Horslips

Horslips is an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1970, considered one of the pioneers of Celtic rock, a musical genre combining traditional Irish music and progressive rock. The band was originally made up of Barry Devlin (bass, vocals), Jim Lockhart (keyboards, flute, whistle), Charles O'Connor (fiddle, mandolin, guitar), Johnny Fean (guitar, banjo) and Eamon Carr (drums). Unlike other rock bands of the time, who drew inspiration from Anglo-American culture, Horslips drew on Celtic mythology, traditional Irish tunes and ancient poetry to create innovative music rooted in Irish heritage. Their debut album, Happy to Meet - Sorry to Part (1972), is considered the first true Celtic rock album, with a unique blend of jigs, reels, traditional instruments and rock arrangements. They followed this up with ambitious concept albums such as The Táin (1973), inspired by the Irish mythological cycle of the same name, and The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony (1976), which blends epic narrative with progressive compositions. On stage, Horslips is renowned for its dynamic, theatrical performances, helping to redefine the identity of Irish rock in the 1970s. The band broke up in 1980 after a series of albums marking a transition to a more FM rock style, such as Aliens (1977) and Short Stories / Tall Tales (1979), but they remain a cult in Ireland and among Celtic rock fans. They reunited briefly in the 2000s for concerts and a new studio album, Roll Back (2004), reviving interest in their work. Also from this period are the live albums Live at the O2 (2010) and At the Waterfront, Belfast (2011), recorded during a performance with The Ulster Orchestra. Horslips is recognized today as an innovative band, a forerunner of other folk-rock fusions and an essential figure in contemporary Irish musical culture.

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