The Rockets have similar backgrounds themselves of course. Influenced by bands like The Clash and the 1950s-esque Stiff Records scene of the late 1970s, The Rockets are drawn from a who's who of Irish punk and new wave bands such as Puppy Love Bomb, The Cherry Brogues, The Josephs and rock bands such as Eva Dallas, Ely Styles & The Kansas Hawks, and O.C.B.
With that background it's hardly surprising the band have started to write original material.
"This was all started up as a bit of fun, an outlet, a chance to play some roots rock [and] roll and get paid doing it. But once we got going we realised how much fun it was to write original material which reflected these influences", Healy explains further.
The Rockets' debut EP is set to be released in May 2013 after the group secured a funding package from the Irish Government's Arts and Gaeltacht body, fundit.ie.
Healy and the band are clearly supporters of the crowd funding craze: "It's a great opportunity and a very worthy body. Anyone with an artistic project can reach out to fans and appreciators to fund the creation of their projects, and each contribution reaps a reward from the artist. On our package you can help fund the project and get anything from a copy of the CD to a production credit on the sleeve and even a private gig in your own living room!". That's rock and roll.
Details of the band's project, including band demos can be followed at http://www.fundit.ie. The band will play a show celebrating the (as yet untitled) EP's release in the spring.
There'll be good rockin' that night.
Photo credit: Paul O'Connor 2013
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