Their songs are on every jukebox in every bar around the world.
And now after a 17 year absence, one of Ireland’s most famous bands ‘Goats Don’t Shave’ are to reform.
Their classic ‘Las Vegas In The Hills Of Donegal’ helped them fill venues from Britain to America to Australia and they played at some of the world’s biggest festivals.
But at the height of their fame in 1995, the Dungloe band called it a day.
Lead singer Pat Gallagher told Donegal Daily that the fame and the partying just became too much for the lads.
“As a band we always wanted to make sure our audience had a great time, and wanted every Goat’s gig to become a real party but when the audience went home we continued to party a bit too much.
“We awoke one morning in ’96 with a headache from hell and decided to pull our horns in. So I guess the last seventeen years has been one hell of a hangover, but we’re feeling a little bit better today,” he said.
After a four year break the band found themselves with families and doing school runs instead of signing autographs.
“But before you know it family life had taken over, we all had kids to rear (that’s children not baby goats!) the school-run and homework to see too.
“I truly love family life in Donegal, plus I wanted to see my children grow up. As they say time flies when you’re enjoying yourself.
“We did a one-off gig in Donegal last year and when a surprisingly large crowd turned out to see us, we were taken aback and had a fantastic time. We also really enjoyed playing together again,” said Pat.
Now that the bands record company Cooking Vinyl wants to release a best-of album, it seems like the right time to get back together.
“We have been very fortunate that although the band hasn’t been around for years the music has remained very popular. We have always had steady radio play and songs like “Las Vegas in the Hills of Donegal” and “Mary Mary” have become Irish classics.
“We are really looking forward to touring again and I have written some mighty new songs. Great live music is hard to beat and as we were once voted best live band by London’s Time-out magazine we must have been doing something right. So let’s hope with a bit of practice we can claim that crown again in 2013!”
Check out the Goats Don’t Shave Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GoatsDontShave For News on upcoming Concerts and news.