FIVE BOYS

FIVE BOYS , formed from the ashes of from two Belfast outfits, SHOCK TREATMENT and GUILTY ACHIEVEMENTS and was highly active in Belfast often in cahoots with Art-College contemporaries TIE THE BOY and FOUR OF US .
Staples of the Belfast clubs of the period like SATELLITE, ORPHEUS, THE CONOR HALL and their own UNDERWORLD, the band were famed for scam promotions including Underworld magazine, touting their demos as cassette releases backed with fly-posting campaigns, appearances under alter-ego monikers and sudden changes of genre or brand new sets every time they appeared live.
They are best known for their Northern Soul affectations live, with large line-ups, horns and backing singers and for their stance of defiant independence, turning their back on deal-chasing in favour of DIY promotion, management and releases.
Based around the core duo of David McLarnon (Shock Treatment, Charlie Chan, Peace Frog) and Jimi Pig (Pig, Guilty Achievements, Light vs Dark), floating members included Seamus O'Neill (Bankrobbers), Barry McIlhenny (Shock Treatment), Mark Bradley (Reflex Action, Lovers of Today, Shock Treatment, Guilty Achievements, The Reluctors, Me, The Organelles), Ronan Maguire (Pig, Lovers of Today, Guilty Achievements, The Reluctors, Me) and sundry others.
The band eventually stabilised as McLarnon on guitar and vocals, Jimi on bass and vocals, Philip Flood (subsequently a classical composer of some note), ..boards and sax, Chris Burrell (keyboards and guitar) and Bill Reid (drums) They later changed their name and started playing a heavier style influenced by hip-hop and electronica, and released the single 'American Man' and album 'First Things First' (a various artists compliation) as BIG ELECTRIC PLC Changing line-up and name again to CHARLIE CHAN the project gradually fizzled out after founders and songwriters McLarnon/Pig had departed.
McLarnon would later form PEACE FROG..