Aside from “boosts for the whole country”, “taking our place among the greats” and all the other woolly notions which surrounded the Republic qualifying for germany, Stephen Roche winning the Tour de France and U2 finally cracking America, 1987 will hardly go down as one of the most memorable of rock’n’roll years … either at home or abroad.

We may have been spared gross embarrassment on a Self Aid scale – but the vinyl evidence of that sorry day was unfortunately made available and should stand as a warning to future generations. Meanwhile we still had the ongoing saga of Irish bands with deals but damn all sales figures, a situation which must change soon for the notion of an indigenous ‘Irish Rock’ to be treated as anything other than a joke. Right, that’s the bile out of the way.

On a brighter note The Stars Of Heaven released an EP of stunning power and beauty in ‘Holyhead’ while Paul Cleary And The Partisans’ star took the ascendant with the ‘Impossible’ mini-album and a distribution deal with Magnet Records, Aslan, Light A Big Fire, The Stars, Something Happens! and A House will all face spotlights of differing hues and intensity in ’88 but I’m supremely confident, for different reasons, in all cases.

On the international front R.E.M. surpassed themselves yet again with ‘Document’ and gave a blinding performance at the Hammersmith Odeon in October while Green on Red and Mrs. Green kept the respective flags of U.S. country and pop flying proudly. Scotland and Australia also made significant contributions to stylus abuse with albums from Deacon Blue, Danny Wilson, Hoodoo Gurus, The Triffids and The Go-Betweens all finishing in my personal Top Ten. But, after all is said and done, the Man of the Year has to be Aidan Walsh who first stunned us with the ‘A Life Story Of My Life’ album and followed that with the incredible ‘Christmas In 4 Dimension’ EP. What a man!

Oh, by the way, Gig of the Year was the Nicaraguan benefit at the Top Hat in February which featured L.A.B.F., the Stars of Heaven, Something Happens! and Hallelujah Freedom. A truly great night (and a happy new year to you).