The Undertones are an Irish rock band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1975. The original band consisted of: Feargal Sharkey (lead vocals), John O'Neill (guitar), Damian O'Neill (guitar, keyboards and vocals), Michael Bradley (bass and vocals), and Billy Doherty (drums).
John O'Neill was the original main song writer, with his brother Damian and Mickey Bradley writing in various solo & combined variations for most of the remainder.
Sharkey's power pop tenor was distinctive, and the band regarded a tight ensemble. By 1977 they were performing their own three-chord pop punk material influenced by Nuggets-type material and the Ramones, and in 1978 released their debut four-song EP Teenage Kicks on Good Vibrations. It became a hit with support from DJ John Peel, who considered that EP's title song his all-time favourite. The song has been covered by many including boyband Busted (at the 2003 Brit Awards) and French band Nouvelle Vague.
They have released four studio albums: The Undertones ( 1979), Hypnotised ( 1980), Positive Touch ( 1981) The Sin Of Pride ( 1983). Falling sales linked to their changing musical direction and tensions within the band, leading to their split in 1983. A compilation album titled All Wrapped Up featured a woman dressed in lunch meats wrapped in clear plastic on the (non band approved) cover. Several other compilations including the superb BBC sessions CD Listening In (named after a song on their first album) ( 2004) exist. Undertones - You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It) excerpt ( file info) An excerpt from You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It) Problems listening to the file? See media help.
