Rocky De Valera and the Gravediggers announce reunion gig

Rocky De Valera and the Gravediggers have announced their return to the Grand Social on August 14.

Formed in the aftermath of Ireland’s punk explosion in the late 70s, the Howth-based band enjoyed an initial life span from November 1977 to their final show at McGonagles on New Year's Eve 1979.  The legendary music venue on Anne Street hosted gigs from U2, The Stones Roses, Blur, Thin Lizzy, The Pogues, Sonic Youth and Teenage Fanclub before its closure in 1993.

Rocky De Valera and the Gravediggers reformed in 2006 to play Eamonn Doran’s in Dublin and again in 2008 for a couple of live shows in Dublin and Howth.

They played their first gig at the Belfield Bar in UCD in 1978 to a raucous reception, after which they were allegedly asked for autographs. The band had a variety of lineups, with the most stable lineup being Ferdia MacAnna (AKA Rocky De Valera), Martin 'The Lizard' Meagher, Jack Dublin and Pat Rooney.

Among the songs in the first ever set-list were the Pirates classics 'Shakin' All Over' and 'Peter Gunn' and Dr Feelgood's ‘I Can Tell' as well as Vince Taylor's 'Brand New Cadillac', later covered by the Clash on their 1979 album London Calling.

Rocky De Valera and The Lizard went on to form 'The Rhythm Kings' (1981-83). Jack Dublin was a founding member of 80's rockers In Tua Nua.

Their satirical single, ‘Sinne Finne Fianna Fáil Blues’, was banned by RTÉ following a live radio broadcast in 1979 after it was rumoured to disgruntle some influential Fianna Fáil figures.

“I don’t know if it’s time for a political or not song, is it?” Ferdia asked the crowd before performing the song at their New Year's Eve show in 1979.

“Well, this is a song we dedicate to all political people everywhere, especially to myself if I ever decide to run for Taoiseach. This is ‘The Sinne Finne Fianna Fáil Blues.'"

The band later released the track as a double-A side single with ‘Diceman’ in 2005.

An original song from their unreleased EP Good Vibes, 'The Lady Loves to Rock and Roll' was featured on Just for Kicks in 1979. The 12-track record featured Irish new-wave bands that included The Atrix, Zebra, and a demo from U2, three months ahead of their official debut 'Out of Control'.