On the Trail of the Killer

EVERY SUNDAY between 6pm and 7pm Eamonn Carr presents his weekly Rock Report programme on FM104.
To some it may seem like a fairly simple task; you spin a few discs, talk a bit here and there, and chat to a couple of stars on the phone or in person. But the truth is that Carr dedicates virtually an entire week to fashioning each programme so that when it crashes through your radio speakers you receive a sixty minute up-to-date pocket capsule of what's happening in the industry of human happiness. The Rock Report is of added importance since it provides local acts with some precious exposure through record play, name-checks, and maybe an interview for the lucky few.
The time and energy Carr puts into the show are also a reflection of his own personal commitment to all things rock 'n' roll. Remember, this is a man who also has to compose a daily music column for the Evening Herald and, in between both tasks, a lot of hours are gobbled up listening to records, talking to artists and others in the industry, checking out live gigs, catching the occasional 40 winks and lying awake trying to figure out how to score an interview with The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis.
To add to the man's burden Hot Press recently spent three weeks tailing Carr all over Dublin to compile the following diary which might reveal just a fraction of what it takes to put such a crucial rock radio programme on the air.

Monday May 24th
Carr reflects on yesterday's show with general satisfaction. He played the b-side of the Suede single and has been pleasantly and gratifylingly surprised by the positive feedback it has generated. The Joe Ely interview worked a treat, but the less loquacious Revenants lost a few brownie points. Elva Tarpy from MCA calls to say *the Joe Ely interview was great*. She had played a significant role in setting it up. Carr is still ecstatic about Jerry Lee Lewis' contribution to the Bruce Springsteen gig at the RDS and waxes eloquent in his report for the Evening Herald.

Tuesday May 25th
A fax arrives cancelling a planned interview with Robin Campbell of UB40. The band are apparently behind schedule with the recording of their next album so all extra curricular activities have been shelved. That could leave a bit of a hole in this week's programme. Carr talks to Darren Smith of EMI about current status of next A House album. Muses on the possibility of getting hold of the elusive Jerry Lee Lewis for an interview. What a scoop that would be! Still there's no harm in dreaming.

Wednesday May 26th
Josephine Nestor of Virgin phones about the possibility of an interview with Andy McCloskey of OMD. That could fill the gap caused by the loss of the UB40 phoner. Makes a note to play a New Order track on Sunday because of Friday's peace gig.

Thursday May 27th
Catherine Greenhalgh of Warners turns up with Marc Cohn for an interview set up weeks ago to discuss his new album. Cohn is a nice bloke and a good talker who doesn't take himself too seriously. Talks continue with Justin Greene about an interview with Therapy?

Friday May 28th
Receives a friendly phone-call from Carl of Madness. Speaks to Ali McMordie for the inside story about unfortunate collapse of the Belfast Peace gig. Listens back to interview with Ger Whelan of An Emotional Fish just to check edits. Wonders if there is more to Red Hot Chili Peppers' European tour cancellation than meets the eye? Decides there probably isn't.

Saturday May 29th
Backstage at the Gaiety gig Carr talks at length to Jerry Lee's wife Kerrie McCarver Lewis. She is highly complimentary about his references to Jerry in the Evening Herald Springsteen report. They chat about music, Memphis, the new Lewis home in Ireland etc. and though Carr diplomatically decides not to pursue the idea of an interview yet, he does obtain Jerry Lee's house number!

Sunday May 30th
The Rock Report is broadcast and its content is as follows:
* news item on Faith No More replacing Red Hot Chili Peppers for Dalymount Park, Sunstroke gig;
* plays *A Small Victory* by Faith No More (Is the title a soccer pun?);
* news item on Peter Gabriel cancelling Belfast's Peace Together gig;
* interview with Alie McMordie who explains background to cancellation, and expectations for Dublin;
* plays *Regret* by New Order (appropriate title);
* mention of Dublin's Peace Together gig
* plays *Mandinka* by Sinead O'Connor;
* interview with Marc Cohn about his new album *The Rainy Season*
* interview with Ger Whelan of An Emotional Fish about the new album *Junk Puppets* and the band's philosophy regarding hit singles;
* plays *Harmony Central* by An Emotional Fish.

Monday May 31st
There is general in-station approval for the content of yesterday's programme, although Carr himself would have liked a little more Irish content apart from An Emotional Fish and Sinead O'Connor. Still, two of the interviews were Irish and the interview with Marc Cohn ate into a lot of time so, all in all, it worked out quite well. Tries to figure out best strategy for approaching Jerry Lee about an interview.

Tuesday June 1st
Darren Smith from EMI calls to confirm the availability of Dave Couse from A House for an interview on Thursday. Carr decides to take the bull by the horns and talks on the phone at length to Kerrie McCarver Lewis about *maybe a short* interview. Her response is best described as optimistically non-committal.

Wednesday June 2nd
Carr talks to Hinterland about their new four track EP *Ressurect*, and to Colm O'Callaghan about Glee Glug and Divine Comedy's new release set for July. A lengthy conversation takes place with EMI regarding Kingmaker's second album and The Devlins' debut.

Thursday June 3rd
Still no word on the Jerry Lee front. Not looking good. Probably a non-runner from the start anyway. Carr interviews Dave Couse of A House and the oddly named John Wesley Harding. After both interviews Carr, in serious need of refreshment, attends the launch of the Mary Black album at Lillie's Bordello and (shock, horror) has his photograph taken presenting Mary Black with a platinum disc.

Friday June 4th
Busy, busy day. Carr talks to Lindsay Holmes about the possibility of a Mary Coughlan interview and hears the news that an interview with Jerry Lee Lewis may actually be on the cards. But ever the realist Carr keeps his enthusiasm in check. And it looks as if all the hard work trying to score interviews with Ray Charles, Eleanor McEvoy and John Pine may finally be about to pay off. Phew, not a bad day after all!

Sunday June 6th
Rock Report contents are as follows:
* plays *Summer Sent You* (Mary Black)
* item on Mary Coughlan's new live album and UK and Irish tour;
* plays *A Thrill's A Thrill* by Mary Coughlan
* interview with Dave Couse of A House about their activities since being dropped by Warners, and their next album;
* plays *Take It Easy On Me* and *I Am The Greatest* by A House;
* plays *The Rainy Season* and *Walk Through The World* by Marc Cohn
* part 2 of the interview with Marc Cohn;
* interview with singer-songwriter John Wesley Harding about his forthcoming gigs in Ireland, his strange name and his new album *Why We Fight*;
* plays *Kill The Messenger* and *Hitler's Tears* by John Wesley Harding.

Monday June 7th
Practically all other considerations are set to one side in Carr's determination to capitalise on any remote opportunity of getting the Jerry Lee Lewis interview, no matter how short it might turn out to be. He takes a call from Lewis' aide in Ireland, Tadgh Coughlan, who is also the manager of Raffles nightclub, saying that Lewis will meet Carr tomorrow at Lewis' house in Foxrock! Things are at least moving in the right direction.

Tuesday June 8th
Today's the day. Carr discusses the various technical aspects of the interview with his back-up team at FM104, gathers his thoughts, checks his tape recorder, double checks his supply of tapes, checks his tape recorder again and hops in a cab to head out to Foxrock. Nobody is too surprised when a call comes through to the cab on its way through Donnybrook that the interview is off. Carr, although disappointed, decides not to give up, and back at his flat ponders on the next best move.

Wednesday June 9th
Before Carr has had time to formulate his plan of action to get the Lewis interview back on track, a call gets him out of bed. Jerry Lee Lewis will meet him at the Shelbourne later that day! Apparently his cancellation yesterday was genuine as Jerry had to visit the doctor because of a back problem; he'll be at the Shelbourne today to meet Van Morrison and Ron Wood to discuss a proposed album featuring all three. When Carr finally meets Jerry Lee Lewis he is pleasantly impressed by the legend's general good humour and willingness to discuss all and sundry. Carr lets the tapes roll, and Jerry talks. On his way out of the Shelbourne Jerry Lee tells Carr how much he enjoyed the interview and asks Carr not to forget to send him a copy.

Thursday June 10th
At the FM104 studios Carr listens back with delight to Lewis' frank discussion and realises that he has the only European radio interview with Jerry Lee! He spends most of the day working out the best way to use the material, and what recordings by Jerry Lee wold be most appropriate.

Friday June 11th
The editing completed, Scott Williams and Dave Kelly at FM104 work on the promos the station will broadcast to alert rock fans to Carr's scoop interview. As soon as it starts being broadcast Kelly is inundated with calls asking for Jerry Lee autographs, copies of tapes, Jerry Lee Lewis' phone number and a whole load of other stuff the normally generous Kelly refuses to dish out, for obvious reasons. Carr's last act of the day is to cut a copy of the tape to post on to Jerry Lee next week with a little thank you note.