Bleech 9:3

When Bleech 9:3 songwriters/guitarists Barry Quinlan and Sam Duffy first crossed paths in their early twenties, it almost seemed inconceivable that they hadn’t met before. Throughout their tumultuous teenage years spent gigging in various projects around Dublin, they’d lived near-parallel lives mired by the chaos-purgatory spiral of addiction; like two shadows cast by the same light but never touching.

In the throes of the early stages of recovery – when a better life still felt elusive and intangible, something to be hoped for, though not necessarily to be believed in – Barry and Sam were introduced to each other at a 12-step rehab programme. Barry soon signed up to be his new friend’s sponsor and take him through the process, and felt energised by the similarities in their ambitions and worldview.