About Five Go Down To The Sea?
Five Go Down to the Sea? were an 80s post-punk band from Cork that evolved out of Nun Attax in 1982 as a rebranding and fresh start for the band. Nun Attax had being active on the Cork punk scene since 1978. They were founded by Finbarr Donnelly (vocals), Ricky Dineen (guitar), and brothers Philip (bass) and Keith "Smelly" O'Connell (drums). In '82 the band had reached an impasse as they were frustrated by the local scene and difficulty in getting gigs due to their punk reputation so they decided to start afresh and rename the band. 'Five Go Down to the Sea' was the name of a Nun Attax song (as well as an Enid Blyton kid's novel), so Donnelly added a question mark and that was the new name.
Five Go Down to the Sea? was actually more than just a new name for Nun Attax, it was more like a separate band as they also had lineup changes and a change of sound. Bass player Philip O'Connell had left and they added another guitarist, Michael Stack. They were looking for a bass player to replace O'Connell but instead they brought in cello player Úna Ní Chanainn who was also interested in playing bass but they found the cello worked so well they decided to forget about bass guitar and go with cello instead. The cello added a distinctive depth to their sound. The members, coming from varied backgrounds, found a unique chemistry that allowed them to blend avant-garde elements with punk, creating something original and locally rooted in Cork. The refreshed band recorded the Knot A Fish EP 7’’ for Kabuki Records. Soon after the band left recession-ridden Cork for London.
As new immigrants to London, the band scraped a living but gradually gained critical acclaim, earning a reputation for astonishing live gigs and releasing The Glee Club 12’’ for Abstract Sounds and the Singing in Braille 12’’ for Alan McGee’s fledgling Creation Records.
In 1988, Five Go Down to the Sea? changed their name to Beethoven and provided Setanta Records with its first release, the Him Goolie Goolie Man, Dem 12’’. This single would go on to be named NME ‘Single of the Week’. A few weeks later on 18 June 1989 Donnelly died in a drowning accident; he was 27 years of age.
Their legacy has grown over time, with their innovative and eccentric approach influencing subsequent Cork bands. In 2020, they were honoured with a mural in Cork, and a compilation album, Hiding from the Landlord, was released, celebrating their impact on the music scene.
Video
Five Go Down To The Sea? - Elephants For Fun And Profit
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