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The Fuze
U2 The early dayz
The Fuze
Galway 1980 - 1983
Line up;
Pat Coyne Vocal
Paul Gaughan Guitar
Dave Fitzgerald Lead guitar
John Fitzpatrick Keyboards
Michael Staunton Bass
Mike Arrigan Drums
The Fuze won the Tramore Band competition in 1980. The prize was a single to be released on Mulligan Records, Stone Age Man was released in December 1980. Mulligan records signed The Fuze to a 3 record deal, but this all fell through when they ran into money problems after over extending themselves promoting the Boomtown Rats in the UK. The Fuze would go on to record a second which charted in Ireland on their own One Up label.
Records
7" Stone Age Man/Zealano Mulligan Records LUNS 745
7" It's Sunday Morning/Insanity Release Records RL 1060
Gig Guide
Holiday Hotel Salthill
The Fuze are a six piece band who are stretching the frontiers of pop music in the west, with a flexible lineup of two guitars, keyboards, rhythm section and vocals. From a set comprising almost all originals, “Invasions” is the popular choice, being arty but also danceable. Danceable is the operative word, though caution is detectable among those on the floor. This is no disco, the bass is not driven but is calculated and menacing; “Insanity” leads us up the same by roads explored by XTC, where we’re also treated to “Spanish Village” and “I’m A Priest”.
Covers in the unlikely forms of “Are Friends Electric” and the Jag’s Back of My Hand” do little to disguise their points of reference. This is pop for the 80’s; Andy Partridge would feel at home here. The status which they have attained here is quite impressive given Galway’s reticence in such matters. Six months ago the Fuze would have had no place here, now they are oddities in an odd town.
But, it is easy to be the best band in Galway. From being accepted they can easily become overrated the reaction is often enthusiastic and oblivious to flaws. If they’re to go anywhere in the long run, they’d be as well to remember that they’ve a long way to go.
Hot Press Review Barry Moderne.
29/03/1980 McGonagle's, Dublin late night, The Shade played the afternoon show with The Strougers playing the early evening show.
03/04/1980 McGonagle's, Dublin
26/04/1980 Southern Hotel, Galway. The is part of the Galway Arts Festival.
09/05/1980 Seapoint Ballroom, Galway with U2
30/05/1980 Seapoint Ballroom
18/07/1980 Maple Ballroom, Ballina
09/10/1980 UCG
Hot Press Review The Teen Commandments/The Fuze Project Arts Centre
On their first excursion outside Galway the Fuze walked away with first prize at Tramore competion which, among other things, landed them a contract with Mulligan Records. On their second jaunt away from home they walked away with the prize for best Dublin debut by any band, which landed them with this “rave” review, and probably a kiss of death.
Together since November ’79 they have in a year established a very individual sound with definite influences from the Rats, U2 and even Madness in “I am A Soldier”. On a night when sound problems threatened to drown them out it was difficult to identify individual performances but Pat Coyne’s lyrics and vocal style revealed considerable potential, especially when he was joined on vocals by bassist Mike Staunton, John Fitzpatrick’s keyboards adds a lot of colour and ideas to the sound especially on their upcoming single “Stone Age Man” and the even superior “Sundays”. Instead “Stone Age Man” with a harder rock line is not really typical of their overall modern, Bowie influenced style, which can keep you dancing while listening to subtle underpinnings and off beat themes.
The point for now being that the Fuze have ideas and ability in abundance. Watch them go.
The Teen Commandments would benefit from the addition of a keyboard player/song writer to give a more expensive sound and add a few ideas to the material. At present the band are dominated by bassist, singer Philip Byrne, whose songs are interesting in isolation, but by the end of sixteen all that can be recalled are the titles, a few catchy lines or muscial variations. Byrne has a strong voice and the drummer works hard, but the guitar playing seldom goes beyond basic rhythm work. Pete Holidai added a beefier sound and doubled up on vocals for “Private World” and the ensuing crazed jam on “Television Screen” – and his presence was a great help in relieving the tedium of the previous half hour. Anybody know an unemployed keyboard player? Just ring…
Senan Turnball
