The Story of Tuesday Blue - From Limerick to Montreux
From Limerick to Montreux
The
Story of Tuesday Blue
By Kieran Beville
In the history of Irish rock music, the spotlight
inevitably falls on the bands who achieved international fame. Yet the full
story of Ireland’s music scene is also shaped by the groups who came close —
bands who built strong reputations locally, attracted industry attention and,
for a brief period, stood on the edge of something much larger.
One such band was Tuesday Blue, a Limerick group whose
career during the 1980s carried them from local rehearsal rooms to one of the
most famous recording studios in Europe.
Formed in Limerick in the early
1980s, Tuesday Blue progressed steadily through the Irish music circuit. Their
rise saw them release records nationally, sign to a label founded by members of
U2, and eventually travel to Montreux in Switzerland to record
their debut album at Mountain Studios,
a recording facility owned by Queen
and used by some of the most prominent artists in rock music.
For a band emerging from
Limerick’s thriving music scene, the journey to one of Europe’s most famous
recording studios was a remarkable milestone. Although Tuesday Blue ultimately
did not achieve the international breakthrough that once seemed possible, their
story remains one of the most interesting episodes in Limerick’s musical
history.
Forming
in Limerick
Tuesday Blue formed in 1983. The core line-up consisted of Michael Ryan (vocals), Dave Keary (guitar) and Ralf Lindheim (bass). In its earliest
phase the band functioned as a trio and even relied on a drum machine before bringing in live
drummers. As the group developed, the line-up expanded. Early keyboard duties
were handled by Barry Warner,
while Tom Jones later joined on
keyboards and rhythm guitar. Drumming responsibilities were taken on first by Liam Darcy and later by Ray Fean.
Like many bands forming outside
the major industry centres during the early 1980s, Tuesday Blue built their
reputation gradually. The Limerick music scene was active but relatively small and
emerging groups relied heavily on local venues, rehearsal spaces and demo
recordings to establish themselves.
Through regular performances and
song-writing sessions, the band developed a style that combined melodic rock
with prominent keyboard arrangements, reflecting the broad, atmospheric sound
that characterised much of the decade’s rock music.
Early
recognition
The band began to gain wider
attention in the mid-1980s. A demo recording by Tuesday Blue reached number 31 in Dave Fanning’s Fab Fifty poll in
1986. The annual poll, broadcast on RTÉ Radio 2, was compiled from
listener votes and had become an important platform for emerging Irish artists.
For bands trying to reach audiences beyond their local scene, radio exposure
could be crucial. Appearing in the Fab Fifty indicated that Tuesday Blue’s
music was beginning to circulate nationally. At a time when Irish rock was
gaining increasing international attention following the success of groups like
U2, opportunities were beginning to open for new bands across the country.
Signing
to Mother Records
Tuesday Blue’s growing reputation
soon led to their first significant recording opportunity. The band signed to Mother Records, a Dublin-based label
founded in 1984 by U2’s manager Paul
McGuinness together with U2 members Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen. The
label was established to support emerging artists and projects connected to the
developing Irish music scene. For a young band from Limerick, signing to Mother
Records represented a major step forward. The association with U2’s management
and members of the band gave the label a high profile within the Irish music
industry.
In 1986, Tuesday Blue released their debut single ‘Tunnel Vision’ on Mother Records. The record appeared in
both 7-inch and 12-inch formats.
The 7-inch single featured ‘Tell The
Boys’ on the B-side, while the 12-inch version included additional
tracks, among them ‘Don’t Go Away’
and an extended version of ‘Tunnel Vision’. The single was promoted with a tour
and a music video, reflecting the label’s efforts to bring the band to a wider
audience. For Tuesday Blue, the release marked their transition from a local
Limerick act to a band operating within the national Irish music industry.
A move
toward a major label
Following the release of Tunnel Vision’, Tuesday Blue moved into a recording arrangement associated with EMI-Manhattan, part of the international EMI record company network. This connection provided the band with access to greater recording resources and the possibility of international distribution. During 1987 and 1988, the band concentrated heavily on developing material for their first full album. Rather than touring extensively, they spent much of this period refining songs and preparing for studio recording. Some earlier tracks were revisited and reworked for inclusion on the album.
Recording
in Montreux
The recording sessions for Tuesday Blue’s debut
album took place in Montreux,
Switzerland, at the renowned Mountain
Studios. Mountain Studios was one of the best-known recording facilities
in Europe. The studio had been purchased by Queen and was closely associated with the band’s recording
activities during the 1970s and 1980s. Over the years, the Montreux studio had
hosted sessions by major international artists including Queen, David Bowie, Iggy Pop and others. For a band that had begun its
career in Limerick only a few years earlier, working in such surroundings
represented a dramatic step forward.
The project was produced by David Richards, an engineer and
producer who had worked extensively with Queen and collaborated with David Bowie. Richards had been closely associated with Mountain
Studios and was involved in a number of high-profile rock recordings made
there. His experience in large-scale studio production helped shape the sound
of Tuesday Blue’s album and brought an international level of technical
expertise to the project.
Shibumi
The album recorded in Montreux
was titled Shibumi. It
was released in the United States in
1988, followed by a European
release in 1989. The record featured newly recorded versions of earlier
songs such as ‘Tunnel Vision’
and ‘Tell The Boys’, alongside
additional tracks including ‘Love Me
Simple’, ‘Between Smiles and Tears’, ‘Open Your Eyes’, “Cut and Dry’, ‘Escape
the Escape’, ‘I Believe in You’ and ‘Something Wrong With Your World’.
Recording at Mountain Studios allowed the band to
develop a more expansive and polished sound. The production emphasised layered
guitars and keyboards, creating a style that reflected the ambitious rock music
being produced internationally at the time. For Tuesday Blue, the album represented
the culmination of several years of work and their most significant attempt to
reach audiences beyond Ireland.
Changing
musical trends
Despite the scale of the
production and the resources invested in the album, Shibumi did not
achieve the commercial breakthrough that might have carried Tuesday Blue to
international prominence. The late 1980s was a period of change within popular
music. New styles were emerging, and the musical landscape was shifting away
from the polished rock sound that had dominated much of the decade. In such an
environment, even well-produced albums could struggle to gain traction. Although
Shibumi demonstrated the band’s musicianship and ambition, it did not
generate the sustained commercial success required to secure a long-term
international career.
The end
of the band
Tuesday Blue continued for a
short period following the release of their album but eventually disbanded in 1990. Their career had
lasted less than a decade, yet during that time they had travelled a
considerable distance — from local performances in Limerick to recording in one
of Europe’s most famous studios.
After
Tuesday Blue
The end of the band did not bring
an end to the musical careers of its members.
Guitarist Dave Keary went on to become one of
Ireland’s most respected session musicians and producers. Over the years he has
worked with various artists including Van Morrison. His later work highlighted
the level of musical talent that had existed within Tuesday Blue.
A notable
chapter in Limerick’s music history
Tuesday Blue may not have become
an international household name, but their journey reflects the ambition and
optimism that characterised the Irish music scene during the 1980s. For a band
from Limerick to sign with Mother
Records, release nationally promoted singles and record an album in
Switzerland with a producer associated with Bowie and Queen was an achievement
in itself. Their story illustrates how far a determined group of musicians from
a regional city could travel during that era. From rehearsal rooms in Limerick
to the renowned Mountain Studios in
Montreux, Tuesday Blue reached a level of opportunity that many bands
only dreamed of. And although their time in the spotlight was brief, the band’s
journey remains an important part of Limerick’s musical heritage — a reminder
of a moment when a local group stood within touching distance of the
international stage.
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