Paddy Goes To Holyhead

Paddy Goes To Holyhead (also PGTH or Paddies) are a German Folk-Rock band from Darmstadt (Germany) founded by Paddy Schmidt in 1988. The band's name not only is inspired by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, but also refers to the so-called "paddies", a term once used for Irish emigrants, as well as the Welsh seaport Holyhead which had been an important transit station for many Irish emigrants. Current members: Paddy Schmidt: vocals, guitar, harp, whistles, bagpipes Jo Naumann (1992?1995, and again since 2005): vocals, accordion, keyboards

The band's name not only is inspired by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, but also refers to the so-called "paddies", a term once used for Irish emigrants, as well as the Welsh seaport Holyhead which had been an important transit station for many Irish emigrants.


Current members:

Paddy Schmidt: vocals, guitar, harp, whistles, bagpipes
Jo Naumann (1992?1995, and again since 2005): vocals, accordion, keyboards
Uwe "Uhu" Bender (since 2005): bass
Nicole Ansperger (since 2005): fiddle
Dirk "Schimmel" Sch?fer (since 2007, former X-CELLENT): percussion


Former members:

Rainer Opitz (1988-1991)
Andreas Reich (1988?1991); 1992?2003 with An Cat Dubh
Mathias Kohlmann (1989?1993)
Kalle Spriestersbach (1993-2007); former Crazy 'bout Kinski
Andi Kopp (1993?1998); former Crazy 'bout Kinski
Almut Ritter (1993?1997)
Blacky P. Schwarz (1995?1998)
Helen Mannert (1997?2001)
J?rgen K?hler (1998-2003)
Markus Hochw?rden Ries (1998?2001)
R?diger Kist (1999?? , 2003?2005)
Jens Kempgens (2001?2004)
Wolfgang Ritter (2001?2004)
Mark Patrick (2002?2004)
Boris Mittelst?dt (2004)
Marian Juravlea (2004)


Discography:

1989 ? The Fairy King (Tape, self-published)
1989 ? On The One Road (Tape, self-published)
1990 ? Emigrants (Vinyl-LP, self-published)
1991 ? Live In Darmstadt (Tape, self-published)
1992 ? Here's To The People (CD, Indigo)
1993 ? Supermegaultraliveshow (CD, Indigo)
1994 ? Ready For Paddy? (CD, Indigo)
1996 ? E.& O.E. (CD, Indigo)
1998 ? Hooray (CD, Indigo)
1998 ? Live (CD, Indigo)
2000 ? Paddy Tales (CD, Indigo)
2002 ? Red Letter Days (CD, Indigo)
2004 ? Acoustic Nights (CD, Indigo)


Website (in German):
http://www.paddy.de

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/paddygoes2holyhead