JJ72
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Mark Greaney, Fergal Matthews |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Dublin , Ireland |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
JJ72 was an alternative rock ensemble originating from Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1996, they secured a contract with Lakota Records in 1999 and released two studio albums before disbanding in 2006.
Origins and initial phase
The band JJ72 came into existence in 1996, founded by lead vocalist and principal songwriter Mark Greaney alongside drummer Fergal Matthews during their time at Belvedere College. Greaney, a Dublin native, grew up near Phil Lynott, while Matthews was from County Meath. The name 'JJ72' derives from a window at Belvedere College constructed from 72 jam jars. Their early influences included Nirvana, Mudhoney, and Joy Division. Initially, they brought in fellow student Garvin Smith to play bass, but he left shortly after. Following additional auditions and the production of a demo as a duo in 1997, they found it difficult to attract attention. In 1998, after briefly enrolling in university courses, they redirected their focus entirely to the band. They performed alongside a string quartet at Behan's pub in Dublin and made appearances on local television. Subsequently, bassist Hilary Woods joined in January 1999 despite her limited experience. A second demo aimed at the UK audience garnered coverage in Select, which led to their signing with Sony’s Lakota Records label by mid-1999.
Rise to commercial prominence
Their initial single "October Swimmer," released in November 1999, was selected as 'Single of the Week' by BBC Radio 1 presenter Mark Radcliffe. They supported acts such as The Dandy Warhols and My Vitriol. The follow-up single "Long Way South" (May 2000) reached number 68 on the UK charts, accompanied by performances at major festivals like Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds.
The band's self-titled debut album arrived in summer 2000, produced by Ian Caple, achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success. It sold over half a million copies throughout Ireland and the UK, peaking at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart. A special German 'tour edition' included an additional CD-ROM. Singles such as "Snow," "October Swimmer," "Long Way South," and "Oxygen" supported promotional tours across Europe and the United States. "Oxygen" became their first top-30 hit in the UK, which led to an appearance on Top of the Pops. Following tours with Coldplay and Embrace, JJ72 embarked on their own headline tour in 2001, supported Muse during a European leg, headlined the NME Brats tour, and performed in Japan. Some concerts were canceled due to Greaney’s vocal difficulties and Matthews’ motorbike accident; Kylie Minogue's drummer Bob Knight temporarily filled in. Matthews recovered in time for festival season support slots with U2. That year, the band received an Irish Music Award for 'Best New Band' and continued touring into early 2002.
Their sophomore album I To Sky, released in October 2002, featured singles "Formulae" and "Always and Forever," which reached the Irish Top 5 and UK Top 20 respectively. The album launch was accompanied by a headline tour across the UK and Europe, along with eight supporting dates for Suede in November 2002.
Later period and dissolution
Bassist Hilary Woods departed from JJ72 in February 2003. Subsequently, Greaney and Matthews brought Canadian-born Sarah Fox on board as her replacement. The band performed intermittently throughout 2003 while commencing new recordings with producer Ken Thomas in August, targeting a January 2004 release. By December 2004, sessions for their third album were completed at Parkgate Studios, Catsfield, under producer Ian Caple’s guidance, with a tentative release planned for spring 2005.
In May 2005, JJ72 returned to live performances after a hiatus since November 2003 and issued the download-exclusive and 7"-only single "She's Gone," which peaked at number 136 on the UK Singles Chart. A follow-up single titled "Coming Home" was released in August 2005, reaching number 52. During a September tour that year, Greaney voiced his frustration regarding delays tied to disputes with record labels Lakota Records/Sony over the third album’s release. Although an October 2005 release was anticipated, it did not materialize. Tracks rumored to be part of this album included "Take From Me," "Radio," "Everything," "Rainfalls," "Underground," "Maria," "Nothing In This World," and "Some Day"—the latter’s demo appearing as a B-side on the "Coming Home" vinyl release. A promotional CD containing four tracks circulated during 2005.
On 22 June 2006, JJ72 officially announced their breakup after a decade together, attributing their split primarily to ongoing challenges with their record label. Their statement opened with a quote from John Donne and expressed appreciation toward fans and all members involved:
Activities following JJ72
Mark Greaney embarked on his solo journey with a tour in May 2007. Subsequently, he established Concerto For Constantine alongside Gavin Fox (formerly of Idlewild) on bass and Binzer (previously with BellX1, Frames, and Halite) handling drums. The group toured across Ireland as part of the "2fm 2moro 2our" in November 2007, supported Smashing Pumpkins during their Belfast and Dublin concerts in spring 2008, and sold out headline performances in both Dublin and London. Their appearances also included the Oxegen Festival and T in the Park in July 2008. Later on, Greaney shifted his focus to education and currently serves as head of education at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM). His latest venture, Vishion Factum, delves into concepts related to transhumanism and the visual appeal of succulent plants.
Sarah Fox contributed bass for Lluther before transitioning into a career as a graphic designer based in London. Fergal Matthews moved to Norway where he plays drums for Blodhevn. Hilary Woods returned to her roots in visual arts and initiated a solo project named The River Cry, releasing its first album in February 2013. She now records under her own name with releases on the Sacred Bones label, including two LPs issued in 2018 and 2020.
Band members
- Mark Greaney (born 23 June 1980) – lead vocals, guitar, piano
- Fergal Matthews (born 29 January 1980, Dublin) – drums
- Hilary Woods (born 30 May 1980) – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Sarah Fox – bass guitar (joined from 2003 onwards)
- Garvin Smith – bass guitar (early formation)
Albums
| Year | Album details | Highest chart rankings | Certifications (sales levels) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRE | UK | FRA | |||
| 2000 | JJ72
|
7 | 16 | — |
|
| 2002 | I to Sky
|
10 | 20 | 124 | |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRE | UK | NED | |||
| 1999 | "Pillows" ("Oxygen") (demo) | — | — | — | |
| "October Swimmer" | — | — | — | ||
| 2000 | "Snow" | — | 80 | — | |
| "Long Way South" | — | 68 | — | JJ72 | |
| "Oxygen" | 42 | 23 | — | ||
| "October Swimmer" | 50 | 29 | 86 | ||
| 2001 | "Snow" | 33 | 21 | — | |
| "Algeria" (promo only) | — | — | — | ||
| 2002 | "Formulae" | 24 | 28 | — | I to Sky |
| 2003 | "Always and Forever" | "—" | "43" | "—" | "" |
| "She's Gone" | "—" | "136" | "—" | " | |
| "Coming Home" | "38" | "52" | "—" | ||