St-Patrick’s Day – Irish Guitarists

We’ve definitely got to honor some of the most influential Irish guitars we could name in time for St-Patrick's and that time of year where we can drink green beer.  Let's be clear in saying there are more than ten Irish guitarists that we know of.  Send us your suggestions for missing Irish guitar players in time for St-Patty's and we'll squeeze them in.  Our choices range from modern indie to sixties and seventies vintage rock and hardcore blues players that I'm sure you all know.

10.  Noel Hogan – The Cranberries

Noel Hogan is the guitarist and co-songwriter of Irish rock band The Cranberries. In 2003 The Cranberries decided take a break after more than a dozen years of touring, promotion and recording which had seen them clock up album sales in excess of 40 million. Noel turned to focus on his own music and began working with programmer Matt Vaughan, who had already worked with Noel on unreleased Cranberries material. In May 2005 Noel released his new tracks under the name Mono Band, more a collaborative effort than a solo album, the record featured Alexandra Hamnede, Richard Walters, Kate Havnevik and others.

Following the release of the Mono Band album, Noel teamed up with ex-Theremin vocalist Richard Walters to form Arkitekt. Together they released two EPs 'Black Hair' and '14 Days in 2008 and 2009' with work all but completed on a full length album to be released in the near future.

Over the last several years Noel has been developing his production work, working with bands like Limerick's Supermodel Twins, Mullingar rockers The Aftermath and Reema, a Cork band who have just finished their debut album with Noel.

In 2009 Noel released Tonelist on his own Gohan Records imprint. The album is a collaboration with Limerick Live 95FM's Green and Live show, and is a collection featuring better-known and up-and-coming bands from the Limerick music scene.

In August 2009 The Cranberries that they will reform for a live tour with dates confirmed in 2009/2010 in North America, South America and Europe.

http://www.myspace.com/noelhogan

9.  Bermie Tormé – Ozzy Osbourne and Gillan (as in Ian)

It has been said of Irish guitarist Bernie Tormé that he plays his vintage Fender Stratocaster through a Marshall Amplifier as though he knew them in a previous life.

Bernie played in Dublin band The Urge (among others) in the early 70's before relocating to London in 74, where he initially played with heavy pub rockers Scrapyard, and later formed the punk Bernie Torme Band in 76-77, touring with The Boomtown Rats and Generation X among many others.

In 79 Bernie joined ex Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan's band Gillan, and had a crucial role in the bands success, writing and playing on four top ten albums and many hit singles. Following his departure from Gillan, he played with Ozzy Osbourne, standing in for the great Randy Rhoads following Randy's tragic death in an air crash. Bernie joined forces with ex Girl and current LA Guns front man Philip Lewis in Torme during the 80's, as well as playing with legendary keyboard player Vincent Crane as a member of psychedelic doom rockers Atomic Rooster.

Bernie also played with Twisted Sister's Dee Snider and Iron Maiden's drummer Clive Burr in Desperado. Desperado's "Ace" album has finally just been released in the UK on AngelAir Records (cat no Sjpcd154) and in the US on Cleopatra (cat no CLP..1644-2).

Bernie is currently working with bassist man mountain John McCoy, also ex Gillan and psycho-slamming drummer Robin Guy under the band name Guy McCoy Torme, or G.M.T. for short.

Check out more of Tormé on myspace http://www.myspace.com/bernietorme