John Peel faves The Sussed Return for 2014 Gigs

Dublin punk ‘n’ power pop legends The Sussed are set to perform together for the first time in 30 years when they play the Academy in May 2014, Hot Press has learned.

The Academy gig is likely to be an all star affair, with a number of other punkily-inclined outfits joining The Sussed for what promises to be a rollicking night's music. All going according to plan, the band will also play what they are describing in advance as their last ever gig, when they grace the Salty Dog stage at Electric Picnic 2014. The original line-up will play the dates with the exception of guitarist Paul Mooney, who lives in Florida. He will be replaced by Ronan Stokes (ex- of Cuba Dares), with Rory Stokes (Vocals), John Downey (bass) and John McGrath (drums) completing the line-up.

The gigs will celebrate the release of a CD/DVD package, which will include a mixture old recordings and new live footage – and which will also feature some special guests.
The band’s early ‘80s fan club included Dave Fanning, Larry Gogan and the BBC's John Peel, who was very taken with their ‘Don’t Swim On The East Coast’ single, a hit record which had Windscale – subsequently renamed Sellafield – in its anti-nuclear sights.
The band were masters of hype and PR, notoriously gaining widespread coverage for a gig in which they would be supported by The Rolling Stones – on June 31st!
To disguise the fact that they at one point had four different people holding down the role, the band came up with the idea of the The Masked Bassman, who sported a balaclava.
The band were good mates back in the day with The Radiators From Space and The Pogues and might, if things had panned out a little differently, have enjoyed the same sort of overseas success as Shane’s mob.