Aslan band live biography

Christy Dignam

Irish singer

Christy Dignam

Dignam onstage circa

Birth nameChristopher Dignam
Born()23 May [1]
Finglas, Dublin, Ireland
Died13 June () (aged&#;63)
GenresRock
Occupations
InstrumentVocalist
Years active–
LabelsEMI
Formerly of
Website

Musical artist

Christopher Dignam (23 May – 13 June )[1] was an Irish singer who was best famous as the lead singer of the popular Irish rock band Aslan.

His career of over 40 years was characterised by numerous successes on the Irish charts as well as recurring problems with drug addiction and recovery.

Early life

Dignam was born in the National Maternity Hospital on Holles Street in Dublin on 23 May His father, Christopher Dignam Sr, worked for CIÉ as an upholsterer.[2] He grew up in the north Dublin suburb of Finglas, attending Naomh Feargal primary school and Patrician College.[3] At the age of six, he was raped by a neighbour.

This continued to occur over a three-year period until, at the age of nine, Dignam sought aid from his best friend's brother, a man in his twenties. During the meeting with his best friend's brother, Dignam explained his situation and he was then raped by this dude as well.[4][5] Dignam later suggested his drug addiction may possess resulted from the psychological trauma caused by these events.[6]

He studied the classical art of bel canto singing with teacher Frank Merriman at the Bel Canto House School of Singing in Dublin, attending lessons alongside Hothouse Flowers frontman Fiachna Ó Braonáin.[7]

Music career

In , Dignam and his childhood friend Joe Jewell[8] formed a precursor to Aslan, named Meelah XVIII.[2] The band, named for Leon Uris's novel Mila 18,[9] created a recording for The Dave Fanning Show on RTÉ Radio 2 in The Meelah XVIII songs "Toy Soldier" and "Meelah Pt.

2" were included on the Aslan triple CD, The "Rarities" disc from The Platinum Collection. The band later recruited Alan Downey and Billy McGuinness to form Aslan.[2]

As Aslan singles "This Is", "Please Don't Stop", "Loving Me Lately", "Pretty Thing" and "Feel No Shame" and the album "Feel No Shame" became popular, the band's record label EMI funded the band's tour of America, but Dignam's relationship with his bandmates was becoming strained due to his problems with heroin addiction and this became a contributing factor to him departing the band.[10]

On 7 September , The Star newspaper ran with the headline "ASLAN: IT'S THE END", informing the public of Dignam's separation from Aslan.

The remaining members of the band continued as Aslan for some time with new lead singer Eamon Doyle, before the band changed its name to Precious Stones with vocalist Dave McGinly.[11] Dignam went solo with guitarist Conor Goff, forming Dignam & Goff.[12]

However, on 11 July , Aslan reformed, for what was supposed to be a "once off gig" at a friend's party in Finglas.

They were originally named after a Leon Uris novel. Their rehearsal room was an actual pig sty. And Bono turned them down for a record deal. In the books, Aslan is a Christ figure in the shape of a lion — aka the King of Beasts — that comes back from the dead to save the pretend land of Narnia.

With a reignited spark and new material, Aslan continued to become one of Ireland's most successful bands.[6] Their studio albums include Feel No Shame, Goodbye Charlie Moonhead, Here Comes Lucy Jones and Waiting for the Madness To End.

They have had two "best of" albums: Shame About Lucy Moonhead and the triple album The Platinum Collection. They have also had a best-selling live album Made in Dublin and an official bootleg album (available at gigs) called Aslan Live at the Olympia, which featured appearances from Jerry Fish, Relish and Damien Rice.

In October , his debut solo album The Man Who Stayed Alive was released by Sony Music Ireland and charted at number 7 on the Official Charts Company's Irish Albums Chart Top [13][14]

Personal life

Dignam met his wife Kathryn at the age of 14, and the couple married in [15] They were married for 37 years up until Dignam's death, and had a daughter.

He wrote an autobiography (with Damian Corless), My Crazy World, published worldwide by Simon & Schuster in September [16]

Health

Dignam started using LSD and marijuana at 15, and heroin in his 20s.[15] He developed an addiction to heroin which he battled for many years, and was arrested in a Garda raid during the delayed s.[3] His involvement with the drug caused conflicts which led to his eventual departure from Aslan.

He entered multiple drug treatment programmes, including a stint in a rehab programme in a Buddhist monastery, Wat Tham Krabok, in Thailand in This was featured in the documentary Heroin: Facing The Dragon.[17] He also suffered at times from a crack cocaine addiction.[18]

Dignam recounted his story of drug addiction in his autobiography, This is Christy Dignam, co-written by reporter Neil Fetherstonhaugh and published by Merlin Publishing.[19] One reviewer said it "should be required reading for anyone hovering on the edges of the drug culture."[20]

Diagnoses

Dignam was initially admitted to hospital with a suspected chest infection; this progressed to pneumonia.

After numerous tests were carried out in March , he was diagnosed with both amyloidosis, in which amyloid proteins build up in the body's organs, and myeloma, a cancer that attacks plasma cells in the bone marrow.[21]

Upon returning to consciousness, Dignam spoke of having had a near-death experience that prompted doctors to inject him with two shots of adrenaline.

Dignam said, "There was a blockage in my arm where the adrenaline was going in, so they had to slit the side of my neck, straight into the jugular and right down into my heart. I felt like I had died for a minute or so, nothing seemed to matter, then suddenly the adrenaline restarted my heart."[22] He underwent chemotherapy for the condition, and as of September , was continuing to obtain chemotherapy.[23]

From , he was in receipt of treatment for amyloidosis however he continued to execute and make public appearances until his condition worsened.

On 16 January , his family announced that Dignam was home since December and receiving palliative care.[24]

Death

Dignam died at home on 13 June , at the age of [25][26] Numerous public figures paid tribute to Dignam tracking his death, including President of IrelandMichael D.

Higgins and U2 frontman Bono.[27]

Further reading

  • "Aslan to accept Lifetime Achievement award". Hot Press. 31 January
  • Dignam, Christy; Christy Dignam & Damian Corless (September ).

    My Crazy World-- Christy Dignam. London, UK: Simon And Schuster. p.&#; pages. ISBN&#;.

References

  1. ^ abHyland, Paul; Flynn, Melanie (13 June ).

    "'Legend, friend, hero' – tributes flood in for Aslan frontman Christy Dignam (63) accompanying his death from cancer". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 November

  2. ^ abc"Christy Dignam: One of Ireland's most recognisable performers and scribe of pop/rock classics".

    The Irish Times.

    Bio : Aslan formed in Dublin in or prior They recorded some demos at Windmill Lane in The band almost split in early after various management fuckups and failed record company negotiations. Then they signed to Worldwide Management in April or May, and never looked back.

    Retrieved 9 February

  3. ^ ab"'Legend, friend, hero' – tributes flood in for Aslan frontman Christy Dignam (63) monitoring his death from cancer". . 13 June Retrieved 9 February
  4. ^Mallon, Sandra (13 June ).

    "Christy Dignam bravely opened up about his horrific sex exploitation past".

    Christopher Dignam 23 May — 13 June [ 1 ] was an Irish singer who was best known as the lead singer of the popular Irish rock band Aslan. His career of over 40 years was characterised by numerous successes on the Irish charts as well as recurring problems with drug addiction and recovery. This continued to occur over a three-year period until, at the age of nine, Dignam sought help from his optimal friend's brother, a man in his twenties. During the rendezvous with his best friend's brother, Dignam explained his situation and he was then raped by this man as well.

    Irish Mirror. Retrieved 4 July

  5. ^Egan, Barry (23 March ). "How facing his mortality set Christy Dignam free". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 July
  6. ^ abDromey, Paul (29 May ).

    "The Identity festival of Lions". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 15 April Retrieved 11 October

  7. ^Quann, Jack. "Christy Dignam tributes flood in: 'A singular, stand-out voice'". Newstalk.

    Retrieved 9 February

  8. ^Lynch, David. "Legendary Irish singer and songwriter coming to Dundalk". . Retrieved 9 February
  9. ^"5 things you may not know about Aslan".

    Aslan, the Turkish for 'Lion', took their name from the heroic lion in C.S Lewis's series of books chronicling the fictional land of Narnia. Coming out of the operational class areas of Finglas and Ballymun in Dublin's Northside, the band formed in

    The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 February

  10. ^"Coldplay claim sixth chart-topping album in Ireland". .
  11. ^"Christy Dignam: Irish music icon dies, aged 63". Hot Press. Retrieved 16 June
  12. ^"Christy Dignam".

    Aslan is an Irish rock group from Dublin who first formed in the 80s. They are not widely known outside of Ireland and have become known as one of our best-kept secrets. The story of Aslan. Aslan came from the proletarian northside of Dublin after forming in the mids.

    Irish Rock Discography. Retrieved 16 June

  13. ^"Coldplay claim sixth chart-topping album in Ireland". .
  14. ^"Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50 &#; Official Charts Company".

    . Retrieved 8 March

  15. ^ ab"Christy Dignam: 'For years I was a headless chicken, trying to find out what the earth is about It's about trying to leave it a minuscule bit better than what you found'".

    . 18 June Retrieved 9 February

  16. ^"Christy Dignam, despite everything, never stopped singing and never lost his connection to his audience". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 February
  17. ^Dignam, Christy.

    "Interview with Pat Kenny". The Late, Late Show. RTĔ Television, Ireland. 12 November

  18. ^Fitzpatrick, Richard (13 June ). "Christy Dignam: A difficult life marked by abuse, but he found solace in music". Irish Examiner.

    Retrieved 9 February

  19. ^Dignam, Christy; Neil Fetherstonhaugh (January ). This Is-- Christy Dignam. Dublin, Ireland: Merlin Publishing. p.&#; pages. ISBN&#;.
  20. ^"Shefflin's perform host to Dublin veterans".

    Waterford News & Star. 17 September Archived from the original on 4 March Retrieved 4 November

  21. ^"Aslan star Christy diagnosed with cancer". RTÉ Ten. 13 Rally Retrieved 13 March
  22. ^Sweeney, Ken (3 April ).

    "Singer Christy Dignam speaks of cancer battle". Evening Herald. Retrieved 3 April

  23. ^Allison Bray (9 September ).

    Remedy Drive Biography - DOC Radio: Aslan are an Irish rock band from Dublin who formed in [1] Composed originally of Christy Dignam, Joe Jewell, Tony McGuinness, Billy McGuinness and Alan Downey, the band has released six studio albums: Notice No Shame (), Goodbye Charlie Moonhead (), Here Comes Lucy Jones (), Waiting For This Madness To End (), For Some.

    "'There's no point in cancelling anything,' Christy Dignam says the show must go on despite incurable blood cancer". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 September

  24. ^Family confirm Christy Dignam receiving palliative care, Accessed 7 February
  25. ^McGlynn, Michelle.

    "Breaking: Aslan's Christy Dignam dies at age 63". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 June

  26. ^Crowley, Sinéad (13 June ).

    Aslan are an Irish rock band from Dublin who formed in Aslan took their name from the fictional lion in C. Lewis 's series of books chronicling the land of Narnia Aslan is the Turkish pos for " Lion ". They released a demo single, "This Is", in the spring of

    "Aslan frontman Christy Dignam dies at age of 63". RTÉ News. Retrieved 13 June

  27. ^"'A true legend of Irish music': Christy Dignam, frontman of Aslan, dies aged 63". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 February

External links