PsychepediA

From: Dublin, Ireland

The Creatures were a beat band from Dublin, Ireland that formed in April, 1965 when Liam McKenna (lead vocals, guitar), Frank Boylan (bass) and Ray McDonald (drums) of the Hootenannys joined forces with formed Tonics member Brian Harris (lead guitar). Along with being quite popular in their homeland, the group also experienced some notable fame in the U.S. when they signed with Columbia Records and were heavily promoted by New York City producer Neil Levenson. Levenson, who after catching the group's act in a Parisian club, decided to take them on a whirlwind tour of America where he scored them numerous appearances on local TV shows, radio, and in nightclubs.

During the spring of 1966, the band released their first single ('Turn Out The Light' b/w 'It Must Be Love'), which failed to chart in the U.S., but became a hit in Ireland where it soared to the #8 position. During a mid '66 tour of the U.S., McDonald decided to return to Ireland and was replaced by Fran Byrne (drums). For their third single, the Creatures recorded an excellent rendition of the Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil penned 'Looking At Tomorrow', which was also produced by Levenson and issued in late 1966. When this record failed to chart, the group headed to Germany where they played the Hamburg clubs. A fourth and final U.S. only 45 ('Hurtin' All Over' b/w 'Love Is A Funny Little Game') was released in the spring of 1967, but it too made little impact. The band finally returned to Dublin in August of '67, but couldn't reignite there popularity there prompting a breakup about a month later.

Artist information sources include: A band biography at Irishrock.org.