A to Z of N. Ireland Punk Bands

SHOCK TREATMENT

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The roots of Shock Treatment can be traced right back to the mid 1970’s when vocalist Barry McIlheney formed a band, Essence with Howard Ingram. In 1976 Ingram left to form The Detonators (and later The Tearjerkers) and was replaced by Dave ‘Basil’ McCausland and the band then changed their name to The North Belfast Boogie Band.

Shock Treatment were formed in late 1978, inspired by the energy of bands such as Dr. Feelgood, Eddie and the Hot Rods and of course the Ramones. The original line-up featured Barry McIlheney (vocals), Davy McLarnon (guitar), David ‘Basil’ McCausland (bass), Tim Kerr (guitar), and Chris Loughridge (drums). The band had several line-ups before stabilising as a four piece with Barry McIlheney-vocals, DavyTreatment - guitar/bass/vocals, David "Basil" McCausland - bass/guitar and Paul Kelly -drums.

Signed to Terri Hooley's Good Vibrations label following a gig at The Harp Bar the band recorded "Belfast Telegraph" c/w "I Like It Like That" for a proposed single release. However, finances dictated that the single never materialized but "Belfast Telegraph" did finally see the light of day as part of the Energy/Good Vibrations "Room to Move" E.P released in 1980. The single also featured The Outcasts, Big Self, and Dublin's Vipers. In 2018 Spit Records finally got hold of the original master tapes from Terri Hooley’s garage and released this punk nugget on limited run 7-inch vinyl, now long since SOLD OUT.

The band played all the local Belfast venues such as the Harp Bar and the Pound Club and they even launched their own venue at the Bailey Bar which would later become the Teds “Cool Kats Club". Under the management of Coleraine man Alan Brown the band would become firm favourites with the music fans in the North West playing Spuds, Kelly’s and Beachcombers on a regular basis.

Keen to have their music heard Shock Treatment would follow the lead of bands such as The Tearjerkers and took their set of original material to all arts and parts of Ireland, North and South. Several tours were undertaken up until the band split in late 1982 and there would be notable appearances at The Ulster Hall at The Good Vibes Party and a support slot to The Skids along with University gigs where the band shared the bill with the likes of U2 and The Psycadelic Furs.

A second single " Big Check Shirts" c/w " Mystery Man" was recorded and released on the bands own DAB label in 1981. It received enthusiastic reviews in the local press and indeed the NME and for a time could be heard on local radio and most pleasingly on John Peel’s night time show on BBC Radio 1.

By the end of 1982 however, the band had fizzled out and by 1983 Barry McIlheney had started writing for Melody Maker in London, sharing a flat with Ruefrex drummer Paul Burgess. Barry went on to become Editor of Smash Hits and Empire magazines, Chief Executive of emap elan, publishers of, among other titles, Heat, The Face, Arena, and Elle. Davy Treatment went on to form Five Boys and he would later join Peacefrog.

Sadly "Basil" McCausland died suddenly in May of this year (2011) whilst living in London. Anyone who knew the big man or ever saw him perform will know well what a wonderful human being he was. Paul Kelly is believed to be living in Co. Clare and Alan Brown lives in his native Portstewart to this day. Davy is currently involved in re-recording some old Shock Treatment and Five Boys songs and hopes to be playing live next year. Work is also underway on some new material with both McIlheney and Davy Treatment involved. Four previously unreleased Shock Treatment tracks appear on the Spit Records compilation Shellshock Rockers.

Barry McIlheney “"They were fantastic, mad days, like a lot of bands at that time, we stopped playing Status Quo on the Friday and started writing our own punk classics on the Monday. For a brief period, I thought we were going to conquer the world. Thankfully, we didn't."

In 2012 founder member Davy McLarnon resurrected the Shock Treatment name and back catalogue under the banner of Shock Treatment 21. The current line - up was Davy McLarnon (gtr/vox), Keith McVeigh formerly of Sample and Hold (keys) and John Rossi ( ex Peacefrog, Zipps etc - bass) and Brian Steenson drums. However, Brian was soon replaced by Gordie Walker. Gordy & John both also currently play in Protex.

The band have put together a set of reworked Shock Treatment classics and one or two new tunes. They made their live debut on Friday 8th June at the Pavilion Bar in Belfast 2012. Firm favourites of Spit Records, we subsequently released their debut album ‘The Days of The Buckshee Bounce Are Nearly Over, to much critical acclaim on 15th June 2014 and exactly three years later released a 7-inch single, ‘Picolina’ with Allan Clarke of Ruefrex guesting on lead vocals.
Keith McVeigh eventually left the band in 2019 and they recruited a second guitarist, Ben Trowell. Ben had previously played in 80’s Belfast band Ghost of An American Airman and indeed, a number of their songs were added to their set. 21 was also dropped from the band name. The first fruit of this new line up was the track ‘People Do Their Best’ which appeared on Spit Records compilation CD, 21st Century Orbital Debris, towards the end of 2022.

On 26th January 2024, Spit Records released a new album by Shock Treatment entitled Exclusive Photos. The album features new material and re-recordings of old material, some of which has never been recorded before. A small number of copies are still available from our online shop.