say local but I've seen his name in the credits for some recent BBC television productions). One of the guests didn't show up so it was just Feargal and a guy called Livingstone Brown. Although the small hall was full, I'd guess that the audience only just nudged the three-figure mark.
The seminar began with Big George providing a brief introduction about each guest and then warming things up by asking each of them a few questions. Feargal soon took the floor and begun talking about the early days with The Undertones. To be honest, there were no great revelations. The real pleasure was sitting there watching the man himself present the history in his own words and style. The media (along with a few others) have frequently attacked Feargal in the past for his post-Undertones activities. Sure, Feargal's solo output didn't really interest me but in his own way I think he spoke about The Undertones with a certain amount of affection and eloquence. In addition, I don't think I've ever seen someone chain smoke like Feargal did!
I was quite surprised at the depth and detail Feargal used when speaking about The Undertones' formative years. The stories ranged from the band members spending an entire day clearing out and white washing a cellar in order to play a gig there the same evening. The reward for this labourious task? £10 between them! Feargal spoke about the labels that rejected their first demo tape (Chiswick, Radar & Stiff are the infamous guilty parties). Apparently, Feargal has only ever forgiven Stiff for rejecting them as their rebuffing was done with the type of humour Stiff were renowned for.
The early venues like The Casbah got a mention, including the infamous incident where Feargal put his foot through the floor! The story of recording the first demo tape, trying to get a deal, subsequently getting rejected, pestering Good Vibrations and the eventual release of the 'Teenage Kicks' EP was, I'm sure, meant to serve as a cautionary tale to the budding musicians present. Sadly, it didn't hit home with everyone, but more of that later-
At the time of signing to Sire, Feargal elaborated, "We were given an advance by the record company of £30,000 and I made it last between the five of us for a year". The day after the band's first appearance on Top Of The Pops Feargal explained that he was out delivering televisions, his day job at the time.
The Undertones material of Feargal's talk consisted mainly of the early days, presumably to illustrate how he had started his career in the music industry. On the subject of The Undertones' later day career Feargal explained that they had found themselves in the whole single, album, tour scenario. The lack of success in America followed, as did the split from Sire and formation of Ardeck. As Feargal explained, the whole situation had put a strain on the band and each of the members.
Feargal didn't linger on the demise of The Undertones in any great depth but moved on to discuss his involvement with the one-off single by The Assembly and his solo material which followed. Other subjects which spring to mind were working with Dave Stewart, American radio stations and their lack of personnel and the 'Swatch' (watches) sponsorship. Someone asked Feargal what the 'Swatch' sponsorship actually entailed. The reply came as something like, "They gave me a load of money to wear their watches and endorse them".
At the time of the talk Feargal was working as A&R manager for a label called EXP (an offshoot of the 'Viacom' American group). Almost justifying his present position, Feargal explained that he simply didn't want to be an ageing musician (a preference he has reiterated in more recent times). Livingstone Brown then spoke for his part of the seminar and then proceedings were thrown open to questions from the audience.
As I said earlier, I saw Feargal's talk as something of a cautionary tale. Sadly, a teenage grunge fan (complete with obligatory Nirvana long sleeved shirt) piped up that he was in a grunge band who were "really goo", so why wouldn't Feargal sign him?! Feargal responded by assuring the chap in question that he was sure his band where "very good", but he would only sign a band/artist that his company would profit from. Unfortunately at the time grunge bands were ten a penny (there's still too many of them now, in my opinion).
Most of the questions were fairly run of the mill and not related to The Undertones. I resisted the temptation of asking anything so 'publicly' - besides, where would I have begun?! Big George wrapped things up and thanked his guests. I remember a grunge girl leaping from her seat at this point and bounding over to Feargal to inform him that she bought a copy of 'A Good Heart'. Feargal appeared less than impressed - what was he supposed to say or do?!
By this time the male sub-youth grungers had also assembled around Feargal, excitedly relaying tales of the sad little bands they'd formed. I managed to push aside said grungsters, resplendent in their black clothes, and speak to Feargal again briefly before I departed. I can't remember what I said but I know I managed to divert Danny from telling him about his bloody Cliff impersonating.
In the aftermath of the evening it felt bizarre that I'd encountered Feargal in such an informal environment. I never really discovered how the evening had come about or how Feargal had ended up there. I went along without any expectations and, therefore, came away happy with a pile of signed Undertones memorabilia and the experience of having heard Feargal talk about his career without the aid of some cheesy 'rock history' book or NME style 'journalism'. 'Twas a total pleasure!
The following week the local newspaper ran a short review of the seminar and gave it the headline "Feargal's frank insight". I've often wondered why I didn't take along a camera or tape recorded to capture the event in a more permanent manner. I guess it'll just have to remain a memory.
I dithered about over phoning Feargal on the number he'd given me, feeling certain that I'd end up saying something ridiculous. I finally mustered up the courage some months later to call - sadly, by that time I did call he'd left the company! I enquired if the company knew where he'd gone, "No, we don't" came the curt reply, followed by the phone being slammed down!
I guess another person's past is a very private thing and probably best left alone. Leaving it alone is exactly what I decided to do. Although whiling away a couple of hours listening to an ex-Undertone speak is a fine way to spend one's time, in my book!
Meanwhile, Danny quit his job in the warehouse, appeared on 'Stars In Their Eyes' as Cliff and was last seen hanging out with a member of The Shadows.
I guess someone had to do it-but I'm glad it wasn't me!
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