Theoretically Speaking: S6:E10 – What Makes Celtic Rock, Celtic Rock?

I lived in Boston in the 80s and my housemate played bass in a traditional Irish band.

There were a lot of pubs and other venues for that sort of music. So his band was pretty busy. Whenever he couldn’t do a gig, I’d fill in.

In my naivete, I tried to do something original with the parts. It’s all about art, man, you know? But that’s not what the gig called for. At some point in a rehearsal, I played the simplest, corniest part I could come up with, thinking it would be funny.

The fiddle player nodded and said, “YES! That’s it!”

That’s how I learned that authenticity is sometimes being creative and true to yourself, and sometimes being respectful and true to the music.

Bass parts in Irish and other traditional Folk music are usually pretty easy. It’s just a matter of playing the same one or two notes per chord and keeping the tempo steady. The other parts — the fiddle, pipes, and other lead instruments — are busy.

Those sad ballads and energetic dance tunes are made for storytelling. These songs pass tales from generation to generation. Some could be about a hard fought battle of yore, or some might be about meeting a fair lass on a windswept moor. Some of these stories might even be true.

Celtic Rock combines those sounds and stories from the British Isles with the Rock instrumentation and ethos that came from America. Tin whistles mingle with electric guitars, bagpipes rub elbows with drum sets, and lilting vocals throw in a scream or two.

Who combined Celtic Folk with Rock first can be debated.

Fairport Convention started in 1967 – but didn’t set out to be Celtic Rock.

Fairport Convention released three albums in 1969. Just before the second came out, they finished a show in Birmingham and returned home in a van driven by their tour manager. On the M1 just outside of London, he fell asleep. 

He grabbed the steering wheel and avoided the pole, but the change in direction was too sudden and the van rolled over several times. Everyone except guitarist Simon Nichol were ejected from the van. Drummer Martin Lamble and Thompson’s girlfriend Jeannie Franklyn died. The others survived with major injuries.

While recovering, they talked about the band’s future. With stereotypical British stiff upper lips and no real counseling, they carried on, recruiting a new drummer, Dave Mattacks, and fiddle/mandolin player Dave Swarbrick.

Afterward, however, most of the band members wanted to return to its original sound. That disagreement, the trauma of the accident, and the loss of their friends, was more stress than they realized.

While Denny pursued a successful solo career (that’s her on Led Zeppelin’s “The Battle Of Evermore”), Hutchings wanted to follow the Celtic Rock path and started a band called Steeleye Span.

With a continually changing lineup of over two dozen musicians, none of whom have been in all iterations, Steeleye Span is still a going concern. They released their 24th album, Est’d 1969, in 2019.

But let’s go back to the beginning. And Horslips.

Three of the members met while working in a Dublin advertising agency. When the agency needed a band for a Harps Lager commercial, the three already looked the part and played instruments.

They incorporated traditional Irish Folk melodies, instruments (such as the fiddle, tin whistle, and uilleann pipes), and themes into their music. They blended these elements with Rock instrumentation, including electric guitars, bass, and drums, creating a unique, dynamic sound.

Uilleann pipes are also known as Irish, or Union Pipes. The difference between these and traditional bagpipes is the player doesn’t need to blow into them.

But fair warning: if you do an image search for uilleann pipes on DuckDuckGo, you get porn. As I found out while writing this at my kitchen table.

Horslips’ debut album, “Happy to Meet – Sorry to Part,” featured a mix of traditional Irish tunes and original compositions and showcased their innovative approach. Their next release, “The Táin,” was a concept album based on the Irish epic “Táin Bó Cúailnge” (The Cattle Raid of Cooley). It further demonstrated their ability to merge storytelling with their distinctive style.

While Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span contributed to the fusion of Folk and Rock, Horslips are generally regarded as the first band to intentionally and prominently integrate traditional Celtic music with Rock:

Also in Dublin in 1970, Thin Lizzy formed as a Rock band.

Though Thin Lizzy were a Rock band and gradually became more Hard Rock, their label released their recording of the traditional Irish song “Whiskey In The Jar” as a single without the band’s knowledge. The group thought it didn’t represent their sound – and it didn’t.

Thin Lizzy and other bands, like Big Country from Scotland, played only Rock instruments but used those busy Celtic melodies. And if you tilt your head just so, the guitars sound like bagpipes.

Speaking of Van Morrison, we should consider him as a Celtic Rock artist since his lyricism has a distinct Irish flair. Poetry is a big part of Irish culture, and it shows up in the music.

Such is the case with The Pogues.

His singing was raw and expressive, and he often slurred and elongated syllables to enhance the emotions of the lyrics. His unpredictable phrasing and timing added spontaneity and a sense of drama to his performances. 

MacGowan’s singing style blended traditional Irish influences with Punk’s rebellious, untrained energy. This fusion is central to The Pogues’ sound and helps bridge the gap between the two genres.

Meanwhile, Dave King was born in Dublin but moved to London in the 80s. He sang lead for Fastway, a sort of metal supergroup with Motörhead guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke and UFO bassist Pete Way.

In fact, Way couldn’t get out of his contract with his label and left the band before recording anything. King, however, lasted for four albums. After leaving the band, he bounced around in various groups before moving to Los Angeles and starting Flogging Molly.

Around the same time Flogging Molly was forming in LA, Dropkick Murphys were starting up in Boston.

Like Steeleye Span, Dropkick Murphys haven’t had a consistent lineup.

With twelve albums to their credit, Dropkick Murphys are probably best known for the single “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.” While the band wrote the music, the lyrics were by, or inspired by, Folk legend Woody Guthrie. Casey was going through Guthrie’s archives, at the family’s invitation, and found a fragment of lyrics. The song tells the story of a sailor who lost his wooden leg and is sailing to Boston to find it.

Dropkick Murphys are one of the loudest bands I’ve ever heard live, which is saying something for a lineup that includes banjo and tin whistle. I recommend you see them sometime because it’s a party – but wear ear protection.

I’ve also seen Flogging Molly, who are a lot of fun. I’ve become a big fan of one of their opening acts, Skinny Lister. They mix English pub music with Punk energy.

I’ve seen them several times and will include them in Suggested Listening below.

Here’s a video I took that first time I saw them:

Celtic Rock preserves Celtic culture but also blends traditional sounds with Rock and other genres, creating yet more genres:

Notably, Celtic Punk in North America and Australia, and Celtic Metal in Central Europe and South America.

These new fusion genres helped expose traditional Celtic Folk to audiences outside of the British Isles.

They say everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.

With Celtic Rock and its descendants, we can be Irish all year long.

Suggested Listening – Full YouTube Playlist

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