‘Big Chief’ grandfather inspires Lee to form The New Indians

Seeing his grandfather on stage in Vicar Street prompted Mullingar man Lee Brady to set up his own tribute band, The New Indians, who are shortly beginning a tour of Ireland, and the UK.

Lee’s grandad, Noel Brady was the lead vocalist, frontman and the ‘Big Chief’ with the original band The Indians, among the top bands of the showband era. Music is definitely in Lee’s blood as his parents Keith and Laura have a wedding band called the Big Kahunas. Lee’s partner, Gemma Garry, from Tyrrellspass is also in the entertainment business.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner this week, Lee explained that The Indians did a Miami Showband memorial gig in Vicar Street last September. “It was the first time I saw my grandad on stage and it was amazing to see the reaction of the crowd,” he said.

On foot of that, Lee and four others, from Dublin, put together a tribute band, The New Indians, and they are going on tour.

Lee was educated at Milltown NS and Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar. After school he and Gemma gigged in Spain for seven years.

He is currently running a Westlife tribute show and doing solo guitar gigs, playing in pubs, as well as holding down a day job as an auto electrician with EVM in Kilbeggan.

Gemma works with FBD in Mullingar and is currently part of an Abba tribute show, The Abba Sisters, and a Taylor Swift tribute show.

“We’re very busy, which is great,” Lee said, adding that they recently bought a house in Mullingar – “it’s great to finally have our own space”.

The New Indians tour from July to November takes in Naas, Dundalk, the Glen Eagle in Killarney, Bundoran, Strabane, Portadown, and finishes in the Greville Arms Hotel in Mullingar on November 27. Next year they will conquer England and Scotland.