The Silencers

The Silencers, a Scottish rock band formed in London in 1986, by Jimme O'Neill and Cha Burns. The duo had previously been members of the post-punk outfit Fingerprintz. Their music blended pop, folk, and traditional Celtic influences, often drawing comparisons to bands like Big Country, Del Amitri, and The Proclaimers. The Silencers' first single, "Painted Moon", released in April 1987, was a minor international hit and invited critical comparisons to Simple Minds and U2. Their debut album A Letter from St. Paul, including "Painted Moon" and another minor hit "I See Red", followed later that year. A Blues for Buddha followed in 1988. It was the band's third album, Dance to the Holy Man (1991), however that marked their commercial peak with the European hit "Bulletproof Heart". Throughout the 1990s, The Silencers saw a shift in popular taste away from their songwriter-based style toward more experimental sounds influenced by lineup changes and Jimmie O'Neill's desire to push musical boundaries. Notable releases during this period include Seconds of Pleasure (1993) and A Night of Electric Silence (2001). The band continued to record, releasing Come in 2013, returning in 2023 with Silent Highway. In 2026, the band followed up with the live recording Roads & Roots.