Rob Strong on tour – Including a performance at Rua Red on December 6
By Leopold Herter
After touring with Don Baker last year, Rob Strong has decided to tour again this year which includes a performance at Rua Red on Friday, December 6.
The musical journey of the 72-year-old started back in the 60s, when the young Rob tried out as a bass player with the ‘Polka Dots’.
Rob Strong
With time and improvement he found himself with ‘The Plattermen’, a popular showband at the time which was managed by promoter Jim Aiken.
The Derry native played with them for six years.
Rob’s star really started to rise in the early ’70s, when his style of raw energy with rock and blues was distinctive in the whole of Ireland.
The musician became so well known that he even turned down an offer from ‘Deep Purple’, the British rock band that toured the world.
With music constantly evolving and changing, disco music began to replace the showbands in 1974. In answer to that Rob founded ‘The Rob Strong Band’, which transformed into ‘The Rockets’ towards the end of the decade.
Playing regularly at The TV club in Harcourt St for The Spotlight Night Out was just one of the many venues at which the band appeared.
Later they performed at The Lower Deck, Portobello on Mondays, The New Moran Hotel on Thursdays and The Coconut Grove, located in Stillorgan, on Fridays.
Rob Strong, 1970
The band also released many singles such as ‘Scoff’, ‘Good Vibration’ and ‘Polydor Records’.
Available on Spotify today are the songs of his 1986 album ‘Hollywood Nights’, which is also known for its world record in being the longest album sleeve, holding the signatures of 6,000 fans.
Musical talent is in the genes of the Strong family. Rob’s father was an experienced accordion player, but his son, Andrew Strong, played to crowds all over the world with enthusiasm, with his rendition of ‘Mustang Sally’ in 1991 in the smash hit movie ‘The Commitments’.
His daughter Niamh guests with him from time to time, but performs also on her own. She began touring with her ‘Eva Cassidy Show’ recently.
Now in his 55th year of a broad career, Rob himself recorded his latest album ‘Stronger Together’ not long ago in Denmark with producer Peter Bremer from Copenhagen.
Coming to Rua Red for the very first time, the Irish legend is assisted by Tallaght local Sean Behan, said to be one of the country’s best, as the lead guitarist, and Cormac Crowley drums.
Buy your tickets online at www.ruared.ie.
Each ticket costs €20 and is very limited.
