Big generator are a five-piece band based in the West of Ireland, in a town called Portumna, Co. Galway. Their name comes from the 1987 Yes album of the same title. They were formed by Liam Martin and Barry Conboy in October 1992. The other members of the band are Alan "Mack" McEvoy (drums and vocals), Dave Hockedy (vocals and guitar) and Paul Cantillon (vocals/bass). They are managed by Barry's brother Jackie Conboy.
Big generator have established themselves as one of the leading forces on the Irish scene, and have built up a legion of friends and fans that most bands take years to lay foundations for, and due to this they were asked to support Joe Satriani in the Point in Dublin in December 1995, a dream come true for the band.
Over the past few years, the band have constantly gigged in Ireland, England, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Holland and the USA, showcasing their own material to which they received rave reviews. During their time in the States a New York cable company recorded one of their shows which went out in February 97 in New York and Los Angeles to around 200,000 people.
Following in the grand tradition of The Rolling Stones, Rush, Van Halen and The Beatles who all started their careers as cover bands, big generator are following the same lead, so there are two sides to big generator - the cover side and the original side.
On the cover side big generator play tracks from the likes of Steve Earle,Bon Jovi, Pearl Jam, Toto, Guns and Roses, Poison, Radiohead, AC/DC, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and many more, so they can guarantee to please the audience.
On the original side big generator released their first CD single "Don't Walk Away" in mid 96 which went straight into the Irish charts at No.14 and remained in the Irish Charts for 7 weeks. They then recorded their second single "Angels Don't Cry" which was sung by Alan "Mack" McEvoy (Drummer). The single was released in conjunction with a local Galway Hospital (Portiuncla in Ballinasloe) to raise money for a Cat Scan. The song didn't chart unfortunately but it was extremely popular with all their fans.
The biggest news of all for big generator was that in September 1998 whilst on a tour of Germany and Holland, they were signed by Green Street Records who are based in Doetinchem, South East Holland. Please check this Press Release link for the entire story. They went out early November 98 for three weeks to record the album and the finishing touches were put to the album in January 1999. The album titled "On the Line" was launched in Holland at the end of March 1999. Please check the Latest News for all the current details. big generator will be touring Ireland, England, Germany and Holland extensively in the coming months to promote the album. At last it now seems that big generator will now be able to concentrate on their original work rather than their cover side.
Big generator supported A TASTE OF WHITESNAKE at the Temple Bar Music Centre in Dublin in April 1999. Way to go boys!!!
Big generator released "Wake Up" - the first track to be released from their album - in Holland in early May 1999. The track "Sometimes" was released in Ireland in early July 1999 and its highest position in the Irish charts was number 15 (a second Top 20 hit). The second single from the album "The Long Way Home" will be released early January 2000 in Ireland. The album "On the Line" is now on release in Ireland.
Big generator released "Walking in my shoes" in Holland in early April 2000. It has got great airplay out there and so hopefully will chart soon. It is a re-recording of a 1993 Depeche Mode song. The single will not be released in Ireland for the moment.
In February 2001 Dave Hockedy joined the band temporarily in place of Barry who had been taken ill in Holland. He has subsequently been kept on and is now a permanent member of the band. Welcome!!
