SUBURBANITES
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Newry band The Suburbanites originally traded under the name Impact and formed in 1983. Impact were Gary 'Titch' Rafferty (vocals), Ramy Smith (guitar), Hugh McKenna (Bass) and Phely Lundy (drums). Their live set was littered with cover versions by the likes of The Defects, The Outcasts, The Ramones, Ruefrex and Stiff Little Fingers. At one memorable live performance, they played on the roof of Newry Arts Centre which led to the resignation of the head of the Arts Council. Impact also had forays to Belfast where they played with Re’bel at Whiterock Leisure centre. Impact split in 84, which led to a name and personnel changes. The Suburbanites were Titch Rafferty (vocals), Sid McEvoy (guitar), Sid McManus (Bass) and Davie Rafferty (drums). Again covers dominated their live set where they played songs by bands such as The Clash, The Defects, The Ramones, The Damned, The Outcasts and others. The band also had some original compositions too such as ‘Nuclear Deals’, ‘Leave Your Walls Bare’ and ‘Sands Of Time’. The Suburbanites featured on the BBC Northern Ireland youth programme Channel One – Where they can be seen performing their song ‘Nuclear Deals’ (see below). They gigged extensively around the Nerwry, Armagh and Dundalk areas The band also demoed three of their own songs. These recordings remain unreleased. |
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The Suburbanites never really split up, just reemerged in 1990 under a new name - The Scrotes. They recorded a three track CD including their own ‘Leave Your Walls Bare’ and two reworkings of old Psycho songs, namely ‘Sands Of Time’ & ‘Rush Hour Traffic’. These were self released on CD-r and sold a gigs.
In 2017 The Scrotes supported Stop Stop Start Again! and The Heavy Drapes at the Skylite in Warrenpoint. They played a birthday gig in 2018 and haven't played since. However, they are getting back together on September 24th 2022 for a Charity gig for MacMillan Cancer support in memory of Titch's wife Angie, along with the Lee Harvey's, the Gakk and Takers And Users. You can listen to the new 2022 Aerosol Mix of ‘Leave Your Walls Bare’ below.
Sadly, Gary 'Titch" Rafferty passed away on 7th July 2024, after a short illness.
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