Maeve Quigley's Column: GLASS ALBUM FROM A BAND THAT INSPIRED

WE IN Ireland always knew they were an exceptionally talented bunch but now it appears that The Frank And Walters have been the inspiration behind two of the biggest bands in the world.

Still reeling from the revelations that Noel Gallagher was inspired to start Oasis thanks to the three Cork men, now it appears Radiohead stayed together only after the Frank And Walters rescued the then ailing teen band by giving them a slot on their 1990 European tour.

In a recent interview Johnny Greenwood said: "They really came up trumps for us and it is something that all of us in Radiohead will never forget."

"They have our complete respect and a lot of groups would be wise to take a leaf from the Cork band. They are one of the reasons Radiohead have stayed together."

Back home in Cork the Franks' Ashley Keating is amused, bemused and faintly embarrassed by the attention - which it must be said can do no harm on the eve of the release of their fourth album.

"It was a bit embarrassing," Ashley giggled. "But we did know Noel quite well for a while about eight years ago.

"We were touring with the Inspiral Carpets and Noel was their roadie. He really helped us out because we were doing the tour on a shoestring budget and he helped us with our guitars and carrying our gear.

"But it was Paul that he was really friendly with and one day he played Paul a couple of songs that he'd written. He said they were just throw-away but Paul told him to keep at it and said he should form a band.

"We lost touch after a while and then Oasis really took off. We were very surprised but it was great that he remembered us because to be honest we really thought he would have forgotten us by now."

Back in 1990 who could help but like the band who came blazing onto the music scene with bowl haircuts and flares in a colour scheme from purple to orange.

Ten years on, it's quite a different story. Glass is a very far cry from Trains Boats and Planes but that's simply proof that the Frank And Walters, unlike many of their peers, have changed and developed in the last 10 years.

Glass, like the last album Beauty Becomes More Than Life, is a testimony to the band's creative spirit.

"People have been a bit shocked by it as we've been associated with indie guitar music for a long time," Ashley said. "But when we sat down to make this album we just didn't want to sound like anything we'd done before."

The Franks will be touring the UK before a rash of Irish dates which will carry right through until Christmas.

"We're doing some at the end of the month and at the start of November but we're not playing Cork till the end of December so we're going to schedule some dates around that too.

"We're hoping to get back up to Northern Ireland on that leg of the tour."

The Frank And Walters new album Glass is out tomorrow on Setanta. Dates confirmed so far are the Roisin Dubh in Galway on October 26, McGrory's in Culdaff on October 28, Dublin's Olympia with Toploader as part of Pet Sounds on October 29 and Dolans in Limerick on October 30.

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