The life and legacy of late Limerick guitarist Johnny Fean have been warmly remembered by his former bandmate Eamon Carr, co-founder of the legendary Celtic rock band Horslips, as Carr launches his new book Pure Gold – Memorable Conversations with Remarkable People.
Carr, who co-founded Horslips in 1971 and served as both drummer and lyricist, recalled his years working with Fean as a formative time, full of music, creativity, and camaraderie. The two first connected shortly after the band’s formation, with Carr and the rest of the group seeking a standout guitarist to elevate their sound. That search led them to Johnny Fean, a Limerick-born musician raised in Garryowen, whose father worked at Shannon Airport.
Fean joined Horslips after impressing them with his performances in Jeremiah Henry. Carr reflected on that period with affection:
“We had seen Johnny playing and knew he was brilliant – but we didn’t realise just how brilliant until he joined Horslips.”
Fean’s blend of electric blues, rock, and traditional Irish music made him a rare talent. Carr recounted how Johnny had once toured with Ted Furey, patriarch of the Furey Brothers, showcasing his skills on both guitar and banjo.
“So while Johnny knew all the electric blues and rock and roll, he also played banjo with Ted Furey!”
The two shared a flat in Dublin during their early days in the band, a time Carr remembers fondly for its fun and musical energy.
Fean, who passed away on April 28, 2023, at the age of 71 in Shannon, Co Clare, is remembered by Carr as one of Ireland’s most gifted guitarists—on par with greats like Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore.
“He had a fabulous talent and was the nicest fella. Genuinely, a really lovely person, and the Fean family are good folk.”
Carr also spoke about Limerick’s vibrant music scene in the 1970s, describing it as a key hub for beat groups and emerging talent.
“In Limerick, you had Granny’s Intentions, Reform, Sweet Street. There were venues like the Confraternity Hall on O’Connell Street—we used to come down for gigs. It was fantastic.”
Though Carr hasn’t visited Limerick recently, he shared that when he does return, he always visits one of his favourite local spots—the Hunt Café at the Hunt Museum.
Now an accomplished poet, playwright, art historian, sportswriter, and entertainment journalist, Carr’s latest book, Pure Gold, revisits key moments in his eclectic career. The book features conversations with iconic figures such as Jack Charlton and Shane MacGowan of The Pogues.
Carr credits Charlton with kickstarting his career in journalism back in the 1980s, before the legendary Italia ’90 campaign.
“The person that really got me started in my career was Jack Charlton… In those days, we used to tape interviews on cassette tapes. I put them all in an empty box at home and found them years later—and that’s how Pure Gold was born.”
As Carr celebrates the release of his book, his reflections serve not only as a tribute to his own creative journey but also as a heartfelt homage to the musical genius and friendship he shared with Johnny Fean, ensuring that the late guitarist’s memory and influence live on.
