JJ72

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JJ72 were an indie rock band from Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

History

The band was formed in 1999 by lead singer Mark Greaney and drummer Fergal Matthews, with Garvan Smith on bass, while studying at Belvedere College. The two recruited Hilary Woods as bassist, following Smith's departure, to complete the trio, playing gigs in Ireland while still studying for their Leaving Cert exams.

The band released their eponymously titled debut album in autumn 2000. A great critical and commercial success alike, the album has sold in excess of 500,000 copies in their native Ireland and in the United Kingdom. The album spawned the singles "Snow", "October Swimmer", "Long Way South", "Oxygen" and "Algeria", and saw the band perform promotional tours in Europe, the U.S. and Japan.

The band's second album I To Sky followed in October 2002. It contained the singles "Formulae" and "Always and Forever", and reached the Top 5 of the Irish album charts and the Top 20 of the UK Albums Chart,

In March 2003 bassist Hilary Woods left the band "to pursue other interests". She gave birth to a baby shortly after her departure from the band, and is currently^[when?] studying at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra for a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Greaney and Matthews recruited Canadian born bassist Sarah Fox as her replacement. After a two-year silence, the band embarked on their first tour with Sarah Fox in May 2005, and released the download and 7" only single "She's Gone". A second single, "Coming Home" followed in August 2005, peaking at number 52 in the UK Singles Chart. A small venue tour followed in September 2005, with Greaney expressing from the stage his frustrations regarding the release of the third album. The band's third album was said to be complete, with the title rumoured to be On or Heaven City Falls, but no release date was set. pending an ongoing dispute with then current record labels Lakota Records and Columbia Records/Sony. Songs rumoured to have been included on the new album: "Take From Me", "Radio","Everything", "Rainfalls", "Underground", "Maria", "Nothing In This World", "Some Day" (this song, as Demo version, appear as B-side on the "coming Home" 7" vinyl). A promotional CD containing "Coming Home", "Take From Me", "Radio" and "Everything" was circulated in 2005.

However, on June 22, 2006, JJ72 issued a press release announcing they were to split up after seven years together. They cited a struggle with their record label as their main reason for the split. This press release read:

Reader, we are to let thee know,
JJ72's body only lies below;
For could the grave JJ's soul comprise,
Earth would be richer than the skies.

JJ72 was born during an Easter many seasons ago; today it dies on the cusp of midsummer eleven years later. Mark Greaney, Fergal Matthews & Sarah Fox wish to express their deepest and darkest gratitude to all of those with impeccable taste who helped and supported the band. We remember everything, from mechanical birds in Japan to angels in arid Arizona, from broken bones and Berlin birthdays to predatory Portsmouth spiders. For those who disliked and perhaps despised (gasp) JJ72, thank you - how did beautiful photographs exist without a negative?! We crafted two monuments of magnificence for the future aural pleasure and pain of all would be JJ believers and doubters....and for those who care not for the passing of the petulant yet powerful pup....shame on you! Thank you to Hilary Woods for being a dazzling damsel and thank you to all who played music in/with the band. You know who you are.

Mark Greaney embarked upon his first tour as a solo artist in May 2007. He subsequently formed a new band called Concerto For Constantine, featuring himself (guitar and vocals), Gavin Fox (ex-Idlewild/Turn/Vega4 on bass) and Binzer (ex-BellX1/Frames/Halite on drums). The band performed live throughout Ireland as part of the "2fm 2moro 2our" in November 2007. The band soon followed up this impressive live debut, by being the support band for legendary rockers Smashing Pumpkins in Belfast and Dublin in Spring 2008. Concerto for Constantine then went on to sell out headline shows in Dublin and London, and also played at the "Oxegen" Festival in Ireland and at T In The Park in Scotland in July 2008. The band is currently working on its debut album, due for release in May 2009.

Sarah Fox is now playing bass for a band called Lluther, whilst the future of Fergal Matthews is as yet unclear.[1]

Band member details

• Mark Greaney (vocals, guitar, piano) born 23 June 1980.
• Fergal Matthews (drums) born 29 January 1980, in Dublin.
• Hilary Woods (bass, backing vocals) born 30 May 1980 - member up to March 2003.
• Sarah Fox - from 2003 onwards.
• Garvan Smith - early line-up.

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

External links

• www.jj72.org.uk- Includes Mark Greaney solo details
• The band's online blog

• JJ72 at Discogs
• JJ72 discography at MusicBrainz