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FALON- Who Was Responsible

I suppose the best way to start this is by giving you the band members, and what they played.
Gary Devine-Lead Guitar (1983-1987)
Ben Byrne-Bass Guitar (1983-1990)
David 'Dee' Jenkins-Drums (1983-1990)
Stephen'Stevo'McAllister-Vocals (1984-1990)
Gerry Nicholl-Lead Guitar (1985-1990)
Andy Keanie-Lead Guitar (1987-1990)
That was the main movers and shakers, but also some mention must also go to:
Kevin'quiggy'Quigg-Vocals (1983)
Micky Mc Daid-vocals (1983)
David Watts-Lead Guitar (1989/90)
Although the last three names mentioned only appeared briefly, they all played live under the Falon banner so deserve their own mention and place in this history.

A Quick Falon Historical Journey

The band originally was formed after many nights talking about rock music in
Strathfoyle, by Ben and Gary, and after seeing Dee play with a Punk band he was also drafted in. They all shared a common taste in music and wanted to get a band going that reflected their own identity.
They got themselves set up in Dee's coal shed, and set about writing songs and experimenting with different ideas. The first real 'snag' they felt they encountered at the time was a Front man who could give them that extra something. So in came messers: McDaid/Quigg…
This was a step in the right direction with both singers doing well and giving the band its first taste of playing in public. Unfortunately, both singers' spells at the front (Micky being the first, then followed by Kevin) were not long, for reasons now lost to time.

So after a short spell with Ben taking up the lead vocal spot, in came singer No.3 -Stephen'Stevo'Mc Allister. Stevo had just left well-known Omagh rockers -Casper and had already been on the local music scene earlier with Derry band- Deathwish (which featured the late/great Paul Biddle, Peter Vale and Brian'doc'Doherty)… This new line-up marked a slight change in musical direction, with a more straightforward approach, which seemed to suddenly bring out the best in each other, and spark even more confidence into the whole project
.
As time went by, and the band grew both in song writing terms and in popularity, the feeling from inside the group was that to fill out the sound to suit the song style, then another Guitarist was going to be needed. After seeing Gerry play with a band based in Ardmore called Bandit, it was decided to see if he would like to fill the spot. This was the last piece of the puzzle and the band now had the line-up, which would go on to become one of the biggest and most popular this town has produced.

During this musical journey, which featured such highs as playing to over 2000 people at the guildhall square in 1985,s Live Aid concert, to appearing in Heavy metal magazine 'Metal Hammer' several times and being invited to play over in London at a well-known rock venue.

The band also appeared up and down the Country making a good name for themselves at local gigs like The D.C. Club, The Union Hall, The Classic, The Cave, Masons, The Cutty Sark, to places like The Rosetta (Belfast), The Labour Club (Belfast), The G.A.A. Club (Omagh), Spudz (portstewart), The Cellar (Coleraine). the list goes on a bit.
The Band quickly gained a solid reputation for there live performances and the fact that they were doing their own material, while most others were covers bands, shows just how good they were, to have built up such a large following.
It was at there height that they also replaced Gary with Andy when Gary's commitment to the band failed to live up to a level that was exceptable, and to this day the argument goes on to which line-up worked best.

Any way's that's the main twist to it, with a few things left out or not mentioned because of space and time… maybe at a later date an interview can be done for a lighter look at how things was at the time. (Like the time Dee fell off the stage, for example) and what they think of there time in the band.

Also don't be surprised to see A new Falon coming soon…. with Andy's spot now taken by Kevin Mc Allister (yup, Stevo's Cousin), the band are now in rehearsing a set made up of some of the old Falon classic's and covers Falon played, to some new unheard material…so what this space, until then as Falon might say…

Just let the good times roll…!!!!!

CLICK HERE TO SEE A SHIT LOAD OF PHOTOS OF THE BAND

Many thanks to Stevo & Dee Jenkins for helping to make this page possible

Contact Stevo with any comments or memories

Contact Kellz if you have any photos of the band