This Irish performance-art/avant garde musical ensemble was originally formed in 1976. Fionan Hanvey (b. 8 October 1959, Dublin, Eire) better known under his pseudonym Gavin Friday, was invited by Paul Hewson (later Bono of U2) to join a group of Dublin youths with artistic leanings who were inspired by the new wave explosion in the UK. A rough community had been formed under the title of the Village, a social club bound in secrecy. The Virgin Prunes became an official band, and an extension of the Village, by the end of 1977. Friday was joined by Guggi (b. Derek Rowen) and Dave-id (b. David Watson; vocals), Strongman (b. Trevor Rowen; bass), Dik Evans (brother of U2's The Edge; guitar) and Pod (b. Anthony Murphy; drums). Early gigs were very much performance events, with audiences bemused by the expectations placed on them. However, by the turn of the decade they had attracted strong cult support, and on the strength of the self-financed "Twenty Tens", were signed to Rough Trade Records. Pod was the band's first casualty, opting out of their new disaffected religious stance. As a manifestation of their unconventional approach, their first album was initially released as a set of 7-, 10- and 12-inch singles, with component parts making up A New Form Of Beauty. After the brief tenure of Haa Lacka Binttii, Mary D'Nellon took over on drums. His instalment was in time for the band's second, and first complete album, If I Die, I Die. Less experimental and perverse than its predecessor, it continued nevertheless to explore the tenets of purity and beauty. At the same time, a mixed studio/live album, Heresie, was released, which emphasized that the performance-art aspect of the Virgin Prunes had not been totally neglected.
By 1984, Guggi had become disenchanted with the music industry and departed. When Dik Evans defected for similar reasons, D'Nellon switched to guitar and Pod rejoined as drummer. The Moon Looked Down And Laughed witnessed another change in direction. Produced by Soft Cell's Dave Ball, it consisted largely of ballads and melodic pop, with little hint of the band's usual confrontational approach. However, following the continued lack of response from the record-buying public, Friday called a halt to his involvement with the band and embarked on a varied solo career. Subsequent releases from Strongman and D'Nellon as the Prunes failed to sustain the Virgin Prunes' original spirit of adventure.
