Michael Tierney,[1][2] better known as Mick Pyro, is an Irish musician. He is best known as the frontman of the Dublin funk rock band Republic of Loose. He has also participated in other independent work with Irish and international musicians. He has also written for the Irish Independent.[3] He released his first solo album, Exit Pyro, in 2023.[4]
Mick Pyro | |
|---|---|
 Mick Pyro (left) on stage with Republic of Loose | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Tierney |
| Genres | Funk rock, hip hop, soul, blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
Education and influences
editPyro has an MA in Renaissance literature and is an avid reader.[5] He is known for his diverse musical tastes and likes hip hop, soul and blues.[6] He has described hip hop as "one of the most innovative art-forms around and it's constantly capable of shocking and surprising me".[6] Pyro cites Cee-Lo Green's 2004 album Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine as his favorite album.[6] Pyro has also cited 1980s soul and funk artists Alexander O'Neal and Rick James as his heroes.[6] He also likes metal and listens to blues and jazz such as Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Mahalia Jackson and soul singers such as Al Green and Solomon Burke.[6]
Style
editPyro is known for his excessive stage antics, with The Irish Times describing him as having "cajoled, provoked, teased, screamed, shouted, stomped and flirted away" through an entire set with Republic of Loose,[7] whilst the Irish Independent has compared him to "an insane rock version of Robbie Williams, with the voice of a young and drunk James Brown".[8] John Meagher, writing in the Irish Independent, described Pyro as "the focal and vocal point of Republic of Loose" who "works his stage like a Joshua Tree-era Bono"[9] During Republic of Loose's 2008 residency at the Dublin Academy, Pyro's stage presence was described by Ed Power in the Irish Independent as "more wedding-dance flap than Harlem shuffle, but he carries his shtick off with so much charisma you find yourself applauding instead of guffawing".[10] His battles with alcoholism are chronicled in the song "Poquito" which features on the Republic of Loose album Vol IV: Johnny Pyro and the Dance of Evil and he also wrote the song "Comeback Girl" whilst drunk.[11]
Career
editMick Pyro performed with self-described "rubbish rock bands" for several years before the formation of Republic of Loose.[12] Experiencing what he termed "a huge metaphysical overturning of my value system", Pyro developed a fascination with musicians such as James Brown and The Rolling Stones.[12] This change of musical interest prompted him to create Johnny Pyro, an alter-ego, who, according to Pyro, "disassociated himself from the normal lifestyle of an Irish bourgeois kid".[12] This alter-ego later developed into Republic of Loose.[12] With this band, Pyro has performed at numerous music festivals, including Glastonbury Festival and Reading and Leeds Festivals in England.[13] However the band sell most of their records in Ireland, where they have been regulars on the festival circuit for many years.[13]
In 2008, Pyro was part of a collaboration of Irish and international musicians who combined to celebrate the life of Ronnie Drew by recording "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew" at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin.[14] During this recording he met Sinéad O'Connor, who asked him if they could perform a duet.[15] O'Connor and Republic of Loose to performed a cover of the Curtis Mayfield song "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue" during the Meteor Music Awards in 2007.[15][16]
Personal life
editPyro's sister, Annie,[6] from Tieranniesaur and Yeh Deadlies was previously in a band called Chicks and Pyro helped write some of the songs.[17] Pyro lives in the basement pad of a 1960s Swedish-style house in residential Dublin suburb of Terenure.[6] Pyro has spoken about his battles with alcoholism.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Gebrselassie shows talent not affected by age". The Irish Times. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
But there was Mick Pyro (real name Tierney) commanding the stage, dancing just like Bo Diddley and shooting from the hip just like Jesse James, every one of those kids in the palm of his hand. Mick has been at this act since well before he was 18 and I thought to myself he's getting better with age, even though he is now at least my age. I didn't feel so old then.
- ^ Meagher, John (8 October 2010). "Music: Bounce at the Devil by Republic of Loose * * *". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
Mick Tierney – aka frontman Johnny Pyro – remains the best thing about the group, and his cocksure attitude simply oozes from the speakers.
- ^ Mick Pyro (3 July 2009). "Nightwatch: Mick Pyro". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ^ Corr, Alan (4 August 2023). "Mik Pyro is still on fire on his debut solo album".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Una Mullally (16 April 2006). "Loose lips". Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 21 August 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g "At Home With... Mick Pyro". Hot Press. 23 February 2005. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- ^ "On the Loose". The Irish Times. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
- ^ Larissa Nolan (9 July 2006). "Why does it always rain on festivals?". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ^ John Meagher (11 April 2008). "Review of the Week: Republic of Loose * * * *". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- ^ Ed Power (8 April 2008). "Footloose funkateer's new cuts hit the spot". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ^ Neil Dunphy (27 April 2008). "Rock – Loose men". Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 21 August 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d Eamon Sweeney (25 April 2008). "Let Loose". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Interviews: Republic of Loose @ Reading Festival 2007". Virtual Festivals. 3 September 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ^ "O'Connor duet to light up Meteor Awards". Irish Examiner. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
- ^ a b "Sinead cuts Loose with new band". Irish Independent. 23 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
- ^ "Stars out for the Meteors". RTÉ. 16 February 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
- ^ Sophie Grenham (22 April 2007). "A Loose definition of the rock 'n' roll life". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- ^ Carroll, Jim (29 April 2008). "On the Loose". The Irish Times.