Toasted Heretic

Toasted Heretic were an Irish rock group who attracted a cult following in the late 1980s and 1990s. They were founded in Galway in 1985, where singer and lyricist Julian Gough was studying English and philosophy.[1] Their best known early independent released songs include "You Make Girls Unhappy" and "LSD (Isn’t What It Used to Be)" both released on their first two EPs.

Toasted Heretic
OriginGalway, Ireland
GenresAlternative rock, alternative pop, punk rock
Years active1985–present
LabelsBananafish Records
Liquid Records
MembersDeclan Collins
Neil Farrell
Julian Gough
Aengus McMahon
Barry Wallace
Past membersBreffni O'Rourke

They made the top ten of the Irish Singles Chart in 1992 with "Galway and Los Angeles", written by Julian Gough about a chance meeting with Sinéad O'Connor in the entrance to Raidió Teilifís Éireann's Dublin studios.[2][3]

History

The band was formed in Galway in the mid-1980s and came to national attention with a self-published album, Songs for Swinging Celibates (an allusion to the Frank Sinatra album Songs for Swingin' Lovers), in 1988. The album was recorded on cassette tape via a TASCAM Portastudio in drummer and producer Neil Farrell's home, and distributed only on cassette.

A second album, Charm and Arrogance, was released in the same format in 1989, with its inlay card designed to resemble an addressed envelope, including a real (low value) Irish postage stamp.

By the 1990 release of "The Smug E.P.", the band had attracted a following, including DJs in RTÉ and internationally. They developed a live following, and gained a positive review in Q magazine, as well as a record contract with Liquid Records, a small Independent record label. Liquid Records released the full-length album Another Day, Another Riot (1992], the titular single, and the song Galway and Los Angeles, which reached #9 in the Irish music charts.

Toasted Heretic returned to their own independent "Bananafish" label for their last original album, 1993's Mindless Optimism.

Without formally breaking up, the band went on hiatus throughout the 1990s, performing sporadically while its members pursued other interests: Farrell produced music; and Gough wrote his a debut novel, Juno & Juliet (ISBN 0-385-72161-7).

Discography

Albums
  • Songs for Swinging Celibates (1988)
  • Charm and Arrogance (1989)
  • Another Day, Another Riot (1992)
  • Mindless Optimism (1994)

Compilation album
  • Now in New Nostalgia Flavour (2005)

Extended plays
  • The Smug EP (1990)

Singles
  • "Galway and Los Angeles" (1991)
  • "Another Day, Another Riot" (1992)
  • "LSD (Isn’t What It Used to Be)" (2005)

Members

Current members

Former members
  • Breffni O'Rourke (rhythm guitar 1985-1992, 2005)

References
  1. Gough, Julian (2 October 2005), "The bedsit of horrors - Time and place", The Sunday Times (Irish edition) – via NewsBank
  2. Murphy, Peter (4 June 2009). "Choose your top 20 indie moments!". Hot Press.
  3. "Julian Gough on the Late Late Show part 1". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
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