:Cormac Battle
{{Short description|Irish musician and radio presenter/producer}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Cormac Battle
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| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|11 July 1972}}
| birth_place = Bromley, England
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| nationality = Irish
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| education = Dublin City University
| employer = RTÉ
| occupation = Musician and radio presenter
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Cormac Battle (born 11 July 1972) is an Irish musician and radio presenter/producer. He is the vocalist and lead guitarist for the bands Kerbdog, Wilt, Jonny's Boys, and On the turn. He is also the current presenter of RTÉ 2fm's alternative music programme, The Battle Axe.
Early life
Career
=Music=
In 1991 Battle, along with school friends Darragh Butler (drums), Colin Fennelly (bass) and Billy Dalton (guitar) came together to form a band called Rollercoaster before changing the name permanently to Kerbdog. Following two demo cassettes recorded in Dublin and a short support slot to Therapy? in 1992, the band was signed to Vertigo Records in London. The group released their self-titled album, produced by legendary grunge icon Jack Endino, in 1994. A second album entitled On The Turn was recorded in 1996, produced by GGGarth, but the album's release was delayed for almost a year indicating troublesome times for the band with their record company. Kerbdog were soon dropped and eventually split up in 1998.
Battle and Butler immediately formed another band, along with bassist Mick Murphy, called Wilt. Their music had a greater pop influence than Kerbdog. Following the release of two albums, Bastinado and My Medicine on Infectious Records, Wilt split up in 2003 following limited success.
At this point, Battle began to seriously focus on his DJ career and abandoned his musical pursuits. However, in 2005 Kerbdog reformed for a series of one-off shows. The band is still currently active on a part-time basis and have no plans to write or record new material.
His favourite Oxegen memory is playing the festival with Kerbdog in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0709/battlec.html|title=Cormac Battle's Oxegen Tips|date=9 July 2008|accessdate=19 October 2008|publisher=RTÉ}}
=Broadcasting=
Battle began life at Phantom FM before moving, along with colleagues Jenny Huston and Dan Hegarty, in 2003 to RTE.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hotpress.com/archive/2667665.html |title=Three times lucky? |date=9 July 2003 |accessdate=17 October 2008 |magazine=Hot Press |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118022056/http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2667665.html |archivedate=18 November 2007 |df=dmy }} Battle's late night show features new and alternative music from acts around the world as well as the 2fm sessions, live recordings, band interviews as well as from other sources. The Wireless is a supporter of the IMRO Showcase Tour.[http://www.rte.ie/2fm/imroshowcase/ IMRO Showcase Tour 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108164240/http://www.rte.ie/2fm/imroshowcase/ |date= 8 January 2009 }}. RTÉ 2fm. Accessed 19 October 2008. He also offered his voice to the narration of popular live music programme 2fm Live, which was broadcast on Saturday nights between 20:00 and 23:00 before it was axed and reformatted as 2fm XtrAlive. Battle regularly features in live coverage of high-profile musical events such as Electric Picnic{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hotpress.com/archive/4740012.html |title=RTÉ announces Picnic broadcast schedule |date=28 August 2008 |accessdate=17 October 2008 |magazine=Hot Press |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100222082711/http://hotpress.com/archive/4740012.html |archivedate=22 February 2010 |df=dmy }} and Oxegen,{{cite web|url=http://www.rteguide.ie/2008/0711/oxegen.html |title=RTÉ 2fm's Oxegen site goes live |date=11 July 2008 |accessdate=19 October 2008 |publisher=RTÉ Guide |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003194200/http://www.rteguide.ie/2008/0711/oxegen.html |archivedate= 3 October 2008 }} as well as being sent around the country to present the 2fm 2moro 2our.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2007/04/13/some-2fm-djs-hit-the-road/|title=(Some) 2FM DJs hit the road|date=13 April 2007|accessdate=19 October 2008|newspaper=The Irish Times}} In 2008 Battle was sent to The Music Show to distribute advice.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.hotpress.com/archive/4788959.html|title=Stars of 2fm to feature at Music Show|date=15 September 2008|accessdate=17 October 2008|magazine=Hot Press}} He has appeared on BBC Introducing to discuss the state of the Irish music industry.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/introducing/2007/11/a_hoy_hoy.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121116154524/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/introducing/2007/11/a_hoy_hoy.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 November 2012 |title=A hoy hoy |date=16 November 2007 |accessdate=19 October 2008 |publisher=BBC Introducing }} He also contributes to television programmes in Ireland.
Cormac is a voice of reason, and contributor, to The Jennifer Zamparelli Show 9-12 on RTÉ 2FM. {{cite web | url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/cormac-battle-fills-jennifer-zamparelli-24321575 | title=Jennifer Zamparelli missing from 2FM show as Cormac Battle fills in for her | date=15 June 2021 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.rte.ie/2fm/cormac/ Official RTÉ 2fm profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081123040210/http://www.kerbdog.com/forums/ Unofficial Kerbdog Message Board]
{{Kerbdog}}
{{2fm}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle, Cormac}}
Category:Musicians from County Kilkenny