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{{Infobox 1981 Hungerstriker |
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:''[[Iron maiden]] is also the name for a [[torture]] [[device]].'' |
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|image=Bobby_Sands.jpg |
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|irish= Roibeard Gearóid Ó Seachnasaigh |
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|name= Bobby Sands |
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|paramilitaryorganisation= PIRA |
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|dateofbirth= [[9 March]], [[1954]] |
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|placeofbirth= Abbots Cross, [[Newtownabbey]] |
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|hungerstrikestarted= [[1 March]], [[1981]] |
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|died= [[5 May]], [[1981]] |
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|daysonstrike= 66 |
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|}} |
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'''Robert Gerard Sands''' ([[Irish name|Irish]] '''Roibeard Gearóid Ó Seachnasaigh'''<ref>[http://www.antoireachtas.ie/staging_007/index.php?page=imeachtai_na_feile_smahain&tid=6&sid=16 SEISIÚN AN OIREACHTAIS]</ref><ref>[http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/Irelandclick/arts2006/mar6_cage_eleven__OHearn_book.php Legacy of Cage Eleven]</ref>), commonly known as '''Bobby Sands''' ([[9 March]], [[1954]] – [[5 May]], [[1981]]), was an [[Irish]] [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] (PIRA) member who died on [[1981 Irish Hunger Strike|hunger strike]] whilst in prison for the possession of [[firearms]]. He died in [[Maze (HM Prison)|HM Prison Maze]] (known as Long Kesh by Irish Republicans). He was the leader of the hunger strike and had been elected as an abstentionist [[Member of Parliament]] during his fast. |
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[[Image:Iron_Stick_800.jpg|right|thumbnail|Iron Maiden]] |
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'''Iron Maiden''' is a [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band from east [[London]], [[England]], which was formed in [[1975]] by [[bassist]] [[Steve Harris (musician)|Steve Harris]], formerly a member of [[Gypsy's Kiss]] and [[Smiler]]. |
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==Family and early life== |
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Iron Maiden is considered to be one of the most influential bands in the [[heavy metal music]] [[genre]], having sold more than 100 million albums world-wide. They have also inspired other sub-genres of [[heavy metal music]], including [[power metal]] and [[speed metal]]. One example of their far reaching influence is that, among others, the [[thrash metal]] band [[Slayer]] list Iron Maiden as one of their major influences, as do the more pop-punk band [[Sum 41]] and jamband [[Umphrey's McGee]]. |
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[[Image:Bobby sands mural in belfast320.jpg|thumb|right|A mural depicting Bobby Sands, on the gable wall of the [[Sinn Féin]] headquarters on the [[Falls Road]], [[Belfast]].]] |
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Bobby Sands was born in Abbots Cross, [[Newtownabbey]], [[County Antrim]], [[Northern Ireland]], and lived there until 1960<ref>pg4, Bobby Sands:Nothing but an Unfinished Song, ''O'Hearn, Denis'', Pluto Press (2006) ISBN 0-7453-2572-6</ref> and then moved to [[Rathcoole (Belfast)|Rathcoole]], Newtownabbey. His first sister, Marcella was born in April 1954 and second sister, Benadette was born in November 1958. His parents, John and Rosaleen had another son, John in 1962. His family had moved due to intimidation by [[loyalists]], although it was not clear that the Sands were [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]]s as their last name derived from his paternal grandfather who was a [[Protestant]].<ref>Ibid pg2</ref> On leaving school, he became an apprentice coach-builder, until he was forced out at gunpoint by loyalists.<ref>Ibid pg13-14</ref> In June 1972, at the age of 18 he moved to the Twinbrook housing estate with his family. Sands' sister [[Bernadette Sands McKevitt]] is also a prominent [[Irish Republican]], along with her husband [[Michael McKevitt]] she helped form the [[32CSM]] and [[RIRA]] <ref>{{cite news |
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The band's [[mascot]], [[Eddie the Head|Eddie]], is a perennial fixture in the often scary album cover art, as well as ever present in live shows. Eddie also featured in a [[first-person shooter]] [[video game]], ''[[Ed Hunter]]''. |
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| title = McKevitt's inglorious career |
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| work = [[The Observer]] |
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| date = 2003-08-10 |
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| url = http://observer.guardian.co.uk/nireland/story/0,,1015883,00.html |
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| accessdate = 2006-10-13}}</ref> |
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. |
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==IRA activity== |
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They have released 13 studio albums, 2 best of's, 5 live albums, and with a string of festivals arranged for [[2005]], show no sign of stopping yet. |
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In 1972, the year of the [[Troubles]] with the highest death toll, he joined the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]]. In October of that year, Sands was arrested and charged with possession of four handguns which were found in the house in which he was staying. In April 1973 he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment <ref>[http://larkspirit.com/hungerstrikes/bios/sands.html Biography on Larkspirit]</ref> <ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/hstrike/sands/sands81.htm Cain Biography - Danny Morrison]</ref>. |
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On his release in 1976, he returned to his family in Twinbrook in west [[Belfast]]. Sands returned to active service in the PIRA. It was claimed that in October 1976 he was involved in the bombing of the Balmoral Furniture Company in [[Dunmurry]], although he was never convicted of this bombing, and at the trial the judge said there was no evidence to support the assertion that he took part in the bombing. After the bombing, Sands and at least five others in the bomb team were allegedly involved in a gun battle with the police, although he was also never convicted of this, for lack of evidence. Abandoning two of their wounded friends, Seamus Martin and Gabriel Corbett, Sands with [[Joe McDonnell]], Seamus Finucane and Sean Lavery, tried to escape in a car, but were caught. One of the revolvers used in the robbery was found in the car in which Sands was travelling. |
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==History== |
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Iron Maiden was formed in December [[1975]] by bassist [[Steve Harris (musician)|Steve Harris]], who joined up with guitarist [[Dave Murray]] a few months later. Thirty years later, the two remain at the helm of Iron Maiden. |
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His trial (in September 1977) saw him convicted of possession of firearms, the revolver from which bullets had been fired at the police after the bombing, and was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment.<ref>[http://www.tkb.org/KeyLeader.jsp?memID=82 Terrorism Knowledge Base Article on Bobby Sands]</ref> |
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Harris and Murray went through a ridiculous number of bandmembers throughout the 1970s, paying their dues on the mostly punk club circuit in London's rough East End neighbourhood. Though Maiden were a metal band influenced by [[Deep Purple]], [[Yes]], [[Wishbone Ash]], and [[Black Sabbath]], they did possess a fast, punkish style in the early days. Original singer [[Paul Day]] was much punkier than his replacement, the outlandish [[Dennis Wilcock]], a huge [[Kiss]] fan that used fire, makeup, and fake blood onstage. By 1978, Harris and Murray had stabilised the Iron Maiden line-up with the addition of drummer [[Doug Sampson]] and vocalist [[Paul Di'Anno]]. |
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==Prisoner== |
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If the band had sounded punk before, they did even more so with the arrival of the short-haired, fiery Di'Anno. For years, the band had been pressured by record labels to cut their hair and sacrifice their complex metal sound in favour of a more punk image, but with Di'Anno at the forefront, the band could mix the two into a potent stew of classical themes, galloping metal rhythms, and speedy hardcore riffs. |
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He served his prison term at [[Maze (HM Prison)|HM Prison Maze]], also known by Irish republicans as [[Long Kesh]]. After [[internment]] a series of buildings known from their floor plans as '[[Maze (HM Prison)#H-Blocks|H-Block]]s' were built to make the prison suitable for the large number of inmates belonging to paramilitary organisations; each block contained members of the same organisation. |
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In prison, Sands became a writer both of [[journalism]] and [[poetry]] which was published in the Irish republican newspaper ''[[An Phoblacht]]''. In late 1980 Sands was chosen as Officer Commanding [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] prisoners in Long Kesh. |
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Iron Maiden was a sensation on the English rock circuit by 1978. The band had been playing for three years and gained a tremendously loyal following, but had never recorded any of their music. On New Year's Eve 1978, the band recorded one of the most famous demos in rock history, ''[[The Soundhouse Tapes]]''. Featuring only four songs, the band sold all 500 copies immediately, and did not reprint the demo again until 1996 (original copies sold for thousands of dollars). Two of the tracks on the demo, "Prowler" and "Iron Maiden," went straight to number one on the English metal charts. |
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==Political status protests== |
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In several of the early Iron Maiden line-ups, Dave Murray was joined by another guitarist, but for most of 1977 and all of 1978, Murray was the sole guitarist in Maiden. This changed with the arrival of [[Tony Parsons]] in 1979. Drummer Doug Sampson was also replaced by the dynamic [[Clive Burr]]. In November 1979, the band landed a major record deal by signing to EMI, a partnership that would last for nearly 15 years. Shortly before going into the studio, Parsons was replaced by guitarist [[Dennis Stratton]]. Initially, the band wanted to hire Dave Murray's childhood friend [[Adrian Smith]], but Smith was busy singing and playing guitar for his band [[Urchin]]. |
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Republican prisoners had organised a series of protests seeking to regain their previous status of [[political prisoner]]s and not be subject to ordinary prison regulations. This started with the "[[blanket protest]]" in 1976, when the prisoners refused to wear uniform and wore blankets instead. Attempts to break the protest by brutalisation of prisoners saw the escalation to the "[[dirty protest]]" of 1978 when repeated beatings during "slop-out" led to prisoners living in squalor by smearing excrement on the walls.<ref>Pg 185, ''Bobby Sands:Nothing but An Unfinished Song'', Denis O'Hearn (2006), Pluto Books. ISBN 0-7453-2572-6</ref> There had been an earlier [[hunger strike]] in Autumn 1980, which had ended when the [[British Government]] appeared to concede the prisoners' demands. When that strike was over, the Government reverted to its previous stance. |
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===Hunger strike=== |
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''[[Iron Maiden (album)|Iron Maiden]]'' was released in 1980 to critical and commercial success. The band went on to open for [[Kiss]] on their 1980 [[Unmasked]] tour, as well as opening select dates for the legendary [[Judas Priest]]. After the Kiss tour, [[Dennis Stratton]] was fired from the band as a result of creative and personal differences. Finally, the timing was right for the arrival of [[Adrian Smith]]. |
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The [[1981 Irish hunger strike|Second Hunger Strike]] started with Sands refusing food on [[1 March]], [[1981]]. Sands decided that other prisoners should join the strike at staggered intervals in order to maximise publicity with prisoners steadily deteriorating and dying successively over several months. |
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The hunger strike centred around "Five Demands": |
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Smith brought a melodic, whimsical sound to Iron Maiden. His bluesy, experimental sound was the complete opposite of Murray's speedy, lightning fast style. One of Iron Maiden's trademarks is the double "twin lead" harmonising guitar stylings of Murray and Smith, a style pioneered by [[Wishbone Ash]] and [[The Allman Brothers Band]], but taken to a whole new level by Iron Maiden. |
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#The right not to wear a prison uniform; |
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In [[1981]], Maiden released their second album, titled ''[[Killers (album)|Killers]]''. This new album contained the first hit songs for the band and they were introduced to audiences in the [[United States]]. It was at this time when the band was the star attraction of the [[New Wave of British Heavy Metal]], in which bands from [[England]] flooded the market of the United States. [[Killers]] remains one of the bands fastest and heaviest albums, and remains a favourite among hardcore fans. |
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#The right not to do prison work; |
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#The right of free association with other prisoners; |
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#The right to organise their own educational and recreational facilities; |
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#The right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week. |
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The significance of the hunger strike was to be declared as political prisoners not as criminals, POW's (prisoners of war). However, it was often regarded that the primary purpose of the exercise was to gain international publicity rather than political prisoner status.<ref>Washington Post, 3 May 1981, 2-3</ref> |
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Maiden were never into partying or drug use, and were extreme perfectionists both on the road and in the studio. Paul Di'Anno, however, exhibited increasingly destructive behaviour, and his performances began to suffer as a result. Just as the band were beginning to peak in America, Di'Anno and Maiden parted company. In [[1982]] the band replaced Di'Anno with former [[Samson]] vocalist [[Bruce Dickinson]]. |
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===Election=== |
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Dickinson provided much better interpretation of their songs and possessed an astonishing vocal range. Dickinson's debut with Iron Maiden was 1982's album ''[[The Number of the Beast (album)|The Number of the Beast]]'', which is recognised as a classic of the [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] genre. This album was a world-wide success providing classic songs as ''The Number of the Beast'' and ''Run to the Hills''. For the first time the band went on a world tour, visiting the [[United States]], [[Japan]] and [[Australia]]. However, the band was marred by controversy coming from [[Religion|religious]] groups that claimed Iron Maiden was a [[Satanic]] group because of their dark lyrics which supposedly spoke of [[Satan]]. In actuality, it was only one song ("The Number of the Beast"), an anti-Satanic song about a bad dream. The band denied these rumours and no Iron Maiden studio album to date has ever carried an "explicit lyrics" stamp. (The live box set "Eddie's Archive" does, though) |
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Shortly after the beginning of the strike, [[Frank Maguire]], the [[Independent Republican (Ireland)|Independent Republican]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[Fermanagh & South Tyrone (constituency)|Fermanagh & South Tyrone]] died of a heart attack suddenly and precipitated a [[Fermanagh & South Tyrone by-election, 1981 (April)|by-election]]. |
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The sudden vacancy in a seat with a small Roman Catholic majority was a valuable opportunity for Sands' supporters to unite the nationalist community behind their campaign. Pressure not to split the vote led other nationalist parties, notably the [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]], to withdraw and Sands was nominated on the label "Political Prisoner Smash H-Block and Armagh". After a highly polarised campaign, Sands narrowly won the seat on [[9 April]], [[1981]], with 30,493 votes to 29,046 for the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] candidate [[Harry West]], incidentally also becoming the [[Baby of the House|youngest MP at the time]]. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/10/newsid_2453000/2453183.stm On This Day - 1981: Hunger striker elected MP] BBC News website</ref> |
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After the enormous success of ''[[The Number of the Beast]]'', the band became worldwide superstars. Before heading back into the studio in 1983, they replaced Clive Burr with heavy drummer [[Nicko McBrain]] and went on to release four albums which went multi-platinum world-wide: ''[[Piece of Mind (Iron Maiden)|Piece of Mind]]'' ([[1983]]), ''[[Powerslave (album)|Powerslave]]'' ([[1984]]), ''[[Live After Death]]'' ([[1985]]) and ''[[Somewhere in Time (album)|Somewhere in Time]]'' ([[1986]]). The band gathered huge audiences everywhere they went, especially in [[South America]], [[Asia]], [[Australia]], and the [[United States]], where they remain legendary to this date. |
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Following Sands' success the Government rushed through Parliament the [[Representation of the People Act 1981]] which prevents convicted prisoners serving jail terms of more than one year in either the UK or the Republic of Ireland, or unlawfully at large when they should be serving such a sentence, from being nominated as candidates in elections. <ref name="RPA1981">Julian Haviland, "Bill to stop criminal candidates", ''The Times'', 13 June 1981, p. 2.</ref> |
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All of these albums contained extremely complex riffs, multiple time changes, and classically based themes. Iron Maiden never sang about drugs, sex, Jack Daniel's, or women. The band's lyrics are steeped in English literature and history (some song titles range from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" to "Alexander the Great, 356-323 BC"). The band's music was often referred to as "intelligent metal," and was on an entirely different intellectual plane than most other metal acts of the 1980s. |
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==Death== |
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In [[1988]] the band tried a different approach for their seventh studio album, titled ''[[Seventh Son of a Seventh Son]]''. This was a [[concept album]] featuring a story about a mythical child who possessed [[Clairvoyance|clairvoyant]] powers based on the book ''The Seventh Son'' by [[Orson Scott Card]]. It was the most experimental Iron Maiden album to date, and is often regarded as the creative zenith of the band and the end of Maiden's "golden years." |
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Three weeks later, Bobby Sands MP died from starvation in the prison hospital after 66 days of hunger-striking, aged 27. The announcement of his death prompted several days of riots in [[Irish nationalism|nationalist]] areas of [[Northern Ireland]]. Over 100,000 <ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/abstentionism/chron.htm University of Ulster CAIN archive]</ref> people lined the route of his funeral. Sands was a Member of the Westminster Parliament for twenty-five days, though he never took his seat or oath. |
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In response to a question in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] on 05 May 1981, [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Margaret Thatcher]] said, "Mr. Sands was a convicted criminal. He chose to take his own life. It was a choice that his organisation did not allow to many of its victims [http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=104641]." |
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For the first time in seven years, the band suffered a line-up change with the major loss of guitarist/vocalist Adrian Smith. Former [[Gillan]] guitarist [[Janick Gers]] was chosen to replace Smith, and in [[1990]] they released the poorly received album ''[[No Prayer for the Dying]]''. This album went back to the heavy style of the band but the lyrics were more simple and the the music was not as challenging as previous efforts. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson also began experimenting with a raspier style of singing that was not well received by fans. However, the album was a huge commercial success and spawned the number one hit single "Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter" from the horror movie ''[[A Nightmare on Elm Street 5]]''. |
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He was survived by his parents, siblings, and a young son (Gerard) from his marriage to Geraldine Noade. |
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Before the release of ''[[No Prayer for the Dying]]'', Bruce Dickinson officially launched a solo career to coincide with Iron Maiden (Gers was his guitarist). He continued to tour in 1991 before returning to the studio with Iron Maiden for the smash hit ''[[Fear of the Dark]]''. Released in [[1992]] it had several songs that were popular among fans, like the title-track and ''Afraid to Shoot Strangers'', a critical song about the [[Persian Gulf War]]. |
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===Political impact=== |
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Even though metal was out of date in 1992 and grunge was ruling the airwaves, Maiden continued to sell out arenas in the US and throughout the world. Still, Dickinson continued with his raspier vocals and much of the lyrics on ''[[Fear of the Dark]]'' were a downgrade from their previous successes. In [[1993]], Iron Maiden suffered a huge loss when Bruce Dickinson left the band to further pursue his solo career. However, Bruce agreed to stay with the band through the end of the year, resulting in a pair of live albums released in the fall. |
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Nine other IRA and [[Irish National Liberation Army]] (INLA) members who were involved in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike also died after Bobby Sands. Many Irish Republicans and IRA sympathisers regard Bobby Sands and the other nine men as being martyrs who stood firm against the intransigence of the British Government, and many Irish nationalists who abhorred the IRA were outraged at the British government's stance. On the other hand, Unionists saw him as a pawn in a wider political movement which was trying to force concessions for republicans {{fact}}. |
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The media coverage that surrounded the death of Bobby Sands resulted in a new surge of IRA activity and an immediate escalation in the Troubles , with the group obtaining many more members and increasing its fundraising capability. Both nationalists and unionists began to harden their attitudes and move towards political extremes. <ref name="Flackes&Elliott">W.D. Flackes and Sydney Elliott, "Northern Ireland: A Political Directory" (Blackstaff Press, Belfast, 1999), at p. 550, notes that at the 1981 District Council elections on 20 May 1981, "the results showed a decline in support for centre parties".</ref> Sands' Westminster seat was taken by his election agent, [[Owen Carron]] standing as '[[Anti H-Block]] Proxy Political Prisoner' with an increased majority <ref>[http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/cfst.htm Ark Election website]</ref> |
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The band auditioned hundreds of vocalists and finally chose young gun [[Blaze Bayley]] in [[1994]], formerly of [[Wolfsbane]]. Bayley proved to be a worthy vocalist, but he did not have the range Dickinson possessed. After a three year hiatus, Maiden returned in 1995 with the hour-long album ''[[The X Factor (album)|The X Factor]]''. Widely regarded as Maiden's worst album, the album's failure cannot be solely attributed to Blaze Bayley. Chief songwriter Steve Harris was going through serious personal problems, and many of the songs were dark, depressing, and slow (the album contained four songs about war). There were highlights, though. The anthemic "Blood on the World's Hands" featured excellent acoustic bass work from Harris, and the 11-minute epic "Sign of the Cross" stands head to head with any of the band's classic extended pieces. |
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==Reactions == |
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The band spent most of 1996 on the road before returning to the studio for the much improved ''[[Virtual XI (album)|Virtual XI]]'' ([[1998]]). Bayley's vocal performance was leaps and bounds above his ''[[X-Factor]]'' showing, especially on "The Educated Fool" and the reflective ballad "Como Estas Amigos." Oddly enough, one of the only low points of the album was the hit single "The Angel and the Gambler," which was all many people heard of the album, thus deciding not to buy it: ''[[Virtual XI]]'' was not a high selling album. |
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===Great Britain=== |
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In early [[1999]], Bayley was let go from the band. Months later, the band shocked the world when they announced that both Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith were rejoining the band, which meant the classic 1980s lineup was back in place. Even more exciting was the announcement that Smith's replacement, Janick Gers, would remain in the band. Iron Maiden now had three guitarists. This led to a reunion tour that gathered huge audiences all over the world. |
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*At [[Old Firm]] football matches in [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]], some [[Rangers F.C.]] fans have been known to sing songs mocking Bobby Sands to taunt fans of [[Celtic F.C]]. Rangers fans are more likely to be sympathetic to the Unionist community and see Sands as a Republican terrorist; Celtic fans are more likely to support the Republican community and thus view him as a hero and martyr<ref>http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20030223/ai_n12580707</ref>. |
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===Europe=== |
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In [[2000]], a new period, known commonly as "the progressive years", began for the band when they released the album ''[[Brave New World (album)|Brave New World]]''. The songs were longer and the lyrics spoke about both dark themes and social criticism. The band gained a new fan base when they began exploring the genre of [[progressive metal]]. ''[[Brave New World]]'', by almost all acounts, was the best Iron Maiden album in over a decade. The world tour for the album ended in [[January]] [[2001]] with a show at the famous [[Rock in Rio]] festival. It was a return to glory for the band, as many of their older fans now had bands themselves, and their influence could be heard through several forms of rock music in the late 1990s and early 2000s. |
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*In [[Milan]], 5,000 students burned the [[Union Flag]] and shouted "Freedom for [[Ulster]]" during a march {{fact}}. |
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*In [[Ghent]], students invaded the [[United Kingdom|British]] Consulate {{fact}}. |
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*In [[Paris]], thousands of [[Marxists]] marched behind huge portraits of Sands, to chants of 'The [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]] will conquer' {{fact}}. |
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*In [[Oslo]], demonstrators threw a balloon filled with tomato sauce at [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]], the [[Queen regnant|Queen]] of the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and Commonwealth {{fact}}. |
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*In the [[Soviet Union]], ''Pravda'' described it as 'another tragic page in the grim chronicle of oppression, discrimination, terror and violence' in Ireland {{fact}}. |
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*In France, many towns and cities have named streets for Sands. Examples include [[Nantes]], [[Le Mans]] and [[St Denis]] .<ref>{{cite news |
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| title = French intelligentsia ponders what should be done with killer |
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| work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |
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| date = 2004-08-14 |
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| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/08/14/wwide14.xml |
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| accessdate = 2006-10-13}}</ref> |
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===USA and Cuba=== |
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The band continued with their progressive trend in the album ''[[Dance of Death (album)|Dance of Death]]'' released in [[2003]]. The album went platinum in several countries and left no doubts that the band was still a heavy metal sensation. In fact, hardcore fans say that ''[[Dance of Death]]'' surpassed ''[[Brave New World]]'' in creativity, and remains their best album since 1988's landmark ''[[Seventh Son of a Seventh Son]]''. |
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*The Longshoremen's Union in [[New York]] announced a twenty-four-hour boycott of British ships. <ref>[http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/research/aia/exhibits/0501_hunger/support/prosands.htm NYU]</ref> |
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*Over 1,000 people gathered in [[New York]]'s [[St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York|St. Patrick's Cathedral]] to hear Cardinal Cook offer a Mass of reconciliation for Northern Ireland. Irish bars in the city were closed for two hours in mourning {{fact}}. |
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[[Image:bobby_sands_street.jpg|right|thumb|200px|''Bobby Sands Street'' in Tehran.]] |
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*In [[Hartford, Connecticut]] a monument was dedicated to Bobby Sands and the other hunger strikers in 1997. The monument stands in a traffic circle known as "Bobby Sands Circle", at the bottom of Maple Avenue near Goodwin Park<ref>[http://www.homestead.com/hartford/hungerstrikers.html Details of the Hartford memorial]</ref>. |
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*The [[New Jersey]] State legislature voted 34-29 for a resolution honouring his 'courage and commitment.'<ref name="CAIN BERESFORD">[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/hstrike/beresford.htm CAIN archive at the University of Ulster]</ref> |
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*In 2001 a memorial to Sands and the other hunger strikers was unveiled in [[Havana]], [[Cuba]].<ref>[http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2001/12/18/story33688.asp Story from breakingnews.ie about the Havana memorial being unveiled]</ref>. |
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*[[The Grateful Dead]] played the Nassau Colliseum on the night Sands died and guitarist [[Bob Weir]] dedicated the song "He's Gone" to Sands. It was notable as the band made a conscious effort throughout their career to be apolitical.The concert was later released as [[Dick's Picks Volume 13]], part of the Grateful Dead's programme of live concert releases. |
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*However, several American critics and journalists suggested American press coverage was a "melodrama"<ref>"Sands' hunger strike and the fate of Ulster" Boston Globe, 1 May 1981, 9</ref> which had "given nearly exclusive coverage to pro- I.R.A. spokesmen".<ref>Peter Samuel, Letter to the Editor New York Times, 7 May 1981, 34</ref> One journalist in particluar criticised the large pro-IRA Irish-American contigent which "swallow IRA propaganda as if it were taffy", and concluding that IRA "Terrorist propaganda triumphs".<ref> "IRA brutalities, Terrorist propaganda triumphs" by Edward Langley Chicago Tribune, 9 May 1981, W1-8-4</ref> |
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===Asia and Oceania=== |
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As of [[2005]], Iron Maiden has announced a tour for the up-coming year to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the release of their first album and the 30th anniversary of their formation. The band plans to hit the road to support a new DVD entitled ''[[The Early Years]]'', where the band will celebrate the music from its 1975-1985 period. |
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*In [[Tehran]], [[Iran]] revolutionaries sympathizing with Sands renamed the street on which the British embassy was located on from [[Winston Churchill]] street to Bobby Sands street. The name remains despite pressure from the British foreign secretary to change it <ref>[http://www.phoblacht.net/bobbysandsstreet.html The naming of Bobby Sands Street is detailed here], 'Naming Bobby Sands Street', ''The Blanket'', 24 February 2004</ref>. |
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*The ''Hindustan Times'' said [[Margaret Thatcher]] had allowed a fellow Member of Parliament to die of starvation, an incident which had never before occurred 'in a civilized country.'<ref name="CAIN BERESFORD"/> |
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*In [[India]], Opposition members of the Upper House stood for a minute's silence in tribute. |
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*The [[Hong Kong]] ''Standard'' said it was 'sad that successive British governments have failed to end the last of [[Europe]]'s religious wars.'<ref name="CAIN BERESFORD"/> |
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== |
===Music=== |
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Songs written in response to the hunger strikes and Sands death include: |
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* [[Bruce Dickinson]] - vocals (1982 - 1993, 1999 - present) |
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* [[Dave Murray]] - guitar (1976 - present) |
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* [[Adrian Smith]] - guitar (1980 - 1990, 1999 - present) |
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* [[Janick Gers]] - guitar (1990 - present) |
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* [[Steve Harris]] - bass (1975 - present) |
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* [[Nicko McBrain]] - drums (1983 - present) |
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* ''The Ballad of Joe McDonnell''- [[The Wolfe Tones]] |
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===Original Members=== |
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* ''It's gonna happen''<ref>http://theundertones.net/ar_3.htm</ref> - [[The Undertones]] |
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* [[Steve Harris]] - bass (1975 - present) |
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* ''[[Roll of Honour (song)|The Roll of Honour]]'' - Gerry O'Glacain (The Irish Brigade) |
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* [[Dave Murray]] - guitar (1976 - present, replaced Dave Sullivan after only two months) |
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* ''10 Years On'' - [[Blaggers I.T.A.]] |
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* [[Paul Day]] - vocals (1975-1976) |
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* ''Bobby Sands'' - Kretens |
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* [[Terry Rance]] - guitar (1975-1976) |
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* ''The Sign'' - [[Eric Bogle]] |
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* [[Ron "Rebel" Matthews]] - drums (1975-1977) |
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* ''Bobby Untitled'' - [[Nicky Wire]] of the [[Manic Street Preachers]] on his solo album "I Killed The Zeitgeist" |
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* ''The People's Own MP'' - [[Christy Moore]] |
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* ''The Time Has Come'' - Christy Moore (although written specifically after the death of [[Patsy O'Hara]]) |
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* ''Bobby Sands MP'' - [[Black 47]] |
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* ''Bobby Sands'' - [[Christy Moore]] |
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* ''Inspiration'' - Easterhouse |
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* ''The Ghosts of Long Kesh'' - [[Crimson Spectre]] |
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* ''The H Block Song''- [[Francie Brolly]] |
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Whilst in prison, Sands wrote the song "Back Home In Derry" which would be later recorded by Christy Moore. |
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===Other members=== |
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* [[Dennis Wilcock]] - vocals (1976 - 1978) |
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* [[Bob Sawyer]] - guitar (1976) |
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* [[Terry Wapram]] - guitar (1977) |
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* [["Thunderstick"]] - drums (1977) |
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* [[Tony Moore]] - keyboards (1977) |
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* [[Doug Sampson]] - drums (1977 - 1979) |
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* [[Paul Todd]] - guitar (1977) |
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* [[Paul Cairns]] - guitar (1977) |
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* [[Paul Di'Anno]] - vocals (1978 - 1981) |
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* [[Tony Parsons]] - guitar (1979 - 1980) |
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* [[Dennis Stratton]] - guitar (1980) |
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* [[Clive Burr]] - drums (1979 - 1982) |
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* [[Blaze Bayley]] - vocals (1994 - 1998) |
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The American rock band [[Rage Against The Machine]] listed Sands as an inspiration in the sleeve notes of their self titled debut album. |
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==Discography== |
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=== |
===Film=== |
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*Bobby Sands was played by [[John Lynch (actor)|John Lynch]] in the 1996 film ''[[Some Mother's Son]]''<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117690/ IMDB: Some Mother's Son]</ref>. |
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** ''[[Soundhouse Tapes]]'', 1979 EP |
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* ''[[Iron Maiden (album)|Iron Maiden]]'' ([[1980]]) '''chart position 4 (UK)''' |
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* ''[[Killers (album)|Killers]]'' ([[1981]]) '''chart position 12 (UK)''' |
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** ''[[Maiden Japan]]'', 1981 (Live EP) |
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* ''[[The Number of the Beast (album)|The Number of the Beast]]'' ([[1982]]) '''chart position 1 (UK)''' |
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* ''[[Piece of Mind (Iron Maiden)|Piece of Mind]]'' ([[1983]]) '''chart position 3 (UK), 18 (US)''' |
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* ''[[Powerslave (album)|Powerslave]]'' ([[1984]]) '''chart position 2 (UK)''' |
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* ''[[Live After Death (album)|Live After Death]]'' (Live [[1985]]) |
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* ''[[Somewhere in Time (album)|Somewhere in Time]]'' ([[1986]]) '''chart position 3 (UK), 11 (US)''' |
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* ''[[Seventh Son of a Seventh Son]]'' ([[1988]]) '''chart position 1 (UK), 12 (US)''' |
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* ''[[No Prayer for the Dying]]'' ([[1990]]) '''chart position 2 (UK)''' |
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* ''[[Fear of the Dark (album)|Fear of the Dark]]'' ([[1992]]) '''chart position 1 (UK), 12 (US)''' |
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* ''[[Live at Donington]]'' ([[1993]]) |
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* ''[[A Real Live One]]'' (Live [[1993]]) |
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* ''[[A Real Dead One]]'' ([[1993]]) |
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* ''[[The X Factor (album)|The X Factor]]'' ([[1995]]) '''chart position 8 (UK)''' |
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* ''[[Best of the Beast (album)|Best of the Beast]]'' (complilation) [[1996]]) |
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* ''[[Virtual XI (album)|Virtual XI]]'' ([[1998]]) '''chart position 16 (UK)''' |
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* ''[[Brave New World (album)|Brave New World]]'' ([[2000]]) '''chart position 7 (UK)''' |
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* ''[[Rock in Rio (album)|Rock in Rio]]'' ([[2002]]) |
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* ''[[Edward the Great (album)|Edward the Great]]'' (compilation [[2002]]) |
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* ''[[Dance of Death (album)|Dance of Death]]'' ([[2003]]) '''chart position 2 (UK), 18 (US)''' |
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===Academia=== |
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*Maurice Goldring has written of the incident in terms of the "political instrumentalisation" of the media to achieve particular political aims, such as the paiting of the event in terms of class war to gain support for communist party in France.<ref>http://www.ejc.nl/hp/rem/babarik.html</ref> He writes that "One might say that this is a blatant example of instrumental use of a foreign conflict for internal political purposes".<ref>Ibid</ref> |
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==Published works== |
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=== Videos/DVDs === |
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*While in prison Sands had several letters and articles published in the Republican paper ''An Phoblact/Republican News'' under the pseudonym "Marccella". |
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* ''[[Live at the Rainbow]]'' ([[1981]]) |
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* ''[[Video Pieces]]'' ([[1983]]) |
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Other writings attributed to him include: |
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* ''[[Behind the Iron Curtain (VHS)|Behind the Iron Curtain]]'' ([[1985]]) |
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*''Skylark Sing Your Lonely Song'', 1989, Mercier Press, ISBN 0-85342-726-7 |
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* ''[[Live After Death (VHS)|Live After Death]]'' ([[1985]]) |
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*''One Day in My Life'', 2001, Mercier Press, ISBN 1-85635-349-4 |
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* ''[[12 Wasted Years]]'' ([[1987]]) |
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* ''[[Maiden England]]'' ([[1989]]) |
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Sands also wrote the song "Back Home in Derry" which was later recorded by [[Christy Moore]]. |
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* ''[[Up the Irons - The First Ten Years]]'' ([[1990]]) |
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* ''[[From There to Eternity]]'' ([[1992]]) |
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==See also== |
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* ''[[Donington Live 1992]]'' ([[1993]]) |
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*[[Terence MacSwiney]] - Lord Mayor of [[Cork (city)|Cork]] in 1920 who died in Brixton Prison after a hunger strike lasting 74 days. |
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* ''[[Raising Hell (VHS/DVD)|Raising Hell]]'' ([[1994]]) |
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* ''[[Rock in Rio (VHS/DVD)|Rock in Rio]]'' ([[2002]]) |
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* ''[[Visions of the Beast (VHS/DVD)|Visions of the Beast]]'' ([[2003]]) |
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* ''[[The Early Days]]'' ([[2004]]) |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
||
{{Wikiquote}} |
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* [http://www.ironmaiden.com/ Official Homepage] |
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* [http://www. |
* [http://www.bobbysands.ie Bobby Sands Trust] |
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* [http://larkspirit.com/hungerstrikes/bios/sands.html Biography from Irish Republican website] |
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* [http://www.phoblacht.net/bobbysandsstreet.html '''Naming Bobby Sands Street'',' The Blanket] |
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* [http://www.labournet.net/events/0402/sands1.html Petition: Hands off Bobby Sands Street in Tehran, Iran] |
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* [http://www.irlandinit-hd.de/sub_misc/bsands.htm Saving 'Bobby Sands Street'] |
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* [http://www.bobbysandstrust.org/latest_news.asp British government has been lobbying Iran to rename '''Bobby Sands Street''', per the '''Bobby Sands Trust'''] |
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* [http://www.irishhungerstrike.com Bobby Sands diary entries & biographies of the 10 hunger strikers] |
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* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11800340 Bobby Sands' Photo, Memorial & Gravesite] |
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==References== |
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<references/> |
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{{start box}} |
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{{s-par|uk}} |
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{{succession box |
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| title = [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[Fermanagh and South Tyrone (UK Parliament constituency)|Fermanagh and South Tyrone]] |
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| years = 1981 |
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| before = [[Frank Maguire]] |
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| after = [[Owen Carron]] |
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}} |
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{{succession box |
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| title = [[Baby of the House]] |
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| years = 1981 |
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| before = [[Stephen Dorrell]] |
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| after = [[Stephen Dorrell]] |
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}} |
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{{end box}} |
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{{Persondata |
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|NAME=Sands, Bobby |
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|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Sands, Robert Gerard (full name); Seachnasaigh, Roibeard Gearóid Ó (Irish name) |
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|SHORT DESCRIPTION=IRA member and hungerstriker |
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|DATE OF BIRTH=[[9 March]] [[1954]] |
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|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Abbots Cross]], [[Newtownabbey]] |
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|DATE OF DEATH=[[5 May]] [[1981]] |
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|PLACE OF DEATH=[[Lisburn]], [[Northern Ireland]] |
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[[Category:Irish rebels|Sands, Bobby]] |
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[[Category:1954 births|Sands, Bobby]] |
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[[Category:Members of the United Kingdom Parliament from Northern Ireland constituencies|Sands, Bobby]] |
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[[Category:UK MPs 1979-1983|Sands, Bobby]] |
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[[Category:People from Belfast|Sands, Bobby]] |
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[[Category:Provisional Irish Republican Army members|Sands, Bobby]] |
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[[Category:People who died on the 1981 Irish hunger strike|Sands, Bobby]] |
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Revision as of 18:34, 6 January 2007
Template:Infobox 1981 Hungerstriker
Robert Gerard Sands (Irish Roibeard Gearóid Ó Seachnasaigh[1][2]), commonly known as Bobby Sands (9 March, 1954 – 5 May, 1981), was an Irish Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) member who died on hunger strike whilst in prison for the possession of firearms. He died in HM Prison Maze (known as Long Kesh by Irish Republicans). He was the leader of the hunger strike and had been elected as an abstentionist Member of Parliament during his fast.
Family and early life
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Bobby_sands_mural_in_belfast320.jpg/220px-Bobby_sands_mural_in_belfast320.jpg)
Bobby Sands was born in Abbots Cross, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and lived there until 1960[3] and then moved to Rathcoole, Newtownabbey. His first sister, Marcella was born in April 1954 and second sister, Benadette was born in November 1958. His parents, John and Rosaleen had another son, John in 1962. His family had moved due to intimidation by loyalists, although it was not clear that the Sands were Roman Catholics as their last name derived from his paternal grandfather who was a Protestant.[4] On leaving school, he became an apprentice coach-builder, until he was forced out at gunpoint by loyalists.[5] In June 1972, at the age of 18 he moved to the Twinbrook housing estate with his family. Sands' sister Bernadette Sands McKevitt is also a prominent Irish Republican, along with her husband Michael McKevitt she helped form the 32CSM and RIRA [6] .
IRA activity
In 1972, the year of the Troubles with the highest death toll, he joined the Provisional Irish Republican Army. In October of that year, Sands was arrested and charged with possession of four handguns which were found in the house in which he was staying. In April 1973 he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment [7] [8].
On his release in 1976, he returned to his family in Twinbrook in west Belfast. Sands returned to active service in the PIRA. It was claimed that in October 1976 he was involved in the bombing of the Balmoral Furniture Company in Dunmurry, although he was never convicted of this bombing, and at the trial the judge said there was no evidence to support the assertion that he took part in the bombing. After the bombing, Sands and at least five others in the bomb team were allegedly involved in a gun battle with the police, although he was also never convicted of this, for lack of evidence. Abandoning two of their wounded friends, Seamus Martin and Gabriel Corbett, Sands with Joe McDonnell, Seamus Finucane and Sean Lavery, tried to escape in a car, but were caught. One of the revolvers used in the robbery was found in the car in which Sands was travelling.
His trial (in September 1977) saw him convicted of possession of firearms, the revolver from which bullets had been fired at the police after the bombing, and was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment.[9]
Prisoner
He served his prison term at HM Prison Maze, also known by Irish republicans as Long Kesh. After internment a series of buildings known from their floor plans as 'H-Blocks' were built to make the prison suitable for the large number of inmates belonging to paramilitary organisations; each block contained members of the same organisation.
In prison, Sands became a writer both of journalism and poetry which was published in the Irish republican newspaper An Phoblacht. In late 1980 Sands was chosen as Officer Commanding Provisional Irish Republican Army prisoners in Long Kesh.
Political status protests
Republican prisoners had organised a series of protests seeking to regain their previous status of political prisoners and not be subject to ordinary prison regulations. This started with the "blanket protest" in 1976, when the prisoners refused to wear uniform and wore blankets instead. Attempts to break the protest by brutalisation of prisoners saw the escalation to the "dirty protest" of 1978 when repeated beatings during "slop-out" led to prisoners living in squalor by smearing excrement on the walls.[10] There had been an earlier hunger strike in Autumn 1980, which had ended when the British Government appeared to concede the prisoners' demands. When that strike was over, the Government reverted to its previous stance.
Hunger strike
The Second Hunger Strike started with Sands refusing food on 1 March, 1981. Sands decided that other prisoners should join the strike at staggered intervals in order to maximise publicity with prisoners steadily deteriorating and dying successively over several months.
The hunger strike centred around "Five Demands":
- The right not to wear a prison uniform;
- The right not to do prison work;
- The right of free association with other prisoners;
- The right to organise their own educational and recreational facilities;
- The right to one visit, one letter and one parcel per week.
The significance of the hunger strike was to be declared as political prisoners not as criminals, POW's (prisoners of war). However, it was often regarded that the primary purpose of the exercise was to gain international publicity rather than political prisoner status.[11]
Election
Shortly after the beginning of the strike, Frank Maguire, the Independent Republican MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone died of a heart attack suddenly and precipitated a by-election.
The sudden vacancy in a seat with a small Roman Catholic majority was a valuable opportunity for Sands' supporters to unite the nationalist community behind their campaign. Pressure not to split the vote led other nationalist parties, notably the Social Democratic and Labour Party, to withdraw and Sands was nominated on the label "Political Prisoner Smash H-Block and Armagh". After a highly polarised campaign, Sands narrowly won the seat on 9 April, 1981, with 30,493 votes to 29,046 for the Ulster Unionist Party candidate Harry West, incidentally also becoming the youngest MP at the time. [12]
Following Sands' success the Government rushed through Parliament the Representation of the People Act 1981 which prevents convicted prisoners serving jail terms of more than one year in either the UK or the Republic of Ireland, or unlawfully at large when they should be serving such a sentence, from being nominated as candidates in elections. [13]
Death
Three weeks later, Bobby Sands MP died from starvation in the prison hospital after 66 days of hunger-striking, aged 27. The announcement of his death prompted several days of riots in nationalist areas of Northern Ireland. Over 100,000 [14] people lined the route of his funeral. Sands was a Member of the Westminster Parliament for twenty-five days, though he never took his seat or oath.
In response to a question in the House of Commons on 05 May 1981, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said, "Mr. Sands was a convicted criminal. He chose to take his own life. It was a choice that his organisation did not allow to many of its victims [1]."
He was survived by his parents, siblings, and a young son (Gerard) from his marriage to Geraldine Noade.
Political impact
Nine other IRA and Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) members who were involved in the 1981 Irish Hunger Strike also died after Bobby Sands. Many Irish Republicans and IRA sympathisers regard Bobby Sands and the other nine men as being martyrs who stood firm against the intransigence of the British Government, and many Irish nationalists who abhorred the IRA were outraged at the British government's stance. On the other hand, Unionists saw him as a pawn in a wider political movement which was trying to force concessions for republicans [citation needed].
The media coverage that surrounded the death of Bobby Sands resulted in a new surge of IRA activity and an immediate escalation in the Troubles , with the group obtaining many more members and increasing its fundraising capability. Both nationalists and unionists began to harden their attitudes and move towards political extremes. [15] Sands' Westminster seat was taken by his election agent, Owen Carron standing as 'Anti H-Block Proxy Political Prisoner' with an increased majority [16]
Reactions
Great Britain
- At Old Firm football matches in Glasgow, Scotland, some Rangers F.C. fans have been known to sing songs mocking Bobby Sands to taunt fans of Celtic F.C. Rangers fans are more likely to be sympathetic to the Unionist community and see Sands as a Republican terrorist; Celtic fans are more likely to support the Republican community and thus view him as a hero and martyr[17].
Europe
- In Milan, 5,000 students burned the Union Flag and shouted "Freedom for Ulster" during a march [citation needed].
- In Ghent, students invaded the British Consulate [citation needed].
- In Paris, thousands of Marxists marched behind huge portraits of Sands, to chants of 'The IRA will conquer' [citation needed].
- In Oslo, demonstrators threw a balloon filled with tomato sauce at Elizabeth II, the Queen of the UK and Commonwealth [citation needed].
- In the Soviet Union, Pravda described it as 'another tragic page in the grim chronicle of oppression, discrimination, terror and violence' in Ireland [citation needed].
- In France, many towns and cities have named streets for Sands. Examples include Nantes, Le Mans and St Denis .[18]
USA and Cuba
- The Longshoremen's Union in New York announced a twenty-four-hour boycott of British ships. [19]
- Over 1,000 people gathered in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral to hear Cardinal Cook offer a Mass of reconciliation for Northern Ireland. Irish bars in the city were closed for two hours in mourning [citation needed].
- In Hartford, Connecticut a monument was dedicated to Bobby Sands and the other hunger strikers in 1997. The monument stands in a traffic circle known as "Bobby Sands Circle", at the bottom of Maple Avenue near Goodwin Park[20].
- The New Jersey State legislature voted 34-29 for a resolution honouring his 'courage and commitment.'[21]
- In 2001 a memorial to Sands and the other hunger strikers was unveiled in Havana, Cuba.[22].
- The Grateful Dead played the Nassau Colliseum on the night Sands died and guitarist Bob Weir dedicated the song "He's Gone" to Sands. It was notable as the band made a conscious effort throughout their career to be apolitical.The concert was later released as Dick's Picks Volume 13, part of the Grateful Dead's programme of live concert releases.
- However, several American critics and journalists suggested American press coverage was a "melodrama"[23] which had "given nearly exclusive coverage to pro- I.R.A. spokesmen".[24] One journalist in particluar criticised the large pro-IRA Irish-American contigent which "swallow IRA propaganda as if it were taffy", and concluding that IRA "Terrorist propaganda triumphs".[25]
Asia and Oceania
- In Tehran, Iran revolutionaries sympathizing with Sands renamed the street on which the British embassy was located on from Winston Churchill street to Bobby Sands street. The name remains despite pressure from the British foreign secretary to change it [26].
- The Hindustan Times said Margaret Thatcher had allowed a fellow Member of Parliament to die of starvation, an incident which had never before occurred 'in a civilized country.'[21]
- In India, Opposition members of the Upper House stood for a minute's silence in tribute.
- The Hong Kong Standard said it was 'sad that successive British governments have failed to end the last of Europe's religious wars.'[21]
Music
Songs written in response to the hunger strikes and Sands death include:
- The Ballad of Joe McDonnell- The Wolfe Tones
- It's gonna happen[27] - The Undertones
- The Roll of Honour - Gerry O'Glacain (The Irish Brigade)
- 10 Years On - Blaggers I.T.A.
- Bobby Sands - Kretens
- The Sign - Eric Bogle
- Bobby Untitled - Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers on his solo album "I Killed The Zeitgeist"
- The People's Own MP - Christy Moore
- The Time Has Come - Christy Moore (although written specifically after the death of Patsy O'Hara)
- Bobby Sands MP - Black 47
- Bobby Sands - Christy Moore
- Inspiration - Easterhouse
- The Ghosts of Long Kesh - Crimson Spectre
- The H Block Song- Francie Brolly
Whilst in prison, Sands wrote the song "Back Home In Derry" which would be later recorded by Christy Moore.
The American rock band Rage Against The Machine listed Sands as an inspiration in the sleeve notes of their self titled debut album.
Film
- Bobby Sands was played by John Lynch in the 1996 film Some Mother's Son[28].
Academia
- Maurice Goldring has written of the incident in terms of the "political instrumentalisation" of the media to achieve particular political aims, such as the paiting of the event in terms of class war to gain support for communist party in France.[29] He writes that "One might say that this is a blatant example of instrumental use of a foreign conflict for internal political purposes".[30]
Published works
- While in prison Sands had several letters and articles published in the Republican paper An Phoblact/Republican News under the pseudonym "Marccella".
Other writings attributed to him include:
- Skylark Sing Your Lonely Song, 1989, Mercier Press, ISBN 0-85342-726-7
- One Day in My Life, 2001, Mercier Press, ISBN 1-85635-349-4
Sands also wrote the song "Back Home in Derry" which was later recorded by Christy Moore.
See also
- Terence MacSwiney - Lord Mayor of Cork in 1920 who died in Brixton Prison after a hunger strike lasting 74 days.
External links
- Bobby Sands Trust
- Biography from Irish Republican website
- 'Naming Bobby Sands Street,' The Blanket
- Petition: Hands off Bobby Sands Street in Tehran, Iran
- Saving 'Bobby Sands Street'
- British government has been lobbying Iran to rename Bobby Sands Street, per the Bobby Sands Trust
- Bobby Sands diary entries & biographies of the 10 hunger strikers
- Bobby Sands' Photo, Memorial & Gravesite
References
- ^ SEISIÚN AN OIREACHTAIS
- ^ Legacy of Cage Eleven
- ^ pg4, Bobby Sands:Nothing but an Unfinished Song, O'Hearn, Denis, Pluto Press (2006) ISBN 0-7453-2572-6
- ^ Ibid pg2
- ^ Ibid pg13-14
- ^ "McKevitt's inglorious career". The Observer. 2003-08-10. Retrieved 2006-10-13.
- ^ Biography on Larkspirit
- ^ Cain Biography - Danny Morrison
- ^ Terrorism Knowledge Base Article on Bobby Sands
- ^ Pg 185, Bobby Sands:Nothing but An Unfinished Song, Denis O'Hearn (2006), Pluto Books. ISBN 0-7453-2572-6
- ^ Washington Post, 3 May 1981, 2-3
- ^ On This Day - 1981: Hunger striker elected MP BBC News website
- ^ Julian Haviland, "Bill to stop criminal candidates", The Times, 13 June 1981, p. 2.
- ^ University of Ulster CAIN archive
- ^ W.D. Flackes and Sydney Elliott, "Northern Ireland: A Political Directory" (Blackstaff Press, Belfast, 1999), at p. 550, notes that at the 1981 District Council elections on 20 May 1981, "the results showed a decline in support for centre parties".
- ^ Ark Election website
- ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20030223/ai_n12580707
- ^ "French intelligentsia ponders what should be done with killer". The Daily Telegraph. 2004-08-14. Retrieved 2006-10-13.
- ^ NYU
- ^ Details of the Hartford memorial
- ^ a b c CAIN archive at the University of Ulster
- ^ Story from breakingnews.ie about the Havana memorial being unveiled
- ^ "Sands' hunger strike and the fate of Ulster" Boston Globe, 1 May 1981, 9
- ^ Peter Samuel, Letter to the Editor New York Times, 7 May 1981, 34
- ^ "IRA brutalities, Terrorist propaganda triumphs" by Edward Langley Chicago Tribune, 9 May 1981, W1-8-4
- ^ The naming of Bobby Sands Street is detailed here, 'Naming Bobby Sands Street', The Blanket, 24 February 2004
- ^ http://theundertones.net/ar_3.htm
- ^ IMDB: Some Mother's Son
- ^ http://www.ejc.nl/hp/rem/babarik.html
- ^ Ibid
{{Persondata |NAME=Sands, Bobby |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Sands, Robert Gerard (full name); Seachnasaigh, Roibeard Gearóid Ó (Irish name) |SHORT DESCRIPTION=IRA member and hungerstriker |DATE OF BIRTH=9 March 1954 |PLACE OF BIRTH=Abbots Cross, Newtownabbey |DATE OF DEATH=5 May 1981 |PLACE OF DEATH=Lisburn, Northern Ireland