Stars Of Heaven

The Stars Of Heaven were an Irish guitar pop band formed in Dublin in 1983. They released two albums on the Rough Trade label before splitting up in 1990. The band was formed in 1983 by Stephen Ryan (vocals, guitar), Stan Erraught (guitar, formerly of The Peridots), Peter O'Sullivan (bass guitar), and Bernard Walsh (drums). They were strongly influenced by The Byrds and Gram Parsons, even being labelled "Ireland's answer to The Byrds, Gram Parsons and the Velvet Underground all in one package".

Links To Peel
After a début single on the Hotwire label ("Clothes of Pride") which received airplay from John Peel in 1985, they were signed by Rough Trade, who issued the album Sacred Heart Hotel in 1986, which reached number 11 on the UK Independent Chart. Peel's patronage continued throughout their career, with the band recording four sessions for his BBC Radio One show, the first of which was included on Sacred Heart Hotel album.

Sessions
1. Recorded: 1986-01-14. Broadcast: 22 January 1986. Repeated: 03 March 1986, Mark Mixtape - Half Man Half Biscuit 1986 2. Recorded: 1986-05-13. Broadcast: 26 May 1986. Repeated: 29 December 1986, Karl's Tape December 1986, Mid-Dec 1986 3. Recorded: 1987-02-03. Broadcast: 17 February 1987. Repeated: 17 June 1987 4. Recorded: 1988-01-17. Broadcast: 27 January 1988.
 * Sacred Heart Hotel / Talk About It Now / Moonstruck / So You Know
 * 28 / Every Other Day / What Else Could You Do? / Paradise Of Lies
 * Wheels / Cavalry Cross / Can't Seem To Make You Mine / Still Feeling Blue
 * Two O'Clock Waltz / Ammonia Train / Northern Isles / Unfinished Dreaming

Other Shows Played
1985 1986 1987 1988 1999 Others
 * 07 October 1985 [Kilburn 85]: 'Clothes Of Pride (7 inch)' (Hotwire)
 * 26 November 1985: Clothes Of Pride (7") Hotwire
 * 18 September 1986 (BFBS) Peel 041 (BFBS): 'Sacred Heart Hotel (LP-Sacred Heart Hotel)' (Rough Trade)
 * 14 October 1986: Moonstruck (Sacred Heart Hotel)
 * 11 March 1987: Never Saw You (12" - Holyhead) Rough Trade
 * 31 July 1987 (BFBS) Peel 065 (BFBS): 'All About You (Compilation LP-Let's Try Another Ideal Guest House)' (Backs)
 * 07 June 1988: What Else Could You Do (LP - Speak Slowly) Rough Trade
 * 15 June 1988: What Else Could You Do (LP - Speak Slowly) Rough Trade
 * 07 July 1999: 'City On The Hill (CD-Unfinished Dreaming)' (Independent)
 * 15 July 1999: 'Easier This Way (LP-Unfinished Dreaming)' (Independent)
 * And Err That's A Bit Of The Label Too: Never Saw You