The Sultans of Ping FC

The Sultans of Ping FC are an Irish band formed in 1988 by Niall O'Flaherty, Pat O'Connell, Paul Fennelly and Ger Lyons.

Following a number of line up changes the band came to the attention of the UK and Irish music press, when the humorous pop-punk song "Where's Me Jumper" was released. After several other independently released singles, the band signed to Epic Records, through a deal organised by Rhythm King Records's Martin Heath.

With Epic, the band released their debut album Casual Sex In The Cineplex, and its follow up Teenage Drug. Already a cult hit in the UK, by this time The Sultans Of Ping were also becoming popular in Japan, with many tracks gaining release in that market only. The latter album was called Teenage Planet Sexy War in Japan, and included the single "Michiko".

Controversy

After dropping both the FC and the Ping from the band's name, The Sultans returned in 1996, with their third album Good Year For Trouble. However, the album cover's artwork caused problems, as major record chains like HMV and Virgin decided that the display of bondage and S&M was too explicit. By this time, Rhythm King had been absorbed into Arista Records, as Martin Heath became the head of the department. The record label released the band from their contract.

Reformation

Following a split 1996, McCarthy joined the band "Pharmacy", O'Flaherty was involved in producing the Japanese girl band Mika Bomb, while McFeely formed the rock'n'roll band "Sister", and later recruited a former member of The Young Offenders Steve Hackett. McCarthy moved to Stockholm where he taught English.

The band reformed as The Sultans of Ping in 2005, and played a number of gigs with Jim Bob, from the band Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine. In 2006, the group played a show with Radio 2's Mark Radcliffe, and his band The Family Mahone, as part of Manchester's yearly Irish Festival.

The band played several subsequent gigs in 2007, at the Brixton Academy in London (with Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine), in Glasgow, and in Roscommon.

They have played a number of gigs in 2008 including Southend, London and Cork.

Band Members

• Niall O'Flaherty - vocals
• Pat O'Connell - guitar
• Paul Fennelly - bass (until 1990)
• John McAuliffe - bass (until 1991)
• Alan McFeely - bass (1991 - 1996)
• Ian Olney - bass (2005 - )
• Morty McCarthy - drums (from 1991)
• Ger Lyons - drums (until 1991)
• Samuel Steiger - guitar (from 1995)

Singles

As The Sultans Of Ping FC:

• "What About Those Sultans?" EP featuring "Stupid Kid" / "Riot at the Sheepdog Trials" / "Eamon Andrews"
• "Where's Me Jumper" (Divine Records ATHY 01 - Feb 92) #67 (UK Singles Chart) #8 (Ireland)
• "Stupid Kid" (Divine Records ATHY 02 - May 92) #67 (UK Singles Chart) #11 (Ireland)
• "Veronica" (Divine Records ATHY 03 - Oct 92) #69 (UK Singles Chart)

As The Sultans Of Ping:

• "You Talk Too Much" (Rhythm King Records - Jan 93) #26 (UK Singles Chart) #4 (Ireland)
• "Teenage Punks" (Epic Records - Sep 93 ) #49 (UK Singles Chart)
• "Michiko" (Epic Records - Oct 93 ) #43 (UK Singles Chart)
• "Japanese Girls" (Sony Japan - 1993)
• "Wake Up And Scratch Me" (Epic Records - Feb 94) #50 (UK Singles Chart)
• "Miracle Michiko" EP (Japan only release - 1994)

As The Sultans:

• "Mescaline" (1996) #21 (UK Independent Chart)

As The Sultans Of Ping:

• "Girlwatching" (2007)

Albums

As The Sultans Of Ping FC:

• Casual Sex In The Cineplex (Rhythm King Records - Feb 93) #26 (UK Albums Chart)

As The Sultans Of Ping:

• Teenage Drug (Epic Records - Mar 94) #57 (UK Albums Chart)

As The Sultans:

• Good Year For Trouble (Arista Records - June 1996)

Trivia

The band's name is a play on the Dire Straits song Sultans Of Swing.

Drummer Morty McCarthy has written a book on Cork slang called 'Dowcha Boy'

The title of the song "Give Him a Ball and a Yard of Grass", which appeared on their first album, is a well-known quote from the renowned soccer coach Brian Clough, and the song contains several more of his sayings in its lyrics.

External links

• Originals Sultans website
• The Sultans Of Ping
• Sultans Of Ping entry in The Irish Punk & New Wave Discography