• • THE MIAMI SHOWBAND MASSACRE • • •
Anniversary Memorial Concert to remember one of the darkest nights of them all 50 years ago
During the 1960s and 1970s, showbands ruled the live music scene in Ireland. They drew huge crowds who flocked into venues up and down the country and none more so the famous Miami Showband. Led by the ever-popular front man Fran O’Toole the band had a massive, dedicated fan base, but all of this came to an end in July 1975 when what became known as The Miami Showband Massacre occurred.
The tour bus that the band were travelling in was stopped by a fake RUC patrol who were made up of UVF and UDR members. A bomb that the loyalist gang were planting on the bus exploded prematurely, killing two of those setting it.
The remaining loyalists then opened fire on the band members, killing Tony Geraghty and Brian McCoy, as well as the aforementioned Fran O’Toole.
Des Lee survived the attack as did Stephen Travers.
Stephen is a Carrick-on-Suir man and one who is very proud of his roots. The attack in 1975 obviously left a terrible scar on Stephen but he epitomises compassion and forgiveness whenever he speaks of the events of that terrible night.
Twenty years ago, there was a memorial concert held to mark the 30th anniversary of the massacre and Stephen felt that with the passage of time, having lost so many contemporaries along the way, a 50th concert might be impossible.
This turned out to be untrue, as so many artists from that time, along with some who currently play have been lined up for the 50th anniversary gig being staged in Vicar Street on Monday, 29th September.
Bands including The Swarbriggs and The Indians as well as artists like Brush Shiels and Michael English are all performing on the night.
Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Irish Cancer Society.
To give a small insight into the nature of Stephen Travers, one need only look at his response to the recent parade held for Wesley Summerville, one of his would-be assassins who was blown up by his own bomb on the night.
When asked what he thought of up to 30 bands joining in a commemoration he stated, “they have a right to remember their dead, just like everybody else, – although I hope they don’t glorify what he did”.
The concert is being run by Aiken Promotions and tickets can be bought through www.aikenpromotions.com
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