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Turps

John Turps

About Me

JOHN "TURPS" BURKE comes from the cathedral city of Tuam in the County Galway. A performer equally at home in the worlds of punk rock and traditional folk, he was a founder member of the internationally known SAWDOCTORS with whom he played guitar and electric mandolin, wrote and sang. Turps was one of the first punk rock fans in the West, mad for the Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Clash, and played with his own proto-punk Tuam bands, wonderful, anarchic ad hoc ensembles with names like Blitzkrieg, The Lads and All Cats Are Grey. In 1987 he formed The Sawdoctors with his former school friends Leo Moran and Davy Carton. They quickly became the best known band in the West, and in 1990 had the biggest ever selling single in Ireland with the now classic "I USETA LOVER". Many other hits followed and Turps played a major role in these and the first two Sawdoctors albums "IF THIS IS ROCK AND ROLL IWANT MY OLD JOB BACK" and "ALL THE WAY FROM TUAM", singing lead vocals on his own songs, co-writing several others and contributing his crystal clear high harmonies and melodic mandolin/guitar/keyboard themes to the sound. Turps also Co-Produced the first biggest selling album with Philip Tennant. Around this time he also contributed backing vocals to THE WATERBOYS West-of-Ireland-recorded album "ROOM TO ROAM" at the request of his friend Mike Scott. After several successful years of touring with The Sawdoctors Turps quit the band to return to Tuam and work on his own solo music. In the summer of 1997 Turps began writing and demo-ing the set of songs that were to become his first solo album, "ILLUMINATE". The songs were written in and around Tuam and on location in Alicante, Spain. In mid 1999, assembling a group of musicians including Guitarist Thomas Niland and Cane 141 programmer,Paul Brennan, Turps began recording "ILLUMINATE" at Temptation Studios in Galway. He produced the album himself with co-producer, Galway studio pioneer Pat Neary. "ILLUMINATE" was completed in late 2000 and reflects the many sides of Turps' musical personality - full tilt rockers, funky cool groovers, acoustic ballads - all topped with his trademark sweet melodies and set in a warm contemporary atmosphere. Turps songs conjure up the imagery and beauty of his surroundings as well as his own experiences. Deep Down In The City expresses the colour and beauty of the global cultural melting pot and the luxury of having anonymity and freedom to do what you want. To Be The One was written one night at 4.30am as Turps lay awake in his bed in Alicante, just after hed met someone whom he felt may have been a soulmate. According to Turps The trumpets came first with a thumping beat and then the lyrics followed and I was dreaming of the person in questionso you could say it was as spontanious as can be! Chessboard Blues was originally called Brighter Days and is about being as authentic in daily living as one can. Featuring strings and piano, the song was written by Turps in Mike Scott of the Waterboys, West London home with Mike playing along on piano. Following the session, Turps took the cassette to Spain and finished the song off some weeks later. The album cover photograph was taken by Mike Scott (a belated thanks perhaps for those long-ago backing vocals on "Room To Roam") and the inner sleeve pictures were taken in Spain by Turps himself."ILLUMINATE" was released in Ireland to Critical Acclaim on May 25th 2001 on Solid Records, Distributed by RMG Ireland, online by FRESH PRODUCTIONS Ireland. For more information on "TURPS" and to obtain a copy of "ILLUMINATE" click on "band website" in the general info bar on the left.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/30/2006
Band Website: members.tripod.com/john_turps/
Band Members: John Turps and various guest artists. Album info on "Turps" site. summer dream myspace layout
Influences: The Waterboys/The Sex Pistols/The Clash/Jimi Hendrix/Eric Clapton/ Hank Williams/Louis Armstrong/Horslips/The Beatles/Rolling Stones/Philip Lynott/Cheryl Crowe/Mike Oldfield/Bob Dylan/Alanais Morissette/Bruce Springsteen/Gram Parsons/The Ramones/David Bowie/Queen/Pearl Jam/ Ravel/Mozart/Mike Scott/Dean Martin/Andreas Botticelli/Brian Wilson/Philip Tennant/John Lennon/Phil Spector/The Hothouse Flowers/Bothy Band/Sharon Shannon/Christy Moore/The Keanes Caherlistrane/Cluiderevagh/ and on
Sounds Like: Me I guess!
Record Label: Solid Recs/Warner Bros/Shamtown Recs/Evolving Musc
Type of Label: None

My Blog

*ILLUMINATE*

Hey folks:) SoniKPollen launchecs today and my album is being released in Ireland and the UK on sonikpollen.com and via SMS by Fri Oct5th.  Illuminate shall be available worldwide via&n...
Posted by Turps on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 03:39:00 PST

Hughes Bar Music Session, Spiddal.

While spending time with friends Mike Scott and Steve Wickham from the Waterboys, Turps filmed a live session in Hughes bar in Spiddal with Waterboy friends and associated musician frie...
Posted by Turps on Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:12:00 PST

Turps and Odie live at the Woolstore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPYiB2v0zLY
Posted by Turps on Sun, 03 Dec 2006 12:05:00 PST