Irish musicians have played important roles and influenced every style of music imaginable – from classical, to jazz, to folk, to country. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here’s a list of ten notable Irish artists and bands in the pop and rock genres. The list is by no means meant to be definitive, just this Honorary Irishman’s humble opinion. In alphabetical order:
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The Boomtown Rats – Led by future humanitarian Bob Geldof, these post-punk rockers never found a large audience in the States. Even their biggest worldwide hit, “I Don’t Like Mondays” fell short of the Top-40 here. Still, the group’s blend of epic, Springsteen-esque story-songs and punk attitude are worth checking out, especially on the group’s U.S. debut, A Tonic for the Troops.
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Clannad / Enya – Clannad had been creating its unique combination of traditional Irish folk, Celtic, pop and new age music since the early 70s. It took ten years for the group to achieve international success, primarily through its work on various movie and television soundtracks. Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, better known as Enya, struck out on her own in the mid-80s and found even greater success creating ethereal, multi-layered vocal orchestrations that walked a fine line between pop and new age.
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The Corrs – This three sisters and a brother act enjoyed a great deal of worldwide success in the ten year period between 1996 and 2006. The band’s sound, epitomized by hits like “Runaway” and “Breathless,” leaned heavily toward pop-rock, but contained a fair sprinkling of traditional Irish influences and instrumentation.
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The Cranberries – This Limerick-based alternative rock band enjoyed plenty of airplay and chart success for most of the 90s on the basis of its two great strengths – sharp pop songwriting (typified by hits like “Linger,” “Dreams,” and “Salvation”), and the pure, powerful voice of lead singer Dolores O'Riordan.
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Rory Gallagher – The late, great blues-rock guitarist Rory Gallagher died too young – he was only 47 when years of substance abuse finally caught up with him in 1995. Although his albums sold over 30 million copies worldwide, perhaps his most important and lasting contribution to music is evidenced by his acknowledged influence on guitarists like The Edge, Slash, Johnny Marr, Glenn Tipton, and Brian May.
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House of Pain / Everlast – In the early 90s, white rappers were still a novelty, and legitimate white rappers were an even bigger rarity. Spittin’ lyrics in a full-on brogue, Everlast stepped to the plate not as a copycat, but as a “copy that.” With an even more successful solo career he demonstrated his range in a variety of musical genres.
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Van Morrison – Morrison is the reigning monarch of Irish singer-songwriters. Fans might question whether this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee should be recognized more for his exceptional songwriting or for his unique, soulful voice. Fortunately, there’s no need to rush a decision – at age 63, Morrison is still going strong.
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The Pogues – Some reviews of Pogues concerts talk of shows of unparalleled power and elegance, others of performances marred by incoherent drunkenness. The focal point of contradiction is always Shane MacGowan — singer, songwriter, and enigmatic leader of the group — the man who's equally responsible for the Pogues' greatest achievements as well as its occasional downfalls.
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Thin Lizzy – For my money, Thin Lizzy is one of the most underrated rock bands of all time. Lead singer Phil Lynott was a fine songwriter, and a charismatic front man. The group was one of the pioneers of the twin lead guitar sound, and a terrific live act.
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U2 – Okay, Bono and the boys can get a bit pretentious at times, but as a band they’re still the current kings of the mountain. The group has been around long enough to be considered classic rock, but as evidenced by its new chart topping effort, No Line on the Horizon, the band is still taking chances – and finding a large audience in the process.
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