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In Tua Nua | |
|---|---|
| Origin | County Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | Rock, folk rock, alternative rock |
| Years active | 1982–1990, 2004–present |
| Labels | Mother,Island,Virgin |
| Past members | Leslie Dowdall Jack Dublin Vinnie Kilduff Ivan O'Shea Martin Clancy Paul Byrne Steve Wickham Aingeala de Burca Brian O'Briain Lovely Previn Matt Spalding |
In Tua Nua were an Irish rock band in the 1980s. Members throughout this period were singerLeslie Dowdall, guitaristMartin Clancy, bassist Jack Dublin, and drummer Paul Byrne, of whom all but Clancy have performed in the band's occasional reunions since the 2000s.
The group was formed byLeslie Dowdall, Jack Dublin,Vinnie Kilduff, Ivan O'Shea,Martin Clancy, Paul Byrne andSteve Wickham in the early 1980s.[1] The band's name was taken fromGouverneur Morris's 1929 short story "Iphigenia in Tua Nua", set on a fictionalTahitian island named Tua Nua.[2][3] Although the group's focus was an earlyRoxy Music-style rock, it combined this aspiration with modern-styledfolk and traditional Irish music in the form ofuilleann pipes and acoustic guitars, laced together with raw vocals and electronic violin.
In 1984, the band were the first to sign toU2'sMother label and released their first single "Coming Thru".[4] Shortly afterwardsIsland Records signed the band.[1] A number of singles were released and a debut album recorded. The first Island single was the critically acclaimed "Take My Hand", co-written by a youngSinéad O'Connor.[5] This was followed by a second single, a cover ofJefferson Airplane's hit "Somebody to Love".[1]
In 1985, Steve Wickham left to join forces withthe Waterboys and Island dropped the band.[1] The album recorded for Island remains unreleased. Acompilation album of singles andb-sides was released in Italy under the titleSomebody to Love.
Vinnie Kilduff also departed from the band around this time. The remaining members recruited replacements – Aingeala de Burca on violin and Brian O'Briain on uilleann pipes.
On 17 May 1986, the new look In Tua Nua played theSelf Aid concert.[6] Newly signed toVirgin Records the band released "Seven into the Sea", one of their most popular recordings. An albumVaudeville was released in early 1987.[1]
After touring to promote the album the band reconvened to record a follow-up. Shortly after the recording was completed both de Burca and O'Shea decided to leave. Two new recruits were found –Alicia 'Lovely' Previn on violin and Matt Spalding on bass – andThe Long Acre was released in 1988.[1] It spawned two radiohits "All I Wanted" and "Don't Fear Me Now". "All I Wanted" peaked at No. 69 in theUK Singles Chart in May 1988.[7] A third single from the album, "Wheel of Evil", was also released.
The band went to Los Angeles, California to record a third album for Virgin. After the recording was finished the band split, and Virgin did not immediately release the finished product.[8] BothVaudeville andThe Long Acre were made available oniTunes in 2006, and the unreleased third album calledWhen Night Came Down on Sunset was eventually released through iTunes in September 2007.
Although officially disbanded in 1990, some original members reformed in 2004[9] to occasionally play live together again.[10] In 2010 M.P. & Records, Italy releasedVaudeville andThe Long Acre re-mastered with bonus tracks on CD (five bonus tracks on "Vaudeville" and three bonus tracks on "The Long Acre"). Both albums are distributed by G.T. Music Distribution.
Leslie Dowdall continues to perform, be it solo or guesting with other Irish and international singers. She released two well-received solo albums in the 1990s;No Guilt, No Guile andOut There.
Paul Byrne and Jack Dublin still play together as the rhythm section in Rocky de Valera and The Gravediggers. Byrne manages the Irish band Von Shakes, while Dublin is the main songwriter for the Dublin band Audiokiss. In late 2010, they also played several shows as part of a band backingPogues frontman,Shane MacGowan.[11]
| Date | Single | Irish Charts [13] | Dutch Charts [14] | UK [7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1985 | "Take My Hand" | 19 | ||
| June 1986 | "Seven into The Sea" | 9 | 24 | |
| March 1987 | "Heaven Can Wait" | 16 | ||
| November 1987 | "Some Things Never Change" | 22 | ||
| April 1988 | "All I Wanted" | 17 | 69 | |
| November 1988 | "Wheel Of Evil" | 90 |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
