Mama's Boys

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tarted in the late 1970s Mama's Boys was the brainchild of brothers John, Pat and Tommy McManus (vocals/bass, guitar/fiddle and drums respectively), who diversified from their traditional folk approach after witnessing fellow Irish act, Horslips, in 1978. Adopting a hard rock approach their debut, Official Bootleg (1980), would feature their new sound mixed with folk and searing blues boogie. Comparisons to Thin Lizzy were inevitable to the point that Phil Lynott requested them for that band's 1983 farewell tour. The follow-up, Plug It In (1982), followed in much the same style, while the more focused Turn It Up (1983) got the attention of 'Jive Records' resulting in their eponymous album in 1984, an album that featured a cover of Slade's Mama Weer All Crazee Now.

The next set, Power And Passion (1985), was their only to chart by making 55 UK By this time, however, they had started to drift into an AOR direction and the smoother Growing Up The Hard Way (1987) saw the arrival of Keith Murrell (ex-Airrace) as a dedicated vocalist, but his relationship with the act didn't last long for Mike Wilson would replace him after the album.