PSYCHO

Psycho formed in Newry, some time around 1977/78. The band were Connor Sweeney - bass, Tommy Matthews - drums, Marty Bennett - guitar, Derek Burns - lead guitar and Aidy McAteer - vocals. The band played in all sorts of venues, GAA clubs, Youth Club discos, Church Halls and once, even an old people’s home! Basically anywhere that they could get some live practice in. However, their big claim to fame is that they supported U2 at Newry Town Hall on Friday 29th February 1980. Connor Sweeney recalls “U2 were on a nationwide tour and Newry Town Hall was a venue. They hadn’t a record deal at this time and were unknown. We were a covers band with our own following and the audience that night were there mostly there to see us. When U2 came on, nobody knew their stuff and they quickly got bored. They were booed off and we had to go back on again to finish the night off. All very amicable. We shared beers and sandwiches backstage afterwards. However, a few months later I was again in the support act for U2 at the Whitla Hall in Belfast with a different band and they wouldn’t speak to us. They had a record deal and their heads had begun to swell. You know how it is”. Connor split to join fellow Newry band The Nerves (see their entry on this site for further information). Drummer Tommy Matthews had left the band too prior to them recording a session for Downtown Radio. One of these tracks, ‘No Return’ was later issued on the Downtown Radio compilation album ‘No In Session’ issued in 1982 and this remains their only release. If anyone has any further information or photographs of this band, then please DO get in contact via spit77to82@aol.com

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