Speedking
Formed at school in the great rock tradition, Speedking, hailing from Castleblayney Co. Monaghan, have come a long way since their formation back in ’99. Taking their inspiration from the classic rock legends, at the tender age of 15 the band began by performing covers of their favourite tracks (think Black Sabbath to Led Zeppelin) in what was originally a weekend pastime for four music enthusiasts. Against an endless backdrop of pub rock acts and the rise of rave culture, Speedking immediately struck a chord with their soon to be loyal audience. Making their stage debut in April ’99 in the regular training ground of Tiny’s Bar (Castleblayney), Speedking began to cut their teeth performance wise with a steady succession of gigs locally as their reputation grew.
With the end of their schooldays also came a turning point for the band, firstly with a line up change which saw original bass player Eddie Kernan parting ways with the band, and  Paul McCabe successfully filling his role. At the same time, the band’s motivation became more solidified, deciding not to drop music as a phase but to focus all their energies into making it or breaking it. By 2003 the results of this commitment began to appear as the first glimpses of original material emerged and by the summer, Speedking launched into the ambitious process of recording a demo E.P. This hugely successful recording (now in its third pressing) “Welcome To My Head” is the symbol in itself of Speedking’s progression – from their musical inception on the local scene through to a breakthrough stint on US rock station Zeta 7’s request list. Achieving unexpected success as their music channelled all over the States, critical acclaim has quickly besieged the band – with Rock Sound likening the E.P. to early Metallica with Layne Staley on vocals – an accurate description!
At the same time Speedking have concreted their dedication through gruelling schedules, playing venues as distant as Cork to Belfast regularly, all the while picking up acclaim – from noteworthy figures such as Pat Mc Manus ( Ex Mama's Boys) through to online publications heightening their reputation. With a series of high profile gigs on the horizon, Speedking have definitely made their mark and left a lasting impression while rock enthusiasts everywhere anticipate their next move!