Sam Corry and Daniel O'Neil grew up in Craigneuk, Motherwell, where they spent their early years as playground rivals. This rivalry continued throughout the 1980's as their respective bands competed for gigs in the Scottish music scene. A mutual admiration for Bob Dylan and Neil Young, country music and classic guitar bands like Television and Creedence Clearwater Revival eventually brought them together as THE RIVER DETECTIVES.
In 1988 the duo moved to Glasgow, ditched their TV and played more than 100 shows from Stirling to Shetland. By the end of the year they became the first Scottish act in more than a decade to sign for American giants Warner Bros. The events leading to their breakthrough began in 1985, when the newly formed duo decided to adopt a YEAR ZERO approach in their listening habits.
Armed with their first set of songs they were now ready to recruit a band. The first line up consisted of Dan on drums and vocals, Sam on guitar and vocals, with Bernie Doris on bass and Gary Roberts on guitar. On August 18 th 1986 at Jack Daniels Bar in Motherwell The River Detectives took to the stage for the first time.
With no television to distract them, Sam and Dan spent most of their time writing the songs that would comprise their debut album, Saturday Night Sunday Morning. Throughout the year the band played both acoustic and electric shows, building a reputation as one of Scotland's top live acts. Numerous radio appearances and press reviews soon confirmed them as contenders.
By the end of the year the River Detectives had played 96 shows and had recorded the demos for their first album. After a show in Glasgow's QM University in October, the band found themselves with no shortage of offers from all the major labels and set off on the road to think things over.
SATURDAY NIGHT SUNDAY MORNING was released on Oct. 1989 and earned the band a worldwide fan base, as well as a silver disc for UK sales. The songs were mostly autobiographical, chronicling their lives in Craigneuk, Motherwell, a steel town decimated by job losses during the Thatcher years.
CHAINS proved to be the biggest hit from the album, and the duo set off on what would become almost a decade of extensive worldwide touring. Their first overseas promotional tour took them off to Canada, Sweden and Ireland in order to perform live and on various television shows.
In the UK the band made over two dozen TV appearances, most notably on the Wogan show, while their live performances included sell out shows at Glasgow's Pavilion theatre and the Marquee in London. The band stayed with WEA for three years, and although only one album was released, THE RIVER DETECTIVES recorded and released over 40 songs for the label.
Featuring the considerable musical talents of VAN MORRISONS backing group, ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING was released in 1992 on the VITAL record label. Recorded in Antrim and Edinburgh, it was produced by label owner and old friend Chris Harley. ELVIS was a confident affair, brimming with fine melodies and musicianship. and radio hits soon followed. As usual, the duo took to the road to promote their record, taking most of Van's band with them.
Upon their return they relocated to Ireland where they spent the next couple of years writing and touring, as well as guesting on numerous albums in the vibrant Irish music scene. CHRIS informed them that ELVIS had been released in SOUTH AFRICA the previous year and had chalked up two top ten singles. As a result of this, in the summer of 96 the band headlined the SPLASHY FEN festival in the NATAL province, SOUTH AFRICA'S answer to Glastonbury. More invites to tour in SA soon followed, leading to another relocation for the duo, this time to the sunny climes of Durban.
After a year of writing and gigging in SA, the new millennium was beckoning and so was home. THE RIVER DETECTIVES returned to Scotland in 2000, determined to take a break from each other and the demands of the music business. It would be almost five years before they would strike up the band again.
In 2005 THE RIVER DETECTIVES returned to the scene with KING OF THE GHOST TRAIN RIDE, released on Glasgow's Neon Tetra label. The band has also taken to the road once again. If their past exploits are anything to go by, you should expect THE RIVER DETECTIVES to show up in your home town soon enough...
