The Gravediggers : Pall Bearer- aka Paul Byrne - (Drums)

Pall Bearer aka Paul Byrne began playing drums at age 9, entertaining the kids in his neighbourhood with renditions of Cosy Powell's 'Dance with the Devil' and The Sweet's 'Blockbuster' on a couple of 2nd hand drums he picked up for birthdays and Christmas presents. At age 12 he started jamming with the school jazz band before joining his first heavy rock band 'Mercury' at age 15, who's major claim to fame was that they played at the infamous 'Peace Concert' in Phoenix Park which ended in the arrest of the organiser and 'Legalise Cannabis activist' Ubi Dwyer. Rival northside band 'U2' weren't on the bill, but drummer Larry Mullen came along and helped Paul and the lads set up their gear.

After taking a break to do his leaving cert, Paul formed Howth band 'Sounds Unreel' with Conor Brady, Conor Kelly, John McGlue and Chiefy. They played regular support gigs in Howth Community Centre to U2 and to Howth's local heroes 'Rocky de Valera and the Gravediggers'. When the Gravediggers split up Paul convinced Jack Dublin to join him in the now renamed Deaf Actor. Deaf Actor became the leading light in the early eighties post punk movement in Howth which also included 'The Spies' (Gerry Leonard, now David Bowie's MD on Guitar and Joey Barry of 'The Amazing Colossal Men' on vocals), 'Yeah Yeah' (Neil McCormack on vocals, author of 'I was Bono's Doppelganger'), and 'Reveille' (Andrew Bass on vocals, now owner of www.ceb.ie).

When 'Deaf Actor' broke up in 1983, Paul and Jack went on to form 'In Tua Nua' with local guitarist/engineer Ivan O'Shea, avant garde composer Martin Clancy, and Deaf Actor and U2 sideman 'Steve Wickham'. It was in these early days of In Tua Nua that Paul discovered Sinead O'Connor (full story http://music.yahoo.com/ar-259638-bio--Sinead-OConnor). Sinead lost out in the running to be vocalist in In Tua Nua to the lovely Leslie Dowdall who was singing backing vocals for 'Rocky de Valera and the Rhythm Kings' at the time. In Tua Nua's first record was the first ever release on U2's own ŒMother Records' label (mother001). The band then signed for Island Records and later for Virgin Records. They toured extensively in Europe and the US as supports to U2, Simple Minds and Bob Dylan to name a few. ITN released 2 albums on Virgin: 'Vaudeville' and 'The Long Acre' but unfortunately broke up having completed their third with Paul and Jack on opposite sides of the split. All in all Paul and Jack had played as a rhythm section for 9 years. During this time Paul had also formed a strong musical bond with singer songwriter 'Luka Bloom' and played many shows as Luka's percussionist and sidekick. Paul also played drums on Luka's highly acclaimed album 'The Acoustic Motorbike'.

Paul continued writing with co-writer Martin Clancy and formed 'Yellow Moon Studios' in Howth. They also performed as 'Sugar Candy Mountain' and played a high energy set using backing tracks, live guitar, bongos and vocals. The duo had an Irish hit with 'Do you know what hurts the children?' (in aid of Childline), a song later recorded by Sinead O'Connor.

Paul then formed cowpunk outfit 'The Texas Kellys' with banjo ace Jimmy Kelly and fiddle player 'Steve Wickham'. Paul produced an album for them on Mulligan records called 'Stay All Night'. The Texas Kelly's were the most fun band Paul had ever played with and helped revive that old love for playing that had been soured somewhat by the record business.

Paul then went looking for fun and found it in 'Dave and the Beebops', (the remnants of Rock'n'Roll legends 'Hurricane Johnny and the Jets'). Paul played with them for six years but it ended with the tragic death of frontman 'David Coyle'. David Coyle was a gifted songwriter who spent a lot of time in Yellow Moon laying down tracks which became an album of David's songs called 'When I Grow Up'. At this time Paul also began producing and co-writing with a young singer called Sean Loughman. Spotting the drama in his voice, Paul put him forward for a show about 'Jacques Brel' that his sister, chanteuse 'Jeannette Byrne', was producing with an outfit called 'The Black Romantics'. Sean got the part and became the singing sensation that is 'Jack L'. Paul also helped Jeannette launched her solo career by producing her album 'Elegy' which featured some of Paul's original songs.

Paul continued writing and producing but the bug to play live again wouldn't go away. In late 2003 Paul called up members of In Tua Nua and asked them to meet for pints. A great night was had and hatchets were buried. Rehearsals started and a gig was planned for Easter Sunday 2004. The Easter rising gig was a huge success, the band were better than the first time around. Jack said that playing again with Paul after a gap of 15 years was like putting on an old pair of slippers. Due to personal commitments the band only did a small number of follow up gigs, but significantly Ferdia McAnna was at one of the shows looking for a rhythm section.

Paul now runs Phonic Studios and Optophonic Ltd with producer/composer Derek Cronin. They produced Jeannette Byrne's recent album 'Cafe Diva' an more recently the new 'RdV & t GDs' CD Diceman/Sinne Fianna Fail Blues. The studio is a minute's walk from Dublin's 'Spire'. www.phonicstudios.com