Top Of The World, Ma
Mama’s Boys were one of the greatest Irish hard rock bands ever. Guitarist Pat McManus continues to perform and record. He talks guitar with Colm O’Hare
Colm O Hare, 21 Oct 2011
He’s been rocking across Ireland and the world for over three decades now but Pat McManus shows little sign of slowing down. In fact, with acclaimed new album Walking Through Shadows released earlier this year, the former Mama’s Boy is busier than ever. He appears at the upcoming Music Show where he’ll conduct a much-anticipated masterclass. We caught up with him for some serious guitar talk before he and his band head out on a European tour.
Who were his guitar heroes
growing up?
“Funnily enough they’re all Irish,” he says. “Rory Gallagher, Gary Moore, Eric Bell of course. My big hero was actually Johnny Fean from Horslips. When we lived in the sticks up north back then, they were the only band that came around and gigged all the time. He was the first guy I saw playing live that really impressed me a lot. Horslips were the band that inspired us to form Mama’s Boys.”
From a musical family, McManus started out playing traditional music on the violin, along with his brothers John and Tommy. When the rock bug bit, he switched over to guitar.
“I’m completely self-taught,” he reveals. “I learned through listening. I didn’t find it difficult to pick up melodies and I never looked at a chord book as I found them too distracting. And I went to gigs all the time, show bands, rock bands, whoever. I’d go home and try and remember what I saw. Also I’d play the records over and over again. I’m left-handed so that made it a bit harder. I also applied everything I learned on the violin to the guitar.”
Mama’s Boys formed in 1979 and were an immediate hit. They went on to make ‘Needle In The Groove’ a bona fide Irish rock classic. In the early days, Pat was known for his trademark 1970 Gibson Flying V guitar. Though he still has it he no longer takes it on the road with him. What is his guitar of choice these days?
“I’ve three or four on the go but when you’re flying in and out of airports all the time you can’t be carrying more than one guitar,” he explains. “My main guitar for touring and recording is my PRS SC, which is quite unique. It’s a cross between a Fender Strat and a Les Paul, it can even give you a Strat and a Les Paul sound. It’s fantastic – it’s surpassed Fender and Gibson as a working guitar these days. They’re quite expensive, and you can go to the custom shop and pay up to £15,000 for one if you have the cash. But they’re quite popular among big name musicians these days. Carlos Santana plays nothing else. I’m very happy with
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