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1991-
Following the global success of THE COMMITMENTS the stars
from the movie took a well earned break.
1993 - THE COMMITMENTS Featuring.
Dick Massey (Billy 'The Animal' Mooney), Kenneth McCluskey
(Derek 'Meat Man' Scully), Michael Aherne (Steven 'Soul
Surgeon' Clifford), Dave Finnegan (Mickah “Don’t F**k
with me” Wallace) and on special occasions: Robert Arkins
(Jimmy Rabbitte), Johnny Murphy (Joey 'the lips' Fagan).
Initially the band concentrated on the UK, with three sell-out tours
performing over 100 shows. This was followed with a highly success
trip to the Gulf.
1994
- They also played non stop throughout Europe: Following shows in
Luxembourg newspaper headlines reported that - "Not since the
end of the 2nd World War had such huge crowds been seen on the
streets of Luxembourg".
1995 - In the USA alone the band performed over 120 shows.
They also broke the Canadian market by storm. In Toronto they played
and sold out the RPM for three nights running. This was to equal the
ticket sales that The Rolling Stones achieved at the same
venue on their The Voodoo lounge Tour.
1996 - They continued breaking new ground in the USA. The
band played Dan Ackroyd's House of Blues in Los Angeles to a
capacity crowd of 1,800 people. This show was recorded for radio and
then licensed to over 400 stations in the
USA, Japan and Europe. Afterwards Dan Ackroyd was heard
saying:
“The Commitments show was the best soul review I have ever
seen or heard".
In June the band was to make its debut tour of South America at the
Nescafe & Blues Festival, where once again the shows were total
sell-outs, even outselling Wilson Pickett.
In December they returned to Brazil for a 9-date tour. Their last
show was to become very memorable, co-starring with the legendary BB
King at the Party in the Park in Sao Paulo. Over 100,000 people
attended this concert.
1997
- They returned to the USA, playing the West Coast Ski resorts.
Then in February they toured the UK. It was during this tour at the
Empire Theatre in London that the band recorded their new album,
inviting such soulful guests as:
Steve Cropper (The Blues Brothers / Booker T & The MG's)
Clarence Clemons (Bruce Springsteen / The E Street
Band)
Denis Edwards (The Temptations)
Sandy McDonald (Sandy Mac & The Heartattacks)
1998
- Saw the band re-establish themselves with their European and
Scandinavian audiences performing at shows and festivals all over
the Continent. They opened up a previously unexplored market in
France and in a period of 16 months they played a staggering 156
shows to over 500,000 French fans.
1999
- They continued to tour in Europe playing many festivals
alongside artists such as Little Milton, Buddy Miles,
Wilson Pickett, James Brown and B.B. King. In
October of that year they returned from Oman where they attracted a
record crowd of 3000 fans to their show. November and December were
spent in the UK with a 24 date tour.
2000
- South Africa was their first stop of the year. In February
March and April they made appearances in Spain and the UK with a
show in London's highly acclaimed Millennium Dome. There were also
live TV appearances, and a rare performance in Dublin to celebrate
Saint Patrick's.
2001
- After seeing the band perform at private event, Internet
Communications company boss Jeff Pulver invited the band back to the
USA to perform once again at the House of Blues in LA and
Chicago. At the request Winnipeg’s Lord Mayor the band was to
perform at the Cities open Air festival and a figure of 90,000
people were reported to have attended.
2002
- They returned to the UK in February and then directly across
the Atlantic in March to Canada and the USA for 17 shows. In April
the band conquered a new market in Italy with 4 performances and
then went on to perform another 10 shows later in the year.
From Italy the band flew almost directly to United Arab Emirates for
3 shows.
Summer saw the band in Switzerland and Germany then a lighting trip
to the Tunisian Tabarka Jazz Festival. In July The Commitments
played a variety of UK festivals including Kew gardens, which sold
out to 5000 people.
The band then revisited Canada and USA in August making a year total
of 32 shows including the Milwaukee Festival attended by 120,000
people! The year finished off with a highly successful UK autumn
tour of 35 dates. During this tour the band were asked to perform at
a private party for Telstar Record’s boss Sean O'Brian
where British actor Vinny Jones had requested a guest
appearance with the band to sing their classic hit - Mustang Sally.
2003
- at Steinegg-Festival
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