The Frank and Walters

The Frank and Walters are an alternative rock band from Cork city in Ireland. The band was founded in 1990 and named in honour of two eccentric Cork characters.^[1]

Members

The original band line-up included Paul Linehan (as vocalist/bassist), his brother Niall Linehan (as guitarist), and Ashley Keating (on drums).

Niall Linehan was replaced as guitarist in 2004 by Kevin Pedreschi, who was in-turn replaced by Rory Murphy in 2010.^[2] Cian Corbett joined on keyboard duties in 2005.^[3]

Career

Signing for the Setanta label in 1991,^[4] the group debuted with the album EP1, and the lead track Fashion Crisis Hits New York became an indie hit.^[5] The follow-up EP EP.2 was released soon after, which was followed by the band's signing to the Go! Discs label where The Franks partnered with producer Edwyn Collins to record the Happy Busman EP. They found success in the UK, and following a tour in support of Carter USM, an Ian Broudie remix of the LP song After All reached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at No. 11, and it also peaked at No. 5 in the Irish chart.^[4] The group appeared on BBC Television's Top of the Pops in support of the single.

After a long sabbatical which the band attributed to a "fear of music",^[6] the group returned with Grand Parade (with contributions from Gus Dudgeon), and the Indian Ocean EP in 1997. This was followed with Beauty Becomes More Than Life in 1998 and Glass in 2000. Setanta released a well received Best Of in 2002.^[7] In 2004, Niall Linehan left and was replaced by a friend of the band, Kevin Pedreschi. The band signed a new deal with FIFA Records, and released a retrospective triple album, Souvenirs, in October 2005. A further album, A Renewed Interest In Happiness, was released on 27 October 2006. The band returned to the charts in 2010 by releasing a comeback single entitled The Parson, as part of their "Seasonal Single Releases" project, which saw the band release a single per season. The Parson launched as the spring season single, with Let it Out following in the summer, The Clock in the autumn, and a Christmas-themed Song For A Future Love in December.

Together with The Sultans of Ping FC and Power of Dreams, the Franks (as they are known by fans) played a number of co-headlining shows as part of the "Reverberation Tour" in December 2010.^[8][9] They also toured several festivals in 2011, including Vantastival^[10] and Indiependence.^[11]

The band returned to the studio in August 2011 to work on a new album - released in March 2012.^[12] The first single from this album, entitled "Indie Lovesong", was released on Valentine's Day 14 February 2012^[13] and was supported by a UK tour.^[14] Their 6th studio album was named Greenwich Mean Time and released on 9 March 2012. The album was well received^[15] and supported by tours in Europe, USA and Japan.^[16]

In September 2012 the Frank and Walters embarked on a 20th anniversary celebration tour of their debut album "Trains, Boats and Planes".^[17]

In May 2015 the Frank and Walters released a new single "Look At Us Now" .^[18]

Discography

Studio albums

• Trains, Boats and Planes (October 1992, UK No. 36)^[19]
• Grand Parade (June 1997)
• Beauty Becomes More Than Life (1999)
• Glass (October 2000)
• Souvenirs (October 2005)
• A Renewed Interest In Happiness (October 2006)
• Greenwich Mean Time (March 2012)
• Songs for the Walking Wounded (April 2016)

Compilation albums

• Best Of (August 2002)
• Souvenirs (October 2005)

Singles

• "Happy Busman" (March 1992, UK No. 49)^[19]
• "This Is Not A Song" (September 1992, UK No. 46)^[19]
• "After All" (December 1992, IRE No. 5, UK No. 11)^[19]
• "Fashion Crisis Hits New York" (April 1993, IRE No. 28, UK No. 42)^[19]
• "Indian Ocean" (June 1996)
• "Colours" (August 1996)
• "How Can I Exist" (1997)
• "Plenty Times" (October 1999)
• "Something Happened To Me" (February 2000)
• "Underground" (January 2001)
• "You Asked Me" (September 2005)
• "Miles and Miles" (September 2006, IRE No. 20)
• "Fight" (April 2007)
• "City Lights" (October 2007)
• "The Parson" (April 2010)
• "Let It Out" (July 2010)
• "The Clock" (October 2010)
• "Song For A Future Love" (December 2010)
• "Indie Lovesong" (February 2012)
• "Loneliness and Sweet Romance" (May 2012)
• "Look At Us Now" (May 2015)

References

External links

• Franks Forum
• Facebook Site
• Interview with the band in 1996