County: Antrim

Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock

Decades Active: 2000s, 2010s, 2020s

About Bad Boat

Graeme Heyburn and Tom Clarke formed Bad Boat summer of 2002 in Belfast and began rehearsing with fellow Belfastians Jason Hendry on bass and Doot O' Reilly on drums. Jason left to focus on his long established main band Honey For Christ and Doot joined local cover band The Untouchables.

Veteran drummer Stephen Hobson moved up from Banbridge and bassist Niall Ward, who had moved from Enniskillen to go to Art College, joined the crew to present the first live incarnation of the band in Aug 2003.

A good local buzz developed from approving live audiences and DJ from local techno band Slam Bigots John Gallagher was inspired enough to join as a second guitarist. They recorded first demo 'Oblivion Switch' Nov 2003 at The Oaks in Enniskillen.

Following an absent Atomic Bitchwax support slot but a Five Horse Johnson one, what seemed like a residency in many bars in Belfast, much damaged equipment, a burnt out rehearsal room, several charity gigs and a sold out first demo, Bad Boat recorded 'Breathing Space' at FeRoX Industries in Belfast in Sep 2004.

'Breathing Space' gained great reviews, garnered 'Demo of the Month' in 'Metal Hammer' and sold out fairly quickly. A German net label put it up for free download on a creative commons license at this site-

Nov 2005, not long after a wee Irish tour with Santa Cruz band ‘Vincent's Ear' and more local gigs, John got married and left the band soon after. He still plays in bands with varied styles and teaches in a Music School.

2006 saw the band return as a four piece to join a great local line-up along with Nevermore and Devildriver at the first but hopefully not the last outdoor Metal event in Belfast ‘Rottfest'. Unfortunately they were asked while onstage, to forfeit their show due to time constrictions.

The band seemed to reach a lull in motivation due to increasing negativity, lack of funds to travel and to invest in better equipment. It was agreed however that there was still plenty of good music left in the Boat and that an album should be recorded.

Though Steve had decided to leave a while before, he recorded drums on their debut album. The launch gig was Steve's last with the band. He later went on to join Devilmakesthree.

‘Blues Gone Black' was released Sep 2006 on independent label Rundown Records (Also home of Honey For Christ, Condemned, Overoth and Cerebral Bore).

Michael McGoran from Ballymoney band Shylock tried out on drums soon after and quickly learned all of Bad Boat's songs and joined the current line-up.

In 2007 the Boat got to tour with Orange Goblin and had some great shows with Grey Daturas, Ostinato and Crowning Glory. Later that year recording for a future vinyl release began in Railway Studios, Lisburn. The 'Lonely Doom' EP was released in 2009. Ten years later, the album 'Drown the Phoenix' was released.