thE WEEKEND before last. The Undertones were forced to cancel the second half of their Irish tour at extremely short notice due to an unexpected combination of unlikely factors. The 'Tones embarked on the tour even though bassist Mickey Bradley had a leg in plaster - he apparently fell over an ashtray a London photographer's studio during a recent session there! and guitarist Damien O'Neill was reduced to wearing a neck brace - according to band sources- he's strained his neck and shoulder muscles by continually wearing such a heavy guitar!

But the final straw came when drummer Billy Doherty managed to somehow perforate an ear-drum midway through the series of dates. Though this injury is in itself not serious- Doherty can't engage in any live or studio work until the ear is healed- something which will take a few weeks. The band therefore had to reluctantly cancel their gigs in Cork and Limerick.

Meanwhile the two Dublin concerts (scheduled for the Manor House last week) were also cancelled when Dublin Corporation suspended the use of the hall as a rock venue pending thorough examination of its fire precautions following the recent Stardust disaster.

Better news for Undertones fans is that the band plan to release a new single and album shortly- as soon as they complete their current negotiations with an undisclosed major record company. According to 'Tones singer Feargal Sharkey speaking to Hot Press' Senan Turnbull before their Galway gig- they're setting up their own label- whose product will then be licensed to the major. The deal will be for six albums (and presumably upwards of a dozen singles) to be released by The Undertones over a six to eight year period. Though such negotiations are clearly delicate- the band anticipate an advance well into six figures.

The first fruits of this deal should come with the release of a new single before the end of March- with the band's third album to follow in late April or early May. The album has been recorded with Roger Bechirian- who also produced "The Undertones" and "Hypnotised". We can also reveal that much of the material on the new set is slower and more melodic than has been the case to date with The Undertones. And in a move which may surprise some- the band have used acoustic guitars- keyboards and horns- to broaden their sound - reports from independent parties who''. grabbed an earful of their new sound being positive- to say the least. While a complete track-listing or album title as yet unavailable- songs likely to be included are "Forever Paradise"- "Good looking Girlfriend"- "Fascination"- "Crisis Of Mine"- "When . Sat Comes" and "You're Welcome".

The Undertones return to live work with tours of Britain in early summer- Europe in late summer and the States in the autumn.

by Tone Deaf