AS influential as he was inspirational, the Dublin journalist Leo Finlay, who died shortly before Christmas of a heart attack at the age of 32, will be sadly missed by the rock music community.
Leo, who was based in London for most of his working life, was always the first port of call for Irish bands trying to break into the British market. His offers of help, advice and money will long be remembered by the many people whose career he launched.
From the Camden Street area of Dublin, Leo began as a journalist on the now defunct Sounds magazine before moving on to work for Vox, Volume and Music Week.
A lively and energetic figure on the music scene, Leo specialised in A&R, seeking out new talent. He was respected throughout the industry for always having the inside track on which new bands were breaking through.
As part of his talent spotting activities he came across Blur playing in a pub in their early days, rang a record company contact and promptly got them a recording deal.
They went on to become one of the biggest bands in the country, never forgot what Leo did for them, and thanked him by playing at his wedding to the journalist Jane Suiter in 1990.
Other bands spotted, developed and helped by Leo included Therapy? (about whom Leo was writing before most of us knew they existed), The Frank And Walters, Brian (aka Ken Sweeney) and Divine Comedy. Friendly, hospitable and generous, Leo was passionately involved in his work and was an inspiration to many.
