Miracle Cure formed on the north coast in 1979 with a debut gig at the Sea Splash in Portstewart. As bass player Sean Corr recalls “We played it with hired equipment that we got from a shop in Derry. The gig was pretty packed out and we made enough money to cover the hire, but then ended up with extra charges because we had no way of returning it. I think the owner had to come and get it himself!”

The band were Louis Coulter - vocals/rhythm guitar, Eamon Connor - guitar, Chris Hickey - drums, and Sean Corr - bass. Eamon, Louis and Sean had put the group together and had practiced their set acoustically. Chris joined as drummer after they had posted an ad on a uni noticeboard. He didn't have a drum kit so they only had one full practice before their debut gig.

However, they were soon practicing regularly in one of the lecture theatres at Coleraine University and quickly had original songs such as ‘Sweet Suicide’, ‘Radio One’ ‘Hey Sweet Thing’, ‘Vampire Lover’ & ‘Durex Blues’ in their live set. A recording was made of one such practice session, but sadly doesn’t survive.

Unfortunately, the band were short lived. Singer Louis left the following year and a new singer brought a new name and change of musical direction and The Captions were born (see elsewhere for a full Captions bio).

The band’s ‘signature song’ was ‘Radio One’ and was the only one to survive the crossover to the Captions. It had a reggae rhythm with a base line lifted straight from the Kinks. Sean Corr again “ I still remember the lyrics and was disappointed when we eventually dropped it from The Captions set.

Everybody's having fun on Radio one
Bloody Radio one
Just like the girl on page three of the Sun
And I wish I had a gun
Cause then something could be done

I wanna get up
I wanna get up
but I just can't move
Just can't move
Just can't move

Why am I sitting on the floor
When  I could be doing more
Now there's someone at the door
And they're knocked three times before

Chorus and first verse repeated.

One interesting final story though, a few years later I was at a rock festival in Portumna. I was backstage with a couple of journalist mates who had got me a press pass with a faked NUJ card in return for driving them down. A roadie for the Pretenders came up to me at the bar and said "You used to be the base guitarist for Miracle Cure” and proceeded to tell me he had really liked us. My only claim to fame and recognition”.

If anyone has any further information or a photograph of this band, then please DO get in contact via spit77to82@aol.com