In early 1975, bassist Steve Travers replaced Dave Monks.

This is one of the last photographs taken of the band before the massacre on 31st July 1975.



From left: Steve Travers, Tony Geraghty, Ray Millar, Brian McCoy, Fran O’Toole, Des Lee.

The scene of The Miami Showband Massacre

The Miami Showband killings (also called the Miami Showband Massacre) was a paramilitary attack at Buskhill, County Down, Northern Ireland, in the early morning of 31 July 1975. It left five people dead at the hands of Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gunmen, including three members of The Miami Showband. The band, one of Ireland’s most popular cabaret bands, had been travelling home to Dublin after a performance in The Castle Ballroom in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland.

The band’s minibus was stopped at a bogus military checkpoint seven miles (11 km) north of Newry. Gunmen, dressed in British Army uniforms, ordered them out of their van and to line-up by the roadside. Although at least four of the gunmen were members of the British Army’s Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), all were members of the UVF, a loyalist paramilitary group. While two of the gunmen were hiding a time bomb on the minibus, it exploded prematurely and killed them. The remaining gunmen opened fire on the band members, killing three and wounding two. Two UDR soldiers and one former soldier were found guilty of murder and received life sentences; they were released in 1998. Read more on Wikipedia.

Directions: Scroll left and place your mouse cursor across the main road in the side road, Buskhill Rd. A circle will appear beside your mouse cursor. Click on it. The map will zoom to the junction where Buskhill Rd meets the old A1 road. Scroll right. On the left of the old A1 you will see a patch of tarmac. This is where the Miami truck was pulled over. Best viewed in full screen mode.



Scene of crime photos 1st August 1975

The RTE Documentary

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The BBC documentary

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UK charts – 1974 to 1976 Tiger Feet – Mud

Devil Gate Drive – Suzi Quatro

Billy Don’t Be A Hero – Paper Lace

Seasons In The Sun – Terry Jacks

Waterloo – Abba

Sugar Baby Love – Rubettes

She – Charles Aznavour

Rock Your Baby – George McCrae

When Will I See You Again – Three Degrees

Love Me For A Reason – Osmonds

Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas

Annie’s Song – John Denver

Everything I Own – Ken Boothe

You’re The First, My Last, My Everything – Barry White

Down Down – Status Quo

Ms Grace – The Tymes

Make Me Smile – Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

If – Telly Savalas

Bye Bye Baby – Bay City Rollers

Oh Boy – Mud

Stand By Your Man – Tammy Wynette

I’m Not In Love – 10CC

Tears On My Pillow – Johnny Nash

Give A Little Love – Bay City Rollers

Barbados – Typically Tropical

Can’t Give You Anything But My Love – Stylistics

Sailing – Rod Stewart

Hold Me Close – David Essex

I Only Have Eyes For You – Art Grafunkel

Space Oddity – David Bowie

Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

Mamma Mia – Abba

Forever & Ever – Slik

December ’63 – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Elton John and Kiki Dee

You To Me Are Everything – Real Thing

Dancing Queen – Abba

Mississippi – Pussycat

If You Leave Me Now – Chicago

US charts – 1974 to 1976 No Woman, No Cry – Bob Marley & The Wailers

That’s The Way (I Like It) – KC & The Sunshine Band

Love Will Keep Us Together – The Captain & Tenille

Philadelphia Freedom – Elton John

Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen

Sweet Home Alabama – Lyrnyrd Skynyrd

Lady Marmalade – Patti LaBelle

Rock Your Baby – George McCrae

Rikki Don’t Lose That Number – Steely Dan

You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet – Bachman Turner Overdrive

I Shot The Sheriff – Eric Clapton

I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton

Pick Up The Pieces – Average White Band

Never Can Say Goodbye – Gloria Gaynor

Killer Queen – Queen

The Bitch Is Back – Elton John

You Make Me Feel Brand New – Stylistics

Rock The Boat – Hues Corporation

Young Americans – David Bowie

Love To Love You Baby – Gloria Gaynor

Rhinestone Cowboy – Glen Campbell

Rockin’ All Over The World – John Fogarty

You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate

Ballroom Blitz – Sweet

Lyin’ Eyes – The Eagles

Jive Talkin’ – The Be Gees

Loving You – Minnie Ripperton

Don’t Fear The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult

More Than A Feeling – Boston

Knowing Me, Knowing You – Abba

Tonight’s The Night – Rod Stewart

Young Hearts Run Free – Candi Staton

Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry

New Kid In Town – The Eagles

Let’s Stick Together – Bryan Ferry

Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder

Love & Affection – Joan Armatrading

Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel – Tavares

Misty Blue – Dorothy Moore

Living Thing – Electric Light Orchestra

Money Money Money – Abba

Also On 31st July 1975 James Riddle (Jimmy) Hoffa, one of the most influential American labor leaders of the 20th century, disappears in Detroit, Michigan, never to be heard from again. Though he is popularly believed to have been the victim of a Mafia hit, conclusive evidence was never found, and Hoffa’s death remains shrouded in mystery to this day. A Hollywood movie starred Jack Nicholson. (IMDB)

Also in 1975 Watergate: Halderman, Erlickman, Mitchell Convicted of Conspiracy

President Ford Announces Recession Policy

US Plane With Vietnamese Orphans Crashes …..200 Killed

Saigon Falls to North Vietnamese, Thousands Flee By Boat

Marines Rescue 39 From USS “Mayaguez” Seized By Cambodia

Patty Hearst Arrested By FBI

Ford Escapes Shot Fired by Sara Jane Moore

OPEC Increase Oil Prices 10%

Unemployment reaches 8.9%, highest since 1941

US and Russia agree to 5 year grain export plan

President Ford rejects Federal bail out of NYC

CIA acknowledges plots to kill undesirable heads of state

Died, Cannonball Adderly, Aristotle Onassis, Rod Sterling, Casey Stengel

Archie Griffin (Ohio State) first player to win second Heisman Trophy

VCR Betamax makes first appearance

Disposable razor introduced

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