The Frank and Walters

by Jason AnkenyThe quirky pop-punk unit the Frank and Walters formed in their native Cork, Ireland in 1990. Comprised of vocalist/bassist Paul Linehan, his guitarist brother Niall and drummer Ashley Keating, the group -- named in honor of a pair of local homeless men -- signed to the Setanta label in 1991, soon debuting with EP.1; the lead track "Fashion Crisis Hits New York" became an indie hit, and the follow-up, logically dubbed EP.2, was quickly forthcoming. Upon signing to the Go! Discs label, the Frank and Walters entered the studio with producer Edwyn Collins to record 1991's Happy Busman EP; a British tour in support of Carter USM followed, and in 1992 the group finally issued their full-length debut Trains, Boats and Planes. An Ian Broudie remix of the LP track "After All" fell just shy of the UK Top Ten, but the Frank and Walters soon entered a long period of sabbatical; finally, in 1996 they returned with Grand Parade, followed in 1997 by the Indian Ocean EP. Beauty Becomes More than Life appeared in 1999.