Declan Mulligan | |
---|---|
![]() The Beau Brummels in
Village of the Giants (1965). From left:
Ron Elliott, Declan Mulligan,
Sal Valentino,
Ron Meagher,
John Petersen. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | John Declan Mulligan |
Born | Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland | April 4, 1938
Died | November 2, 2021 Petaluma, California, U.S. | (aged 83)
Genres | Folk rock, pop rock, garage rock, blues-rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, harmonica, vocals |
Years active | 1964–2021 |
John Declan Mulligan (April 4, 1938 – November 2, 2021) was an Irish-born American musician, best known as a guitarist of rock band The Beau Brummels in the 1960s.
Mulligan was born in Fethard, County Tipperary. He emigrated to Toronto, before moving to San Francisco in 1962. [1] In early 1964, he met Ron Elliott, Sal Valentino, and John Petersen during an informal rehearsal at the Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco. [2] After joining the Beau Brummels, who shortly thereafter also added Ron Meagher, Mulligan recorded perhaps his most memorable contribution with the band, the harmonica opening of the hit single " Laugh, Laugh", [1] which reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1965. [3]
He appeared with the band in the 1965 science-fiction/comedy movie Village of the Giants, which was featured in a 1994 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. He sings "Woman" in the film, a song written by Elliott, which ultimately appeared as an instrumental on the band's second album, with Mulligan's vocal being replaced by a lead guitar track. Mulligan also appears with the group in their one other movie appearance, " Wild Wild Winter", in which he delivers the band's only line of dialog. [4] By the middle of 1965, Mulligan was no longer a member of the band. [5] In 1966, he sued the band for $1.25 million in damages, claiming he was wrongfully dismissed from the group. [6]
He later played in a local band "The Black Velvet Band", which in the early 1970s also included Meagher. [1] He reunited with the Beau Brummels for a 1975 reunion album. [1] After the original group broke up after its 1975 tour, Mulligan formed his own band, Mulligan Stew, which eventually fostered a revival of The Beau Brummels. At different times, the reformed band also included Ron Elliott, Sal Valentino and Ron Meagher.
In 1981, Mulligan and Elliott, along with new members, vocalist-bassist John Hjort (a.k.a. Jackson Hart), drummer Peter Tucker, and keyboardist James Moyles, released an independent single, "Back to Life" b/w "Native Son", a session produced by Vince Welnick of The Tubes and The Grateful Dead. Welnick also added keyboards and harmony vocals to the session. The recording failed to garner any substantial attention. [7]
Mulligan died in November 2021, at the age of 83. [8]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
link)
Declan Mulligan | |
---|---|
![]() The Beau Brummels in
Village of the Giants (1965). From left:
Ron Elliott, Declan Mulligan,
Sal Valentino,
Ron Meagher,
John Petersen. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | John Declan Mulligan |
Born | Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland | April 4, 1938
Died | November 2, 2021 Petaluma, California, U.S. | (aged 83)
Genres | Folk rock, pop rock, garage rock, blues-rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Guitar, harmonica, vocals |
Years active | 1964–2021 |
John Declan Mulligan (April 4, 1938 – November 2, 2021) was an Irish-born American musician, best known as a guitarist of rock band The Beau Brummels in the 1960s.
Mulligan was born in Fethard, County Tipperary. He emigrated to Toronto, before moving to San Francisco in 1962. [1] In early 1964, he met Ron Elliott, Sal Valentino, and John Petersen during an informal rehearsal at the Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco. [2] After joining the Beau Brummels, who shortly thereafter also added Ron Meagher, Mulligan recorded perhaps his most memorable contribution with the band, the harmonica opening of the hit single " Laugh, Laugh", [1] which reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1965. [3]
He appeared with the band in the 1965 science-fiction/comedy movie Village of the Giants, which was featured in a 1994 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. He sings "Woman" in the film, a song written by Elliott, which ultimately appeared as an instrumental on the band's second album, with Mulligan's vocal being replaced by a lead guitar track. Mulligan also appears with the group in their one other movie appearance, " Wild Wild Winter", in which he delivers the band's only line of dialog. [4] By the middle of 1965, Mulligan was no longer a member of the band. [5] In 1966, he sued the band for $1.25 million in damages, claiming he was wrongfully dismissed from the group. [6]
He later played in a local band "The Black Velvet Band", which in the early 1970s also included Meagher. [1] He reunited with the Beau Brummels for a 1975 reunion album. [1] After the original group broke up after its 1975 tour, Mulligan formed his own band, Mulligan Stew, which eventually fostered a revival of The Beau Brummels. At different times, the reformed band also included Ron Elliott, Sal Valentino and Ron Meagher.
In 1981, Mulligan and Elliott, along with new members, vocalist-bassist John Hjort (a.k.a. Jackson Hart), drummer Peter Tucker, and keyboardist James Moyles, released an independent single, "Back to Life" b/w "Native Son", a session produced by Vince Welnick of The Tubes and The Grateful Dead. Welnick also added keyboards and harmony vocals to the session. The recording failed to garner any substantial attention. [7]
Mulligan died in November 2021, at the age of 83. [8]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
link)