Gerry Anderson and Colum Arbuckle go way back—to their early days in Derry, where they became fast friends over guitars and a shared love for music. The two even shared a flat in Manchester, where they played in bands, navigated the ups and downs of life, and eventually got evicted—a memorable chapter in their journey to rock ‘n’ roll.

Their musical paths soon diverged: Colum went off to the US, while Gerry found his way to Dublin before landing in Canada. There, he had plenty of musical adventures, including a stint in 1972 with Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks—all while still in their twenties

The Birth of Toejam

Both eventually returned to Derry, and it was here that the iconic three-piece band Toejam was born. Joined by Jim Whiteside, they named their group after a lyric in The Beatles’ song Come Together (though there are other, slightly less glamorous theories about the origins of the name).

In a 2015 interview with Belfast Live, Colum reflected:

Even though our music careers separated us to different countries on the other side of the Atlantic, we reunited back home after a few years and formed the band Toejam and played filthy rock ’n’ roll’’ for almost 10 years.

Toejam’s Distinctive Sound

Toejam started out as a covers band but soon carved out their own unique style, heavier than much of what was around at the time. With their distinctive, honed sound, they gathered a loyal following from Derry to Cork, including plenty of students and young rock aficionados.

Though a record deal always eluded them, Toejam’s success kept them on the road with a heavy touring schedule across Ireland and the UK. They even had the chance to open for then-emerging bands, including a fledgling U2.

Full Circle

Eventually, both Gerry and Colum found their way to Radio Foyle, where they once again shared a workspace. Reflecting on this reunion, Colum recalls:

“He never changed though. He still had his ways.”

All Toejam tracks and photos here have been generously provided by Colum. Some of the tracks are digitised versions of live recordings, while others were recorded at home with inventive household methods to enhance the acoustics.

If you were among Toejam’s dedicated followers, we hope you enjoy reliving the music. Catch Toejam and the sound of Gerry’s voice on YouTube or our Music page—rekindle the memories and rediscover the sound of this legendary band.