Feargal Sharkey

Feargal Sharkey's distinctive high, quavering vocal style became central to the identity of New Wave band the Undertones from the moment they issued their 1978 EP debut Teenage Kicks. During his time in the Northern Irish group, he voiced the frustrations of teenage life while the musicians delivered energetic punky pop. When the Undertones split in 1983, brothers Sean O'Neill and Damian O'Neill launched That Petrol Emotion, whereas Sharkey pursued a solo path. Possessing a voice that stood out immediately, he reached a broader listenership through his striking interpretation of Maria McKee's "A Good Heart," which topped the U.K. charts on his first solo album. Producer Dave Stewart of Eurythmics and arranger Michael Kamen contributed substantially to that debut, yet Sharkey never repeated its commercial peak. In 1983 he lent his voice to the Assembly's EP Never Never, a brief project started by former Yaz member Vince Clarke. With the 1988 album Wish his output tapered off, and his recording career effectively concluded.