Brush Shiels
Brendan Francis "Brush" Shiels (born 24 October 1945, Limerick, Ireland) is an Irish musician from County Dublin, best known for being the frontman of Gary Moore's first band, Skid Row.[1] Brush Shiels had a TV show on RTÉ called Off yer Brush and was twice managed by boyband mentor Louis Walsh.[1] He now appears regularly providing musical accompaniment on the Joe Duffy Liveline radio programme on RTÉ and still performs live around venues in the UK and Ireland.
Brush Shiels | |
---|---|
Birth name | Brendan Francis Shiels |
Born | Limerick, Ireland | 24 October 1945
Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
Genres | Psychedelic rock, Rock, Blues rock, Country |
Instruments | Guitar, Vocals Bass |
Years active | 1960s–present |
Labels | CBS |
Associated acts | Skid Row Dr. Strangely Strange Thin Lizzy |
Website | myspace.com/brushshiels |
Brush also enjoyed a brief spell as a footballer representing Bohemian F.C. in the 1960s. Shiels has helped Bohemians recent times by making appearances at fundraising events to try and ensure the survival of his former club.
In 1971 Billboard praised Shiels, Bridgeman and Moore for their album 34 Hours suggesting the "lads will travel far".[2] Shiels played at such internationally known music venues such as Fillmore West and Whisky a Go Go.[3] and in 1986 played at the Self Aid benefit concert for unemployed in Ireland.[4]
In December 2012 he suffered a heart failure caused by a viral infection and was admitted to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown for two weeks.[3] In 2013, Brush was one of the legends from the Irish entertainment business to perform at the Philip Chevron testimonial.[5]
Discography
With Skid Row
- Skid (CBS, 1970)
- 34 Hours (CBS, 1971)[2]
- Alive and Kicking (RRL, 1976) (Brush and Noel Bridgeman in live album without Gary Moore or previous Skid Row songs, just well known covers with a rather large band)
- Skid Row (a.k.a. 'Dublin Gas Comy.'), (demos recorded 1969, released 1984)
- Skid Row (a.k.a. 'Gary Moore/Brush Shiels/Noel Bridgeman'), (third album recorded 1971, released 1989)
- Live And On Song (Hux, 2006) (first two singles on Song label recorded 1969, plus BBC 'In Concert' from 1971)
- Bon Jovi Never Rang Me (Bruised Records, 2012)
Solo
- Brush Shiels (1977)
- Old Pal (1986)
- Fields of Athenry (1988)
- BadBob's Country Boogie (1990)
- Wrapped Silage (1994)
- Celtic Road Warrior (1997)
- 18 Celtic Rock Classics (1999)
- Mad Dog Woman (originally titled Skid Row Revisited, 2009)
- A Brush With Life (2012)
References
- "Brendan 'Brush' Shiels reveals pal Phil Lynott crashed his honeymoon". Entertainment Music. Irish Independent. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- "Self-Aid to help Irish Unemployed". Billboard. Billboard Publications Inc. 83 (35): 50. 28 August 1971. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- Sweeney, Ken (14 December 2012). "Shiels says thanks to medics after his Brush with death". Irish News. Irish Independent.
- "Self-Aid to help Irish Unemployed". Billboard. Billboard Publications Inc. 98 (19): 90. 10 May 1986. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- "Philip Chevron testimonial at Olympia this Saturday". Hot Press. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2014.