The Redneck Manifesto are an instrumental rock band from Dublin, Ireland. Its members are Richard Egan (bass), Niall Byrne (guitar) & Matthew Bolger (guitar). Past members include Mervyn Craig (drums), Neil O'Connor (keyboards, percussion) & Glenn Keating (keyboards, percussion). History The Redneck Manifesto formed in August 1998 as a four-piece band. The band members had previously played separately in several Dublin bands - Niall Byrne in Jackbeast, Richie Egan in Black Belt Jones and Sir Killalot, and Matthew Bolger in The Waltons. Mervyn Craig had played in the Dundalk band Hylton Weir. Neil O'Connor joined the band in 2003, having previously played with the Connect 4 Orchestra. The band first started playing gigs in Dublin and released a number of 7-inch singles on their own Greyslate label; as well as a split 7-inch released on Road Relish. Their debut album Thirtysixstrings was recorded by Alan O'Boyle (Decal/Legion of Two) and released as a joint venture with French label Red F Records in 2001. It was well received by press and fans, and was acclaimed 'Irish album of the year' for 2001 by the Event Guide (Dublin). In March 2002 the band undertook their first headline European tour. In a bid to help defray tour costs they released a companion piece to 'Thirty Six Strings' in the form of an extended EP Cut Your Heart Off from Your Head. This was again recorded with producer Alan O'Boyle. Equally receiving very favourable reviews, and again being self-released, the band found it difficult to keep up with the sales demands the EP placed on them. In 2003 The Redneck Manifesto played to a capacity audience at the Witness festival in Ireland. Also in March that year, having featured on a number of BMX video soundtracks and received interest from the US BMX-ing community they travelled to play their first shows in the US, and at the 2003 South by South West music festival in Texas. In March 2004 the band travelled to France to record their third album I Am Brazil. The album was recorded in Black Box Studios by producer Dave Odlum. It was the first recording as a five-piece band and as such shows an expanded and developed sound that moves on from 'Cut Your Heart Off From Your Head'. In 2006 the band released an EP RMNMN. It was intended as a free CDEP for those who attended their Vicar