Whipping boy’s second album Heartworm was released on 23 October 1995. I first saw Whipping Boy in the early 90s in Cork. I loved the two Cheree EPs and their debut Submarine. Their gigs were always intense, explosive tinderbox affairs. Then we heard that they’d signed a record deal with Sony. Well this’ll be interesting, we all thought. Heartworm was a revelation.

In this episode I discuss the album with Paul Page, the band’s guitarist. We talk about: the influence of seeing of Echo & the Bunnymen at Dublin’s SFX in 1985; Whipping Boy’s early days; passing off songs from Pop Will Eat Itself as their own demo tape to get a gig in Dublin’s Underground; the early Cheree EPs; Submarine; signing to Sony; the writing and recording of Heartworm; touring with Lou Reed; and Heartworm’s reissue. Episode notes are here.

Produced by Paul McDermott for Learn & Sing Productions.