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Ballyhoo

Formed in Johannesburg in 1974 with Derrick Drain on vocals, Mick Matthews on guitar and vocals, Attie van Wyk on keyboards, Fergie Ferguson on bass and vocals and Cedric Samson on drums.

The band regularly changed members, with Shane Mahoney replacing Samson on drums, Paul de Villiers (guitar and vocals) replaced Drain who later rejoined, Ralph Martin (guitar) replaced Matthews, Franco del Mei replaced Mahoney.

Drain left again in 1982 along with van Wyk. Stewart Irving joined as vocalist in 1982.

Ballyhoo released several singles and albums in the 1970s and early 1980s. These releases met with varied success and their most successful single was “Man on the moon”, released in 1980.

They didn’t record any new studio songs or albums after the mid-1980s.

Stewart Irving

Singer who was born in Dundee, Scotland and began his music career in the UK, including in the band Scene Stealers. After they broke up Irving came to South Africa and joined Ballyhoo as vocalist.

In 1985 he launched a parallel solo career, releasing his first single ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’. A subsequent single, ‘Superstar’ received airplay and television coverage.

He released further singles in the 80s and in 1991 left Ballyhoo.