{{About|the Irish new wave group|the 1950s skiffle group featuring Wally Whyton|Vipers Skiffle Group}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Use Irish English|date=May 2014}}
'''The Vipers''' were an Irish new wave group of the late 1970s. A live act fronted by Paul Boyle and guitarist George Sweeney, they toured with Thin Lizzy,<ref name="indo2012">{{cite web | url = https://www.independent.ie/life/my-brother-the-viper/26852924.html | website = independent.ie | title = My brother, the Viper | date = 13 May 2012 | accessdate = 24 February 2024 | archive-date = 24 February 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240224180309/https://www.independent.ie/life/my-brother-the-viper/26852924.html | url-status = live }}</ref> The Clash<ref name="ir"/> and The Jam.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://iadt.libguides.com/c.php?g=680463&p=4851460 | publisher = Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology | via = iadt.libguides.com | title = Top Hat Online Exhibit: Rock Era 1970s - 1980s | date = | accessdate = 24 February 2024 | archive-date = 26 December 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231226022155/https://iadt.libguides.com/c.php?g=680463&p=4851460 | url-status = live }}</ref>
The group was formed as part of a growing punk scene in Dublin the late 1970s.<ref>{{cite book | title = The Rough Guide to Dublin | page = 374 | editor-first1 = Geoff | editor-last1 = Wallis | editor-first2 = Mark | editor-last2 = Connolly | editor-first3 = Margaret | editor-last3 = Greenwood | date = 2002 | publisher = Rough Guides | isbn = 9781858289137 | quote = [Dublin's] punk scene also produced a horde of bands like Radiators from Space [..], The Virgin Prunes [..], The Blades and The Vipers, all of whose influence would be long-lasting }}</ref> The Vipers played in what was reported to be Ireland's first punk festival in June 1977, along with The Undertones. During the event, a member of the crowd was stabbed and killed,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://dublininquirer.com/2017/09/13/belfield-s-burning-forty-years-of-punk/ | website = dublininquirer.com | title = Belfield's Burning: Forty Years of Punk | first = Donal | last = Fallon | date = 13 September 2017 | accessdate = 24 February 2024 | quote = Yet the birth of Irish punk in 1977 was marred by a festival on the grounds of University College Dublin's Belfield campus, where bands including The Radiators From Space, The Undertones and The Vipers performed [..] During the opening acts performance, a fight broke out in the crowd and young Patrick Coultry, a teenager from Cabra, was fatally stabbed | archive-date = 24 February 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240224174816/https://dublininquirer.com/2017/09/13/belfield-s-burning-forty-years-of-punk/ | url-status = live }}</ref> and the Irish punk music scene was subsequently blacklisted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Van Nguyen |first1=Dean |title='Utterly radical, subversive and alien': the untold story of Irish post-punk |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2493436006 |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=The Independent |date=2021|id={{ProQuest|2493436006}} }}</ref>
In 1978, The Vipers headlined a series of live gigs at McGonagles in Dublin, which featured the Dublin-based rock band U2 as the supporting act.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moran |first1=Hannah |title=Member of Irish band U2 once supported shares ironic turn of events at Dublin gig |url=https://evoke.ie/2018/11/06/extra/irish-band-u2-supported |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=Evoke.ie |date=6 November 2018 |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224175618/https://evoke.ie/2018/11/06/extra/irish-band-u2-supported |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=U2songs - 1978-04-27 U2, McGonagles, Dublin, Ireland |url=https://www.u2songs.com/shows/1978_04_27_u2_mcgonagles_dublin_ireland1 |website=U2songs.com |access-date=24 February 2024 |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224175614/https://www.u2songs.com/shows/1978_04_27_u2_mcgonagles_dublin_ireland1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Their debut single "I've Got You"/"No Such Thing" (Mulligan LUNS 718) was released in late 1978. This was heard by the BBC's John Peel who invited them to the UK to do a session for his radio programme.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 27/02/1979 Vipers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1970s/1979/Feb27vipers/ |website=BBC |access-date=24 February 2024 |date=27 February 1979 |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224143217/https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1970s/1979/Feb27vipers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A permanent move to London led to UK tours with the Boomtown Rats and Thin Lizzy,<ref name="hp"/> as well as performances including at the Marquee, Music Machine and Fulham Greyhound. A further single, "Take Me" was released in 1980.<ref name="ir"/>
The group included Boyle (lead vocals/guitar), Sweeney (lead guitar), Brian Foley (bass), and Dave Moloney (drums).<ref name="ir">{{cite web |title=The Vipers |url=https://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/vipers.html |website=irishrock.org |access-date=24 February 2024 |archive-date=31 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131201544/https://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/vipers.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Bernie Smirnoff (ex-Hollywood Killers) took over from Moloney, as drummer, in September 1979.<ref name="ir"/>
The Vipers disbanded in December 1980.<ref name="indo2012"/> Boyle subsequently changed his career to acting, whilst other members of the group remained musicians. Foley went on to join The Blades,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-31 |title=Music: The Blades of glory - Raytowners back for more {{!}} Irish Independent |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-the-blades-of-glory-raytowners-back-for-more/34153255.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603031957/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-the-blades-of-glory-raytowners-back-for-more/34153255.html |archive-date=2024-06-03 |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Irish Independent}}</ref> Moloney to the Cajun Kings and Sweeney to The Fat Lady Sings. Bernie Smirnoff later played for Kingbathmat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steelesque |date=2012-12-03 |title=Brit-Prog Rockers KingBathmat Never Follow The Rules |url=https://pittsburghmusicmagazine.net/2012/12/03/brit-prog-rockers-kingbathmat-never-follow-the-rules/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930192324/https://pittsburghmusicmagazine.net/2012/12/03/brit-prog-rockers-kingbathmat-never-follow-the-rules/ |archive-date=2020-09-30 |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=Pittsburgh Music Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
Paul Boyle died in London in 2019.<ref name="hp">{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Stuart |title=Paul Boyle from Dublin new wave band The Vipers has passed away |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/paul-boyle-from-dublin-new-wave-band-the-vipers-has-passed-away-22897805 |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=Hot Press |date=24 March 2022 |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224144408/https://www.hotpress.com/music/paul-boyle-from-dublin-new-wave-band-the-vipers-has-passed-away-22897805 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vipers, The}} Category:Irish alternative rock groups Category:Musical groups from Dublin (city) Category:Musical groups established in 1977