Last Tuesday, I filmed an interview with The Undertones by mister Gijsbert Kamer at the Fine Fine Music night in Paradiso, Amsterdam. Thanks to Frank and Paul at Fine Fine Music, the band agreed to record a session the very next day, after their soundcheck at Tivoli de Helling, Utrecht. They played The Rolling Stones, Velvet Underground and Ray Davies.

The Undertones, a punkrock group from Northern Ireland scored hits with songs like ‘Here Comes The Summer’ and ‘My Perfect Cousin’, but are most famous for their song ‘Teenage Kicks’, which was hyped by English Radio 1 dj John Peel, who rated the song 28 stars out of a maximum of 5. He loved the song so much, he had the line ‘Teenage dreams, so hard to beat’ from the song engraved on the headstone on his grave.

‘Teenage Kicks’ was later covered by the likes of Razorlight, Skunk Anansie, Franz Ferdinand, KT Tunstall, Nouvelle Vague, Green Day, Supergrass, Snow Patrol, The Coral and The Raconteurs.

The Undertones split up in 1983, but reformed in 1999. Without lead singer Feargal Sharkey, who’s become one of the biggest names in the UK music industry. In October 2008, he became head of UK Music, a organisation representing the collective interests of the UK’s commercial music industry. In The Undertones, the position of lead singer was filled by Paul McLoone.

The Undertones – Sunday Morning – Velvet Underground

The Undertones – Play With Fire – The Rolling Stones

The Undertones – This Strange Effect – Ray Davies

Thanks to:

Maarten Besseling | second camera
Frank Satink | Goomah Music
Paul Nederveen | Fine Fine Music