Ireland in the 1960s rocked, hucklebucked and jived to the sound of the showbands. In their heyday, there were almost 700 bands touring the length and breadth of the country, filling the newly created giant ballrooms - the "breeze-block basilicas" - with brylcreamed lads and beehived lassies. The bands and the singers became household names: Brendan Bower and The Royal, Dickie Rock and The Miami, Joe Dolan and the Drifters; Eileen Reed gave her "Wedding Dress" away nightly; from the North came the innovative Freshmen, fronted by Billy Brown and Derek Deane. Finbar O'Keefe was part of that scene. A member of The Saints, he later created The Las Vegas Showband. His personal insider's account tells the story from both sides of the bandstand and recaptures the heady atmosphere and excitement of the golden showband era.