John Joseph O'Neill (born 26 August 1957) is a musician who is the rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter of the punk rock/ new wave band

The Undertones The Undertones are a rock band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. From 1975 to 1983, the Undertones consisted of Feargal Sharkey (vocals), John O'Neill (rhythm guitar, vocals), Damian O'Neill (lead guitar, vocals), Michael Bradley ...

. O'Neill, along with his younger brother Vincent and friends

Feargal Sharkey Seán Feargal Sharkey (born 13 August 1958) is a singer from Northern Ireland most widely known as the lead vocalist of punk band The Undertones in the 1970s and 1980s, and for solo works in the 1980s and 1990s. His 1985 solo single "A Good H ...

, Michael Bradley and

Billy Doherty The Undertones are a rock band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. From 1975 to 1983, the Undertones consisted of Feargal Sharkey (vocals), John O'Neill (rhythm guitar, vocals), Damian O'Neill (lead guitar, vocals), Michael Bradley ...

, founded The Undertones in 1975, although Vincent O'Neill was replaced the following year with his younger brother Damian O'Neill, who became the band's lead guitarist. John O'Neill wrote the majority of the band's singles and a number of album tracks (occasionally collaborating with his brother Damian or Michael Bradley). Undertones songs written by John O'Neill include the singles "

Teenage Kicks "Teenage Kicks" is the debut single by Northern Irish punk rock band the Undertones. Written in the summer of 1977 by the band's principal songwriter, the song was recorded on 15 June 1978 and initially released that September on independent Be ...

", " Jimmy Jimmy", "

Here Comes The Summer "Here Comes the Summer" is a song originally written and recorded by Northern Irish band the Undertones. The song was inspired by the Ramones and was written in 1978 by the band's principal songwriter, John O'Neill. It was included, initially a ...

" and " You've Got My Number", and such notable album tracks as "When Saturday Comes" and "You're Welcome". After releasing four albums and thirteen singles, The Undertones disbanded in 1983; they reformed in November 1999. Since then, the band (who have a new lead singer, fellow

Derry Derry, officially Londonderry (), is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and the fifth-largest city on the island of Ireland. The name ''Derry'' is an anglicisation of the Old Irish name (modern Irish: ) meaning 'oak grove'. The ...

native

Paul McLoone Paul Martin McLoone (born 11 February 1967) is an Irish musician, former radio producer, voice actor, voice-over artist and radio presenter from Derry, Northern Ireland. He is perhaps best known for being the co-creator and co-writer of the Ir ...

who also serves as a radio presenter for the Irish national and independent radio station

Today FM Today FM is an Irish national commercial FM radio station, owned and operated by Bauer Audio Ireland Limited. Broadcasting since 17 March 1997, it broadcasts mostly music, with a daily news and current affairs programme. Today FM holds a lic ...

) have released two further albums and performed a number of gigs in both the UK, Ireland, Europe and

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

. In 1985 the O'Neill brothers formed

That Petrol Emotion That Petrol Emotion were a London-based Northern Ireland-originating band with an American vocalist, Steve Mack. It featured the O'Neill brothers from celebrated Derry pop-punk band The Undertones plus ex-members of fellow Derry bands Bam Bam and ...

, an acclaimed rock act who disbanded in 1994. In the 1990s he formed a trip hop group called Rare under the stage name ''Seán Ó'Néill'' with vocalist Mary Gallagher. Despite some positive reviews in the music press they only had one notable chart appearance and disbanded shortly after the release of their only album in 1998.

References

External links

* AU Magazin
interview with John O'Neill (archive)

Official Undertones website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oneill, John 1957 births Living people Musicians from Derry (city) New wave musicians from Northern Ireland Rock guitarists from Northern Ireland The Undertones members That Petrol Emotion members