Biography 

Members of bands I've played in can be found in the 'live' bookmark section under the band name. Personal referrence 
has been kept to a minimum unless it's about my early years or an amusing story, and people included are mainly musical contacts. If I've omitted somebody who should be included please send an email! Tip - after you've selected a bookmark, simply hit your 'back' browser button to return to where you were on the page.

Studio
For details and audio samples of artists I've produced or recorded with, please visit the Studio or Audio-
Samples pages.

Biographical (a-z)   
Aer Lingus  Marion Albert  Paul Barrett  Paul Brady  Mary Brecht  Conor & Barry Brittan  John Byrne 
Tom & Celene Cafferky  Casement Rovers  Ger & Eddie Crean  Cyril Cusack  Early Days  Dick Farrelly  
Mary & Greg Flannery  Paddy Glackin  Kevin Flynn  Angela & Joe Galligan  Kieran Halpin  Seamus Healy  
Tony Holleran  Angela & Jim Holohan  Homes  Jan & Bren Hughes  Gráinne Joyce  Jim Lockhart
Phil Lynott Brian Downey & Scott Gorham   Ted Lavelle's  Margaret & Mary Lavelle  Pat Mahon  Stevie McMillon 
Christy Moore  Brendan O'Carroll  Catherine & Paddy McNulty  Joe O'Dowd  Yvonne & Páraic (Tiny) McNeela  
Mick McNeela  Dennis Ryan and the Mrs. Flannery's  Folk Ensemble  Davy Spilane  Louis Stewart & Heiner Franz  Marian & Oliver Sweeney  Olive & Anthony Travers  Pat & Fred Zesserson  People (general heading) 

Live 
Alyce  Bachelors Walk  Maggie Cody  Peter Corbett  Mark Costigan  Mick Coyne  Crossroads 
Brian 'Oscar' Hammond  Shay Healy Band  Alfred Höller  Jon-Pol Huellou  Anth Kaley  Vinnie Kilduff
Trevor Knight  Dave MacHale  Liam O'Flynn  Male Order  Peggy's Leg & John Dee  Brush Shiels  Skid Row 
Jimi Slevin Band  Jimi Slevin & the Electric Band  Solo Career  Brian Taheny & Loretto Ried  Benny White  
Gay Woods  Venues

Media
Seán Bán Breathnach  Gay Byrne  Mark Costigan  Dave Fanning  Larry Gogan  Danny Hughes  Frank Kelly
Pat Kenny  Aengus McAnally  Liam O'Murchú  Frank Murphy  Jim O'Neill  Gerry Ryan
    

Press Blurb (3rd person)
Jimi Slevin is a musician, writer and producer who began as a top guitarist and bandleader on the Irish music scene in the 1970s and continues as a creative musical force, playing in a number of live combos. producing for others or working on his  studio writing and recording his own music. He formed Peggy's Leg, the band who recorded the classic Grinilla in 1973. The album has recently been re-mastered for CD release and is once again available for licensing. He succeeded Gary Moore and Paul Chapman as lead guitarist with the great Irish band Skid Row in '76 and recorded The Jimi Slevin Band album Getting There for EMI in '77. He is an experienced music producer and has also composed for RTE and BBC TV & radio. In 1983 he recorded Freeflight, his first solo album of original material which received unanimous critical acclaim, and continues to pick up good reviews. Having founded his own Riteroad Music label and studio, he has recently produced a CD version of Freeflight and a new album of original material, Home To The Heart as well as a catalogue of fine albums for a variety of clients. Jimi is currently working on a new CD of original material.

Biography
I was born in Dublin in 1950. My parents Maggie and Jim came from the north of Ireland having moved there the
previous year. Maggie had a fine voice and sang at parties and family gatherings. She also loved and wrote poetry, and had
a very special date of birth for an Irishwoman, March 17th, 1916. (for those of you who don't know much about the Irish, that was Saint Patrick's Day at the time of the Easter Rising). Jim senior was a bricklayer by trade and football referee in his spare time who often played the harmonica at home in the evenings purely for the enjoyment of it. He played the Strauss waltzes and old Irish airs. I feel very privileged to have been blessed with such caring and wonderful parents who never once lifted a hand to me and gave me the best start in life I could have hoped for. 

My first schools during the Blessington Street years in Dublin's inner city were the nearby Dominican Convent and 
St. Joseph's, Dorset Street (transiently yet brilliantly acknowledged in Joyce's Ulysses). I later attended Dublin's East Wall school and passed the primary certificate in 1963. My parents had friends and relatives in County Armagh and the Isle of Man where my mother was a regular visitor, and I also briefly attended Armagh's Greenpark School and Rushen Primary School in Port St. Mary, a few minutes walk from the harbour where we lived.

The closest friend I had during my early years was Stevie McMillon. Stevie lived down the little lane at the bottom of Blessington street (see gallery seven, 'forget me knot'), and we had great times growing up together and playing around the nearby Blessington Street Basin, the banks of the Royal Canal at Dorset Street and the lock gates, barges & railway tracks at the old flour mill on the Cross Guns Bridge. A Dublin City wonderland of summers, winters, school holidays, marbles, toffee bars, ice pops, tears & happiness, and permeating everything the healthy and secure backdrop of our homes, the future a warm mysterious promise in the immediate distance.
 
Later in life I lived in The USA, Loughnavalley, Ballyboghill, London, Sligo, Aughris Head, Dromahair, Dun Laoghaire, Ibiza, Cran Canaria, Mayo and Berlin, where I played to a Europa Center packed with thousands of new arrivals from the East who were in the process of pouring into the city that night in November '89. 

I was a keen footballer in my teens and the local team I played for, Casement Rovers, won the Finglas roads league 
in 1964. They were managed and trained by my father who was an astute and fair referee, and much in demand by the local sports club. The Rovers prevailed over co-finalists Mellows Road 3-1, and the cup was presented by local priest and great character Fr. Lynch who loved to sing Dickie Rock songs at functions. (Casement Rovers page)

During my early teens, my best pal was John Byrne (along with Bert Robinson and Ronald O'Sullivan). A very nice guy and great character, John will never be forgotten for his friendship and all the great times we spent together during those formative years. His big brother Gerry was also a great guy with a sharp wit. Gerry once informed us that he was a bearded man because he'd got a bearded, and who could disagree with that? The Byrne family were good friends and very nice people, as were all our neighbours in the area. Although Finglas was a 'working class' area and suffered from poor planning and lack of proper amenities, the people were really great and among the most friendly, humorous and genuine people you could meet anywhere. 

I've always held that what's important in any family situation is the love, communication and ensuing sense of fun, purpose and quality of life that goes on under that roof - the spark of life and real human contact. These are the true riches of family life, and in this respect it does not matter one iota if that house is a shack or a mansion. I've seen too many well to do families with big luxury houses who live cold and frigid lives, and seem to spend more time avoiding one another than truly experiencing anything like a loving family. Take that TV series "The Waltons" as a shining example - they were all obnoxious.

Casement Rovers teammate Michael O'Carroll lived around the corner, and his little brother was none other than the now famous playwright and comedian Brendan O'Carroll. Their sister Eilish was my first girlfriend when we were 12 or 13. There was miles of countryside on our doorstep and we spent long summer days wandering far across the old fields collecting blackberries and mushrooms, climbing tall trees and playing 'follow the leader' and 'kiss-chasing' with the girls. That was a good start as there were lots of real 'fine things' among them. If you were lucky you might catch one of them and get a kiss from a potential Miss Ireland! We were innocent, active and happy teenagers. None of the trouble-maker element at all I'm proud to say.

In my mid teens, I worked in the local pub Cappagh House, serving tables in the music lounge and pulling pints while enjoying and singing along to the excellent house band. They were a three-piece and the talented singer/guitarist was called Ken - a real darlin' of a guy. He wore glasses and sang a great version of the Hank Snow classic 'Lady's Man'. This would have been 1965-'66. If anybody can jog my memory as to the band's name please send a mail! (something like '3-Card Trick'). 

I was working there one afternoon when Fr. Lynch called around to inform me I'd passed the Group Certificate (with seven honours and two passes - the best result in the local vocational school) and shortly afterwards began an apprenticeship with Aer Lingus as aircraft technician. I was lucky as there were over 1,600 applicants but only 12 positions available. I qualified in 1971 having passed the City and Guilds of London Institute parts one and two in aeronautical engineering, but by this stage in my career the main interest was playing guitar and forming a group, and the plan was to spend a lot more time flying in aircraft and a lot less time working on them.

I stayed with Aer Lingus for five years attending Bolton St. College of Technology and worked in the maintenance hangers and with the ground crews at Dublin Airport. I boarded the first Aer Lingus Boeing 747 on its day of delivery at Dublin Airport and visited BAC in Surrey to see the Concorde under construction. Among my Aer Lingus colleagues at this time who subsequently made careers in music were Paul O'Connor who previously managed that fine Irish band The Lookalikes and now has an Irish music pub 'The Luke Kelly' in Cyprus (see the Links page), Mick Galvin who is a renowned Irish tenor, and flute virtuoso Matt Molloy who was later with The Bothy Band and Planxty, and currently plays with the world-famous Chieftains. I was a year behind Matt then, but I'm catching up!

My first group was the three-piece Crossroads which I formed in 1969. The band played a mix of blues and rock including covers of Cream, Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, Taste and John Mayall. Crossroads also featured some of my early originals, one of which, Child of Peace, survived long enough to be included on the Jimi Slevin Band "Getting There" album of '77. (Audio Samples page)

The line-up was myself on guitar and vocals, Fran Breen on drums and Martin Ryan on bass, with Dessie Sands and later Greg Baker as managers. We were between sixteen and nineteen and Crossroads was our first band. Martin went on to be an accomplished acoustic guitarist and singer while Fran has become a first rate session drummer having played on countless albums and in many name bands including the Paul Brady Band, Stockton's Wing and The Waterboys. He currently lives back in Dublin, having spent many years in Nashville where his unique drumming style was much in demand. He was recently with the Grammy winning Shelby Lynn Band. 

Crossroads was a seminal outlet for many fine musicians, and later line-ups included the talents of Blue O'Brien, Aidan McCarroll, Jimmy Lambert, Tony Quinn, Jack Kenny, Pat Fortune and Jimmy Walsh.

In 1970 Crossroads appeared on the Irish TV pop series 'Like Now' which was hosted by Danny Hughes, alongside Status Quo, Roly Daniels and Gilbert O'Sullivan who had just released his debut single Nothing Rhymed. I remember asking Francis Rossi how he got that great guitar sound on Pictures Of Matchstick Men. Francis kindly gave me the information. It was achieved by recording the guitar three times - once in tune, once slightly flat and once slightly sharp and mixing them all together! Quo were very nice fellas.

Crossroads played a string of memorable Saturday night residency gigs in The Cave in Dublin's Stella House in Mount Merrion and around the Dublin area, including the great Club A-Go-Go in Dublin's Sackville Place. On one occasion the fans were treated to a fine view of the entire band up a tree right outside the venue. 
 
In 1971 I joined Alyce, then a top group on the local Irish music scene. A great rock band with an incomparable vocal line-up, Alyce were much in demand as a dynamic live act and were constantly on the road playing clubs and concert halls throughout the country. The band went to New York in 1972 and almost secured a major recording contract, having played Max's Kansas City (with the New York Dolls in support!) and many other major venues. Eamonn Gibney was on vocals and percussion, Gerry O'Donovan on bass and vocals, myself on guitar and vocals, Paddy Freeney and Brian Donaghy on drums and latecomer Paul Duffy on Hammond organ. 

The Alyce program consisted mainly of original material, with memorable covers of classic pop like Richard Harris's McArthur Park, the theme from Shaft and a healthy selection of vintage soul classics.

The band was managed by Olly Byrne, who later became one of the kingpins of Dublin's Shelbourne football club. Olly sadly passed on to the next phase of this life in late 2007.

Alyce cut a few singles which were released locally, including the gospel song Let Us Break Bread Together but unfortunately never made an album. The band did, however, record extensively in New York. These recordings were made in 1972  by local studio owner Bob Washington. Unfortunately, the band lost contact with Bob so the recordings are probably lost. Both Eamonn and Gerry were and continue to be great soul singers, and looking back with hindsight, the band should have stuck to soul music and, as David Johansen of the NY Dolls suggested in the Max's Kansas City dressing room, changed their name to The Shamrocks! David was a very nice guy.

Eamonn Gibney is featured in the Audio Samples page as guest singer on one of the Male Order MP3s with Wilson Picket's classic, The Midnight Hour. This live recording shows what a great soul singer he is. Eamonn and Gerry continue to perform together in the the Irish group, Allies.

After the band returned to Ireland in late 1972 and split up, I formed Peggy's Leg with drummer Don Harris, guitarist
Jimmy Gibson and bassist Vincent Duffy. This line-up worked wonders from the word go and in no time were topping the local popularity polls. In '73 they were voted Best New Group, Don Harris winning 'best drummer' and I got 'best home-based guitarist' and 'best guitarist' the following year. Shortly after, we appeared live at the New Spotlight poll winners concert in Dublin's National Stadium. 

The Leg played all over Ireland bringing our unique sound as far west as Achill Island, where we played in the legendary Wavecrest Hotel, and also appeared regularly at Donal Corvin's 'Gonzo's Rock Palace' in Moran's Hotel in Dublin, then one of the premiere rock venues in the country. We also played regularly at venues throughout Northern Ireland despite the tragedy of the Miami Showband massacre where I lost a good friend and possible future band member in that most talented and genial of Dubliners, the great Tony Geraghty. I then wrote a solo guitar melody in the classical style which is dedicated to my old friend. 'Tony's Tune' will be featured on the next JS CD.

Peggy's Leg's repertoire included music from Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Bach, Katchaturian and Handel as well as extensive original material. At one stage we were performing live versions of works from Bach and Handel, Sabre Dance from Katchaturian and a blistering rendition of Bach's Sinfonia from Cantata Nr. 29. (Midi and mp3 files of the Sinfonia as sampled in my studio as well as the JS band 'Air on a G string' are now available for free download in the Audio Samples page).

In late 1973, and by this time under the management of John Dee, one time member of the Irish cult band Mushroom, Peggy's Leg recorded the album 'Grinilla', a work comprising five lengthy original compositions and a version of Sabre Dance largely modeled on the Dave Edmonds' Love Sculpture hit.

Grinilla was well received by critics and fans alike at the time, and although it was recorded in only a few days (23 studio hours) and with a minimum of overdubs or time to correct flaws, still ranks as a fine work and has become a much sought after collector's item. An original copy in good condition can fetch thousands of Euros. My re-mastered and greatly improved CD version was licensed to the London-based Kissing Spell label, but is now back in the band's possession since late 2005.

Legend has it that John stated at the time 'as soon as I heard Jimi playing the guitar, I went out and dug a hole in the back garden and buried the Stratocaster!' John has long since exhumed his Strat, and apart from currently running a successful recording studio and centre for natural healing near his native Mullingar along with his soul mate Patricia, is back on the boards and much in demand under his full name of John Donohoe as a dynamic live act. He has released a catalogue of great CDs of his own original compositions. I am featured on a few tracks in one of these productions, I Was Born To Be Free. 

The original Peggy's Leg line-up stayed together for six months or so after the Grinilla release when Vincent decided to do his own thing. Vince was replaced after a long search by the talented Martin Biseneiks on keyboards and finally by the wonderful John Brady on bass. In 1975 I decided to leave the Leg, and again under the management of John Dee, joined Brush Shiels, Nollaig Bridgeman and Timmy Creedon in the reformed Skid Row. Peggy's Leg stayed together for a few months with the brilliant Eric Bell on guitar, but disbanded shortly afterwards.

Taking the place of a Gary Moore or a Paul Chapman was no easy job, but for me it was a dream come true as I was a great fan of Skid Row from the early days and can remember seeing them live in small halls and clubs in Dublin. I remember hearing them in a little hall in Marlborough Street called 'The C.I.E. Hall'. There were about 20 people standing around. Up on stage were Gary Moore on guitar, then only sixteen or seventeen and playing nearly as wonderfully as he now does, Brush Shiels on bass & vocals, Nollaig Bridgeman on drums and Phil Lynott on lead vocals, long before he took up the bass. 

Another memory I have of Skid Row in those days ('68 -'69) was standing in the cold night outside some hall in Dublin and hearing the band from out there 'cos there was some rough lads who had it in for me at the gig - an occupational hazard in Dublin back then if you liked to stand your ground. I remember hearing some amazing guitar playing from Gary in All Along The Watchtower (the Hendrix version), then a huge fight broke out, thankfully without my participation, and the gig had to be cancelled anyway! 

After eight busy months with Skid Row, and having cut a single 'The Spanish Lady/Elvira' with them, (Audio Samples page) I formed a new band which with characteristic humility I named after myself. 

Initially there was a sort of trial version of the band with John Maxwell on vocals (the man who firstly suggested a Jimi Slevin Band), Danny O'Keefe on drums and Garret Brown on bass. We played about half a dozen times upstairs in The Baggot Inn and I have great memories of those gigs. That fine Irish guitarist Eamon Troy also joined the line-up as special guest on a few occasions. (see the early JSB photo in gallery two)

The first permanent JSB line-up was myself on guitar and vocals with Brian Despard on drums and Garrett Brown on bass. Peggy's Leg cohort Jimmy Gibson later came on board on guitar and vocals. This line-up played extensively all over Ireland and recorded two tracks on EP for CBS entitled 'The Falling Asunder Rock Review Part Two', organised by Smiley Bolger and Jackie Hayden, and the EMI album 'Getting There' ('77). Our music was regularly featured on Irish radio and television and received airplay from many top presenters. Later band members included Noel Cullen, Micky Hanway, Mick O'Hagen and Dermot Kerins.

The original band played a nine-month Friday night residency in Dublin's Moran's Hotel [Smiley Bolger's 'Much More Music' gigs] where we consistently turned out good performances and were regular visitors to other hot spots like The Baggot Inn, then Ireland's premiere rock venue. We received extensive coverage in the country's music press, and the JSB supported Procol Harem, Jethro Tull, Thin Lizzy and Canned Heat in Dublin's National Stadium. On taking the the stage, Bob 'The Bear' Hyatt told the packed house 'it's not often we get a great band like that playing before us'. 

At this time the JSB was managed by Dave Kavanagh, who went on to become one of the world's top promoters. Johnny Logan's brother Mick sang briefly with the band before that combo unfortunately split and I formed a new three-piece with the brilliant Donal McGrath on bass and Henry Tolan on drums. This line-up worked well and the band played a string of memorable and well-received gigs throughout the country, earning many positive reviews in the music press. After half a year or so and an unsuccessful attempt at breaking into the English circuit, I decided to call it a day with bands, and embarked on a solo career in 1980. (If you're interested, there's five JSB free samples in the Audio Samples page).

After a spell living in Sligo, Aughris Head and Dromahair in County Leitrim, many great gigs and sessions with Brian Taheny and Loretto Ried, and a Wednesday night residency in Kevin Flynn's 'Venue' in Strandhill, I moved back to Dublin and formed a duo with the beautiful and talented Maggie Cody. We were based in Dun Laoghaire where I lived in the wonderful Janeville, Tivoli Road (a great house where later Trevor Knight, Gay Woods, Chris Green and Davy Spillane also lived) and played locally and in many folk clubs around the country. We also appeared on RTE television on many occasions. Our only recordings together are her performance as guest vocalist on the Freeflight album, and some things recorded at home from our television appearances. (Children of Lir - Audio Samples page)

In late 1982, after approaching Claddagh Records through good friend Annie Henry (to whom I am eternally grateful), 
I started work on Freeflight at Slane Studio, County Meath with engineer Fred Meijer and producer John Dee. My musical guests were Maggie Cody, Trevor Knight and Mick Coyne. I thank them all for their masterful contributions. The album received unanimous critical acclaim at the time and has been remastered and re-released in CD format in 2001. In November of the same year I traveled to Gweedore in Donegal as guest on the Irish language RTE series, SBB. The show was well presented by Seán Bán Breathnach himself, one of the nicest guys in the Irish media at the time. I performed Stormy Seas and White Cottage before a live audience. Production Assistant was the beautiful Alice Walshe who later became a close friend.

In 1983 myself, Maggie and accordionist Oliver Sweeney formed the short-lived Claddagh and spent some months playing around the Chicago area and later in New York. At this time, we were guests of Mary Brecht in her fabulous house in Greenwich Village. Mary was a good friend who I met during my stay in Aughris Head. She was costume designer with the New York theatre, and stepdaughter of Bertholt Brecht.

Later the same year I was approached by Gay Woods and Trevor Knight to take the role of guitarist for a tour by Auto da Fé, a band they formed in Holland which featured an all original program of Gay and Trevor's songs. Auto da Fé was a fine band and had an Irish-Dutch line-up. I have happy memories of this collaboration and tour and send warm greetings to Gay, Trevor, bassist Carel van Rijn, drummer Theo Wanders & to Theo's brother Henk. I met Theo again recently when I drove up to Holland to return a large Chinese cymbal that had been gathering dust in an attic all those years. I've always loved Holland. We played a highly enjoyable and eventful Irish tour in '83 which culminated in the entire band camping overnight in a field directly on the Cliffs of Moher!

Around this time I formed a band to play Sunday afternoon gigs in the Purty Kitchen near Dun Laoghaire. The band had a floating line-up. The gigs were great, and there was always a home brew-skulling mega-session to celebrate back at my flat in Janeville afterwards (any excuse) with people literally dancing on the tables! Musicians who played in the band included Robbie Brennan, Eamon Doyle, Henry Tolan, Donal McGrath, Benny Rice & Dave MacHale (brass section), Trevor Knight and Chris Green.

In the summer of 1984 I accepted an offer to play in Bar La Reja, a piano bar in San Antonio Ibiza where Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees also worked in his early days. La Reja was more up-market than the usual tourist joints and the emphasis was on good music. The gig was a nightly affair and I had the privilege of working with Brian Hammond, not only a very nice guy but a brilliant musician. Brian (or 'Oscar' as he was known on the island) came from Stockport and was a very accomplished pianist and singer. We shared an apartment overlooking a local market, and worked together seven nights a week for seven months as The Tigers (Los Tigres!), without once missing a gig or having an argument. Indeed, quite an achievement for two musicians who'd never met before and were working under considerable pressure. I send a very special hello to my friend Oscar and hope we can re-visit San Antonio together sometime soon and as planned, simply sit in the corner of that piano bar over a few Sam Miguels relaxing and enjoying not being up on stage!
  
Oscar was vegetarian, and will always be remembered for cooking up his awful rissoles in the kitchen, or 'arrissoles' as
I re-named them. Hello to bar owner and lovely man Vicente Serra, manager Domingo and barmen Pepe, Ian, Tony Poloni, & Tony Macaroni - all great guys, and 'mucho figaro'. There are pics of us on-stage in gallery three, as well as the great duo Martin & Sean Sean (sic) in Zoom Zoom up the street, Cahar O'Doherty around the corner in Joe Spoon's, and me jamming with the multi-talented Geordie, Chris in Zoom Zoom. Hasta luego!

I returned to Bar La Reja the following year for a shorter stay when a 19 year old Tony 'Anth' Kaley was the piano player. As was the case with Oscar, we got on well and had a great working relationship. Anth was recently on tour with Kieran Halpin in Germany (a brilliant duo) and we met up again at the gig after 21 years! We had a great night recounting stories about the gig and musician's apartment. I was responsible back then for introducing Anth to Irish music, which he really liked and ended up being permanently based there. We once hired a paddle boat and went much too far out to sea, ending up getting dangerously close to some cliffs on our return. We finally got back over an hour late, tired and somewhat sunburned and have lived to tell the tale! As with Oscar, I have the highest regard for the talented Anth.

On another occasion, I returned alone after being out on the town to hear girls voices in Anth's bedroom and found him (quite innocently as it transpires, or so he now claims) in bed with two women, one of which was a recent ex of mine. Anth recalls that he heard the bedroom door opening, saw me peeping in and heard the muttered phrase 'you bastard' as the door quietly closed again. Naturally, I did the gentlemanly and polite thing, and threw a bucket of water over them all in the bed saying 'well girls, you can't sleep in here now, it's wet. You'll have to sleep in my bed' . . so Anth got up and threw a bucket of water over my bed too, saying 'you can't sleep in there either'. I've no idea where we ended up sleeping. I must add that it was a hot Spanish night and all was meant and interpreted in good humour. Such happenings were not unusual in that  apartment. Thanks to Anth for recounting this funny incident which I'd totally forgotten.

After my return to Dun Laoghaire the same year, I teamed up with Benny White, Greg Donaghy and Jack Costello, all veterans of the sixties Irish group scene and ex-members of Elmer Fudd, Granny's Intentions and The Times. Male Order featured a mixed program with the emphasis on vintage soul music.

We played a few residencies around Dublin, including the Coconut Grove (or 'Coconut Grave' - Dick Farrelly) where we had many eminent guests including Shay Healy, ex-Alyce singer Eamonn Gibney and the talented Irish guitarist Paul McBrien. The band never made any studio recordings but I found a cassette tape of a gig recorded live in Dublin and you can hear five mp3s in the Audio Samples page. This was recorded through a tiny condenser mic. by friends in the audience. I've managed to squeeze a little quality out of it with my mastering setup. Check it out, it's great fun in places and Male Order were a fine band. 
 
What's important about Male Order is that in Benny White you have one of the best singers Ireland has ever produced. This, together with the tight rhythm section of Greg Donaghy and Jack Costello, my talents on guitar & vocals and Benny's great voice and humorous antics, made Male Order an unforgettable live act.

I later played guitar and sang with The Shay Healy Band. Shay is an eminently likeable character and well known media personality on the Irish scene, has a warm but wicked sense of humour and is a talented songwriter and presenter. He wrote the Johnny Logan Eurovision winner 'What's Another Year' for his father, Séamus Healy (the Irish actor) who was by then confined to a wheelchair but very much in control of his mental faculties. I had the pleasure, and indeed honour of getting to know old Séamus, a true gentleman and great character, and of rendering the song for him personally on a number of occasions at his request - he loved that song and it always brought a tear to his eye. We once carried Séamus off a train in Tralee seated on my guitar case. Séamus liked to recount that I told him 'no bum notes!'

The band had a floating line-up with Tony Molloy on bass, Sean Davitt on drums and me on guitar and vocals. We played a number of residencies in Dublin including the Coconut Grave, where we had appearances by many prominent guests including Maura O'Connell, Bree Harris, Jim O'Neill, Paul Brady, Johnny Logan, Dick Farrelly, Jody McStravick and Benny White. I seem to recall one of Shay's songs with the refrain 'It wasn't a bat or a cat or a rat that the six-foot rabbit pulled out of the hat, it was me, and it was magic!'

To be continued...  (solo career, Germany, Bachelors Walk, Riteroad Music Studio etc.) 

This section is mainly for people of JS note who have not been mentioned in the biography, and again the emphasis is on musical contacts. If you're not listed and think you should be, get in touch! (a-z)
 
Marion Albert - I would like to thank the wonderful Marion from Berlin for all her help with the distribution of my music and for her much appreciated inspiration and friendship during the late '80s.

Paul Barrett - Paul, along with Maggie Cody, was my keyboards guest on the RTE television show 'Trom agus Éadrom', which was presented by Liam O’Murchu, in '82 when, in the splendid Tullynally Castle, we performed live versions of 'The Children Of Lir' and 'Stormy Seas' from the Freeflight album. 
 
Paul Brady - I supported the Paul Brady band (which featured my old friend and former 'Crossroads' colleague Fran Breen on drums) in Limerick and Ennis during the Hard Station tour. Paul also appeared as guest with the Shay Healy Band in Dublin with myself on electric guitar when we delivered an unrehearsed but note perfect version of 'Busted Loose' from his 'Hard Station' album. 

Peter Corbett - Peter, like Alfred Höller, is regularly featured in Riteroad studio, where his inspired fiddle playing has been a highlight of many fine productions. He comes from Limerick and has been based in Germany for over twenty years. Definitely one of the country's best fiddlers, he also sings and plays guitar very well. Myself and Peter formed a duo and played some memorable concerts together recently.

Mark Costigan - Myself and the multi-talented Mark formed a duo just for the fun of it in '84 and played a string of great gigs, notably 'Mrs. Flannery's Folk Club' in Bolger's Hotel, Tullamore, where we entertained the packed room without the luxury of a PA. and had great crack with Dennis Ryan & the house band and hotel owner Gerry Conroy after the gig. Apart from being a great guy, Mark is a fine guitarist/singer/songwriter who has also made a successful career for himself in Ireland as journalist & radio presenter.

Mick Coyne - Master of the Uileann pipes and tin whistle, Clareman and great character Mick was special guest on Freeflight and also, again with Maggie Cody, was my guest on the RTE television series 'SBB' when we performed Stormy Seas and The Maid Of Coolmore. Mick will always be remembered for his joke about Mr. Wankbreak who worked for the Better Ball Ball Bearing Company. Wankbreak got into trouble with the law and the local police sergeant rang up.. "Is that the Better Ball Ball Bearing Company?".. "Yes, can I help you?".. "Do you have a Wankbreak there?".. "A Wankbreak? We don't even get a tea break". 

Ger & Eddie Crean of Crean's pub in Enniscorthy. I Played in Crean's where the talented Eddie (who was a fine guitarist himself) and his beautiful girlfriend Ger ran a great little folk night in the pub. You were always guaranteed an appreciative audience and great hospitality. I send love & best wishes to both Eddie and Ger. This was one of the first gigs Maggie and myself did together.

Cyril Cusack - I once accompanied the great Irish actor on guitar when he sang a few songs during an unforgettable intimate late session in Tullynally Castle which included Maggie Cody and my old friend, RTE researcher Frank Murphy. We had earlier appeared on the RTE television show, Trom agus Éadtrum, which was recorded in the castle itself. Thomas and Valerie Pakenham were great hosts, even getting the family photo albums out! One of those truly memorable nights, and a tip of the hat to Frank for organising it all so well.

Mick Davis & Bachelor's Walk - Mick, who is now based in Stuttgart is a highly accomplished Irish traditional fiddler and charismatic live performer. He was one of the founding members of 'Oisín' along with Geraldine & Shay McGowan. I now work with Mick in the Irish traditional band Bachelors Walk and have played and sung on the 'Train To Galway' and 'Bachelors Walk Live' albums (audio samples page).

Dick Farrelly - On numerous occasions Dick has guested with the Jimi Slevin Band and he and myself have had many great informal sessions. Dick also joined me onstage for the second set of a concert in Stuttgart a few years ago and with no rehearsal managed to compliment my set like he'd been doing it for months, and to delight the audience with some truly inspired guitar playing. A talented man, and 'no better búachaill'. 

Mary and Greg Flannery - The Carmel Hotel in Kilkenny on Thursday nights was the one of my favorite places to play during the mid-eighties. Impeccably run by Greg and Mary, it was one of the best small venues in the country, and I have many warm memories of great nights there either solo or with Maggie Cody or Jon-Pol Huellou. Thanks to Greg and Mary for all the unforgettable times and their hospitality.

Kevin Flynn - In the early '80s during my stay in Sligo and Dromahair, I played regularly in The Venue in Strandhill, owned by then Planxty manager Kevin "Lofty" Flynn and his wonderful wife Mary. I supported, played with, and drank with many famous acts in The Venue including Andy Irvine, Liam O'Flynn, Louis Stewart, Christy Moore, Scullion, James Blennerhasset and many others, and was present one afternoon with good friend Eddie Boyle at an early on-stage Moving Hearts rehearsal with Christy on vocals & guitar. I send my heartfelt gratitude to Kevin for all his help, encouragement and support during that time at the beginning of my solo career.

While seated at the Venue bar one evening, Kevin paid me one of the greatest compliments of my career in the form of: (fixing me from under his glasses in that legal eagle fashion) "Slevin, you're the maddest cunt I ever came across, and that's saying something". 

Liam O'Flynn - After a first meeting and few jars together in The Venue bar in 1980 and a spontaneous invitation from Liam, I drove with him to Boyle, Co. Roscommon where we teamed up for the second half of a concert where I accompanied the master piper on his selections of jigs, reels and slow airs and sang many a Planxty classic like the beautiful slow version of 'As I Roved Out' and 'The Cliffs Of Doneen' with those unforgettable pipes intros. Liam and myself did the gig with no rehearsal and received a great reaction from the packed house. (see above)

Angela and Joe Galligan - There were many great folk clubs around Ireland in the mid '80s, and I was a regular visitor to the Highway Inn, Crusheen in Co. Clare which was one of them and featured a folk night on Tuesdays organised by local Joe Galligan and his lovely wife Angela. I played there both solo, with Jon-Paul Huellou and with Maggie Cody. I send best wishes to Joe, Angela and daughters Tara, Rachael & Beckie, and to my wonderful old friends from that time, Jan & Bren Hughes (the young maid from the moors ;-). and Marie & Tony Crockford. They were simply a great bunch of people all round. Thanks to all concerned for those unforgettable times back in the mid 1980s.

Paddy Glackin - I am featured on The Oisín 'Jeannie C' album, which Paddy produced. Paddy also played fiddle on 
the RTE television studio sessions for producer Frank Murphy's Irish language series 'Anois agus Arís', for which I 
composed and arranged the music. Musicians for the RTE session were Trevor Knight (keyboards), Benny Rice (sax), Maggie Cody (backing vocals), Robbie Brennan (drums), and the one and only Paddy himself on fiddles.

Angela & Jim Holohan - Ballybofey, a border town in County Donegal, was the seat of Black Arthur's folk club on Thursday nights which was wonderfully organised by Jim & Angela Holohan. I send many thanks to Jim and Angela (lovely people and great crack) for all the mighty sessions back at the house in nearby Stranorlar and for their great hospitality on many occasions.

Tony Holleran - Local singer and 'horrible nice fella', Tony Holleran ran a folk club on Monday nights in the Jolly Mariner pub in Athlone, and I have fond memories of all the great sessions with Tony during and after the gigs. Hey Tony, we're overdue for a few scoops..

Alfred Höller - Alfred is a great guy and brilliant musician. He is perhaps Germany's top pedal steel player, and has featured on many Riteroad studio productions. He is also my partner in 'The Country Two', which I formed during my love affair with country music in the late '90s. We play only the best old and new American country, with Alfred's ever tasteful pedal steel and Dobro providing the perfect backdrop for my vocals & guitar. Alfred is a founder-member of The Greyhounds and is much in demand with his band and studio work. As I am similarly busy with my own projects, so the duo only plays occasionally but has received many favorable reviews in the country music press. We were recently the resident Friday night act in Nürnberg's famous 'Big Horn Ranch', where the owner, Alex (The Sheriff) presented me on-stage with an original Stetson, which was naturally bitten by a rattlesnake.

Jon-Paul Huellou - I formed a duo with this talented Breton flautist during my stay at Janeville in Dun Laoghaire in the early '80s. We played many outstanding gigs on the Irish folk circuit, and were regular visitors to the legendary 
'Mrs. Flannery's Folk Club' in Bolger's Hotel, Tullamore. I send much love and appreciation to Jon-Paul & Marie for all the great memories. The couple had a rented house in Blackpitts, near the centre of in Dublin. They once received a letter from abroad with the address wonderfully miss-spelt as 'Blacktits'. (this word gets the occasional search engine hit from unsuspecting surfers out there who are looking for something entirely different!)
  
Kieran Halpin - I joined Kieran for the second set of a concert in Germany a few years back and he has, along with Maartin Alcock and recently Chris Jones and Gerry Kaley, been a most welcome overnight guest at Riteroad Music Studio.

Vinnie Kilduff - Vinnie plays whistles on Maggie Loughlin's, a slow air in the Irish traditional style which is dedicated to my mother and is included on 'Home To The Heart'. This was recorded on Achill Island in the spring of 1997 against a backdrop of storm force winds, when myself and Vinnie managed to extract ourselves briefly from the local pub. 

Trevor Knight - Trevor is a very nice guy and talented songwriter and keyboards player who has been a guiding light for many fine bands in Ireland and has contributed to untold albums and studio & theatre productions. He was one of the founders of Naima, a fine jazz-rock outfit from the mid '70s that also featured Jimi's old friend Fran Breen on drums, and later the 'famous' jazz-rockers 'No Buckets'. Riverdance also featured Trevor's talents. He was special guest on the Jimi Slevin Band's 'Getting There' album of '77 and appeared live with the band on many occasions. His keyboard playing is one of the highlights of Freeflight. Along with Gay Woods, Trevor formed the Irish-Dutch Auto Da Fe, with whom I played in '83. Trevor and myself also invented an alternative version of the Bee Gees' Massachusetts, which became 'Massivehugetits' during the 'Getting There' sessions. 

Ted Lavelle's Pub, Achill Island - During my stay in Achill in the late '80s I was a regular guest at Ted Lavelle's in Cashel - one of Ireland's best pubs and highly recommended with a great atmosphere and pint of Guinness - and send my thanks & gratitude to Tom & Celene Cafferkey for all the wonderful nights, Catherine & Paddy McNulty, Aenis and Kathleen, the beautiful and talented  Gráinne Joyce and all at Sáille West and Cashel who were not only great neighbors, but some of the nicest people I have had the privilege to meet. Owner Tom Cafferkey is a good businessman, and succeeded in getting me to play on New Year's Eve '88/89 for the somewhat unique fee of 2 bags of coal and a trailer load of turf. 

Dave MacHale - Currently based in Frankfurt, the ex Boomtown Rats sax and keyboards wizard is a regular guest on Riteroad Music Studio productions and has accompanied me on Bavarian canoeing expeditions. Dave also played on my album, 'Home to the heart'. A very talented man and brilliant musician.

Yvonne & Páraic (Tiny) McNeela - In the late '80s during my years in Mayo, I was a regular guest at The Paddock Bar in Swinford which was run by Tiny & Yvonne. I send them thanks and appreciation for all the great nights in the pub and for their hospitality and friendship on many occasions. Páraic himself is a talented singer & solo entertainer. I had the pleasure and honour to also got to know Páraic's father Mick McNeela from Ballycroy who was also a fine singer, and a man of great character and humour. 

Jim Lockhart - I did some studio work on Jim's TV drama music along with Garvan Gallagher on bass and the woodwinds from the RTE light orchestra in Dublin in the mid '80s. Jim was of course a member of Horslips and has produced for RTE radio.

Phil Lynott, Scott Gorham, Brian Downey & Gary Moore - In the late '70s I was invited to London by Thin Lizzy where I tried a few things out with the band for the then forthcoming USA Queen tour, as Brian Robertson had injured his wrist. I have great memories of staying in Phil's and Scott's places for the week or so, and sampling the London music scene and nightlife from a somewhat starry perspective, and the Lizzy people treated me very well for the week. At the last minute Gary - who had previously toured with the band - became available, so my services weren't needed after all and the rest is rock history. 

I only met Phil on one further occasion before he tragically died, when we met in McGonagle's (a late night Dublin rock venue where the JS Band often played) a few months later. He was a great guy and good company during my London visit and we had interesting chats & informal sessions in his apartment for the week and unforgettable nights out on the town! 
On a couple of evenings we stayed in, just having a few beers and watching TV. On one occasion we met the guys from 10cc when their car pulled up beside our taxi in traffic, and we all headed to the Marquee club. I was also in the studio control room with Phil, Scott, Brian & Gary later in the week as he laid down the solo to 'Waiting For An Alibi'. A memorable visit, and I'm glad to have had the chance to get to know Phil personally and on a one to one basis during that time. 

Christy Moore - I was special guest on many occasions during Christy's run of nights in The Meeting Place in Dublin in the late '70s when we had many's the pint of Guinness after the gig, and supported him in County Clare in '85. At a big concert in  Germany in the mid-nineties, I had the chance to thank him after the gig for Only Our Rivers and Lisdoonvarna, when along with Barney Rushe (writer of Nancy Spain),  I was Christy's backstage guest.

Dennis Ryan and the Mrs. Flannery's Folk Ensemble - Throughout the early '80s, I was a regular visitor to the mighty town of Tullamore was where Mrs. Flannery's Folk Club took place in a large room in Bolger's Hotel, and with no PA system. I had to work hard to follow the excellent resident band led by master fiddler Dennis Ryan and featuring the inimitable Tony Holleran on guitar & vocals, along with Frankie Thomas, Louis Dwyer, Domenic Madden, Mick Guilfoyle, Val Hughes & Ray Farrell. 

A tip of the hat to all the lads for a job well done, and to manager and great character Gerry Conway for the hospitality & crack at that wonderful old hotel, and the hearty Irish breakfast in the morning.

Davy Spillane - Another Janeville veteran, I played a few spontaneous tunes with Davy at the Cliffs of Moher back in the late 1980's, and visited him recently in his studio in County Clare.  

Louis Stewart and Heiner Franz - During my stay in Sligo in the early '80s I guested onstage with Louis at The Venue, Strandhill. Louis also visited Riteroad Music Studio in Germany in the mid '90s along with Heiner Franz for a highly enjoyable and musically productive few days. A truly great guitarist and very funny guy, Louis is the embodiment of that most genial of characters, the true Dublin gentleman. 

One of the highlights of their visit was an evening in the studio when both Louis and Heiner tried out my guitar synthesiser. This can give the guitar almost any sound from a string section to a church organ and is a most engaging toy for any good guitarist to try out. Louis picked a beautiful choir with strings and amazed us all with a few monumental instrumentals and then it was Heiner's turn. There was a horrible dry banjo sound which would sometimes bend the notes out of tune which poor Heiner had to wrestle with, much to the amusement of the company and on Louis' uncompromising instructions to 'give him the banjo'. I have sent recordings of this very funny incident to Heiner, together with 40 minutes of an improvised and brilliant studio session as these two master guitarists jammed in their straight ahead style on some tasty jazz standards.

Marian & Oliver Sweeney - I worked with Oliver on accordion and Maggie Cody in the USA back in 1983 when we formed the trio 'Claddagh'. The group played a string of well-received concerts around the Chicago area and in New York. Oliver is a horrible nice fellow who has his own label and is a respected music journalist, writing for for Hot Press and many other newspapers and magazines. (See Oliver's 1983 Hot Press review of Freeflight in the reviews page) I send best regards to Oliver, Marian and family. 

Brian Taheny & Loretto Ried - I teamed up with this multi-talented couple in Sligo in the early '80s and played many gigs with them around the area. I was also present with Loretto and Brian at many's the unforgettable Saturday night session in The Beach Bar on Aughris Head. These sessions were presided over by the great Joe O'Dowd, always fondly remembered as a lovely man and inspired fiddler, and also featured the fiery flute playing of that unforgettable local character, Pat Mahon. It was during this period that I came to know the unforgettable Fred & Pat Zesserson and Mary Brecht of the New York theatre. I say hello & thanks to Fred and Pat for their hospitality & friendship during my stay at Aughris Head. 

Olive & Anthony Travers - Anthony used to run the Ballyshannon Folk Club in Sean Óg's Pub every Wednesday night in the wonderful town of Ballyshannon in County Donegal, and I send my thanks to everyone involved for all the great nights and sessions. Much appreciation also also to Conor & Barry Britton, then of the Sandhouse Hotel and The Barry Britton Crafts Centre in nearby Rossnowlagh. I was one of the headlining acts at the Folk Festival in 1983, and was a regular visitor to Sean Og's during the early 1980s.

Apart from the above-mentioned venues on the folk scene, I was a regular visitor to Slattery's, The Meeting Place, The Earl Gratton, The Puddin' Folk Club in The Parliament Inn, The Judge & Jury, Tailor's Hall and The Baggot Inn in Dublin. Also Maynooth College, The Wexford Arts Centre, T. & H. Doolin's in Waterford (thanks to Martin & Anne) The Merriman Tavern in Scarrif, De Lacy's in Cork, The Elphin Hotel in Dun Laoghaire, The Thatch, Sallynoggin, Leo Conroy's Stables bar in Castlecomer, The Golden Grill Enniskillen, Cavan Folk Club, Monahan Folk Club, Drocheda Folk Club, The Collier's, Carrick-On-Shannon, The Venue, Strandhill, and many more unforgettable gigs during the mid-eighties.

On the rock scene, the venues I've played are too numerous to mention here, but included Dublin's National Stadium, The Mansion House, Liberty Hall, Various city halls, All the Irish universities including Trinity College, Queen's University, UCC, and UCD. 
 
I have also appeared on many RTE television & radio shows including  Like Now with Danny Hughes (TV spot with Crossroads ), Discassette & The Pat Kenny Show (radio interview, Discasette TV appearance), The Gerry Ryan Show (radio interview), SBB Ina Shui (4 TV appearances), Trom agus Éadrom (2 TV appearances), The Dave Fanning Show (studio sessions, interview), Aenghus McAnally's 'Anything Goes' (played 'Jessica' live on TV with Aenghus!), Youngline (TV appearance), Shay Healy's 'Nighthawks' (2 TV appearances) & Fáilte (TV appearance). 

Top presenters like Gay Byrne, Larry Gogan, Jim O'Neill and Mark Costigan have also featured my music in their radio shows. I also wrote the background music and arranged & sung the title song for the RTE Television Irish language series Anois agus Arís which featured 'Father Jack' himself, the wonderful Frank Kelly as 'The Minister' and was produced by Frank Murphy.

more soon..

For free mp3 samples of many of the above-mentioned bands check out the new  Audio Samples  page.

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