The Fontanas Showband
Rory Gallagher joined The Fontana Showband in 1963
The line-up is: leader Bernie Tobin on Trombone; his brother
Oliver on Bass;
Rory on Lead Guitar; John Lehan on Saxophone; Eamon O'Sullivan on
Drums;
and Declan O'Keefe on Rhythm Guitar
Fontana re-named 'The Impact'
in 1965 with new line-up:
Michael Lehane on Organ; and Johnny Campbell on drums.
The Fontana had its origins in West Cork: leader Bernie Tobin and
his brother,
Oliver, another member, were from Drinagh.
The line-up was: Gallagher, Lead Guitar; John Lehane, Saxophone;
Eamon O'Sullivan, Drums; Declan O'Keeffe Rhythm Guitar;
Oliver Tobin, Bass Bernard Tobin, Trombone/Sax.
Bernie Tobin was the force behind the Fontana and worked hard to
keep the show on the road.
The band either played or rehearsed every night.
There was regular work at the Arcadia, Cork.
They played 'relief' there to the top showbands and visiting
British groups such as the Animals and Searchers.
Says O'Keeffe: "We covered a lot of road.
We often left Cork at one o'clock, drove to Westport, played from
ten until two and drove back.
I remember arriving into Cork at half-seven in the morning.
I'd still be at work in Egans Jewellers by eight. It was crazy."
The Fontana (later Impact) built up a wild reputation and made some
of the
bigger bands look subdued. "We went mad on stage," recalls O'Keeffe,
"we were a total loony band.
We'd be up on each other's backs playing guitars, twisting over.
Most bands that time had the Shadows-style moves.
But we went bananas, shaking and jumping around.
Bernie used to hang by the heels of his boots from a railing over
the old stage in the Arcadia.
One of the heels fell off once and he came tumbling down.
I suppose we were more than just a showband.
We were mad - but we didn't go as far as shoving guitars through
speakers like the Who.
Most of the bands were regimented, but we freaked out on stage.
