Birmingham pub celebrates 30th anniversary of Dexy's Midnight Runners debut album
An event celebrating 30 years since the debut album by Dexys Midnight Runners was released takes place in Birmingham this weekend.
Former members of the band, saxophonist Geoff Blythe and trombonist Jim Paterson, will be at the anniversary bash for Searching For The Young Soul Rebels and will perform alongside local band Stone Foundation.
Special guest Anthony O’Shaughnessy, who featured on the cover, will also tell the story of how he came to find his picture on the iconic album.
He was captured on camera fleeing from his home in a Catholic area of Belfast alongside many families during the Troubles, after the British government caused panic by announcing that terror “suspects” would be detained without trial.
The band’s original photographer Mike Laye will also present never-seen-before photographs that were taken before the band split up.
Fan Ian Jennings has organised the celebration and hopes it will be a hit with fellow followers of the band.
Guitarist Kevin Archer, who is also hopeful of making an appearance, added: “It’s a great way to celebrate 30 years since the debut album by the Dexys. It’s been a while since I last saw everyone from the band, but this is a nice idea.
‘‘I doubt we’ll make any new music though. It took me ten years to do something with my band the Blue Ox Babes.”
Mr O’Shaughnessy said: “When I saw myself on the record sleeve, I just thought: ‘Wow.’ I couldn’t actually believe it. The picture had been taken nine years previously.
“I’d forgotten about the photo but a friend told me that it was on the cover of the debut Dexys album. I really didn’t believe him but when I walked past a record shop I thought I’d have a quick look.
‘‘And there I was.”
* The event is at the Flapper & Firkin pub, Kingston Row, Birmingham at 7.30pm on Saturday.
