History 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

Uwe "Uhu" Bender (since 2005): bass

Nicole Ansperger (since 2005): fiddle

Dirk "Schimmel" Schäfer (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)

Jürgen Köhler (1998-2003)

Markus Hochwürden Ries (1998–2001)

Rüdiger Kist (1999–? , 2003–2005)

Jens Kempgens (2001–2004)

Wolfgang Ritter (2001–2004)

Mark Patrick (2002–2004)

Boris Mittelstädt (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

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