Massaging the SCRIPT in NYC

From The Good Ole Days of 2009 November 16th

Singer  Danny O'Donoghue said he really enjoyed the Deep Tissue massage I gave him. He said it was "the best massage I've ever had in my life!".

The Irish band The Script are in the USA on tour and have already been on the TV shows 'Ellen', 'MTV total request live' and 'The David Letterman show', all in one week! They are really on their way up to the top. I thought to myself, while in their company with all the buzz around them, this is what it may have felt like for the Beatles on their first ever US tour. Not to that extreme, but I could sense they are about to explode into the BIG time over here in the USA. They also spend most of their time in hotel rooms as they have been touring non stop for the last 2 years, which is really hard on a person. I toured a couple times with bands and it is HELL on the body. Irregular sleeping habits, eating habits, different beds every night, people around you wanting to party every day and night- and I can only imagine how hard it must be to always be away from friends and loved ones for touring artist. They must feel lonely in the hotel rooms. Everyone around them being overly friendly and kind, superficial, always wanting something from them.

During his 2 hour massage, his iTunes were on shuffle and lots of lovely music was coming out of it. A few songs that came on were completely new to me. They sounded great and the singer sounded a bit like Stevie Wonder. I asked him "who's this?" and he said, humbly "this is us". I was like WHAT!!???? They sound great! When I told a couple friends I was on my way to massage the Script on the first night, they told me "oh, the boy band from Ireland" – so I was expecting a Back Street Boy situation, you know, lots of dancing, rather tedious music but I was very pleasantly surprised to see them, hear them, meet them. My friends were wrong. They ARE a band from Ireland and they ARE male and do have thousands of screaming females at their shows but that is all they have in common with boy bands. They write ALL of their own lyrics and music, just three members in the band (as I said, the bassist is a touring bass player). They don't wear matching costumes on stage and/or dance like 'Dancing Fools', they are fantastic. They opened for Paul McCartney on one whole tour. They all praised Paul and said how nice he was to them. 

Guitarist Mark Sheehan got a massage from my assistant Michelle

Fame is not as wonderful as one may think it. I have been around famous people most of my life and most seem trapped by their fame. Isolation and panic are always present. I feel for these folks. The least I can do is make them feel good with the best massage I can possibly give them. That is exactly what I did for the Script. I know they will never forget my hands of steel. The bassist was a bit afraid of my hands haha, as he heard how strong they were, but I showed him that I adjust my strength according to whom I am massaging and how their muscles feel to me. The bassist, Ben Sargeant , from the UK, is a touring (and studio sometimes?) member for the band, not a core member. He is a sweety-pie too. They all are. In fact my  face hurt from laughing after being around them. 

Ben the bassist

They are all so down to earth and ALL have their heads on straight; no bullshit. They are very driven, honest, HUMBLE and just plain fucking NICE. They are fun, hilarious yet not sarcastic or mean (like some up and coming bands I have met in the past). They are NOT letting success go to their heads. None of them seem to have a vain bone in their body, just plain cool. Their Mom's did a good job raising these guys, that is for SURE. Their tour manager (not mentioning his name even though he is a close friend) keeps things running super smooth too, they are on a roll!

Source: DrDot / Edited: DannyODonoghue.Net

Danny O'Donoghue & The Script Officially approved Fanlistings new members

Welcome to

Ghada from Tunisia

&

Pedro De Castro da Costa Reis From Portugal

Join The Danny O'Donoghue Fanlisting HERE

Join The Script Fanlisting HERE

Source: Danny O'Donoghue / The Script Fanlisting

'I'M YOURS' Fanfiction updated with chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Rating G

(Will be updated every Monday)

Read here

Source: DODFiction

ARTHUR'S DAY: BIFFY CLYRO, THE SCRIPT, BOUTS AND EMELIE SANDE

At around 7.20pm on Arthur’s Day, Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro ended a week’s worth of rumours and wild speculation when they stepped out onto the cosy stage in the Empire, Belfast.

Performing a stripped back, semi-acoustic set, the trio treated fans to some stunning versions of the likes of ‘God And Satan’ and ‘Black Chandelier’, and the enthusiastic crowd responded by singing every word and welcoming them like homecoming heroes.

Later that night, the boys (who got into the spirit of things by hiding tickets for their show around the city earlier that day) also performed an electric set in Lavery’s. Headlining a bill which included Girl Band and Le Galaxie, Biffy turned the amps up to 11 and put on a rock masterclass, with ‘Bubbles’, ‘That Golden Rule’ and more all living up to their promise to Hot Press two weeks ago that they would shake the venue’s foundations.

Taking to Twitter after the show, the group gushed: “Thanks for a very memorable and intense experience. I think the crowd almost went through the floor.” And the roof...

The Script, Whelan’s, Dublin

 

The Script’s huge Irish fan base was well in evidence when Dave Fanning introduced them as the night’s main mystery act. Having finished a set merely an hour beforehand in the unusual location of The Ivy House in Drumcondra, the three-piece bounded onto the stage at approximately 9.30pm to a chorus of deafening roars.

The audience had been well warmed up already by impressively energetic performances from Australian hip-hop sensation Iggy Azalea, who delighted everyone with tracks from her forthcoming debut album The New Classic, and a one-man beat machine in the form of Nottingham’s The Petebox. But The Script took things to another level, wowing the crowd with a glittering set culled from their global three chart-busting long-players.

It was a rare treat to see the band in such an intimate setting. Debut single ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ went down especially well, with the packed audience singing along with great gusto. The Dublin outfit know how to interact with an audience. Lead singer Danny O’Donoghue is especially talkative, raising issues like the recession and emigration. The mood, however, remained buoyant as three pints of Guinness were crowd-surfed onto the stage to the thirsty trio.

Finishing on a high with hit single ‘Hall of Fame’, Danny expressed the band’s complete support of Arthur’s Day and the platform the Arthur Guinness Projects is creating for otherwise neglected Irish musical talent.

Recent Hot Press cover star Emeli Sandé received a real warm Dublin welcome at Dakota. Opening with ‘Heaven’, her powerful vocals cut through the packed venue, which had revellers climbing on tables and chairs to secure a better vantage point. The hit-filled set included such tracks as ‘Read All About It’ and ‘Beneath You’re Beautiful’, both gorgeously performed and rapturously received.

Source: Hot Press / Edited: DannyODonoghue.Net

Capital's Sexiest Male In Pop 2013 - The Results

You've been voting all week and now Capital can finally reveal the 20 sexiest men in pop music for 2013! From Adam Levine to Harry Styles and from JT to Usher, they're all here in our countdown... but who was voted the sexiest man of all?

1. Josh Cuthbert

2. Max George

3. Harry Styles

4. Justin Bieber

5. Ed Sheeran

6. Justin Timberlake

7. Andy Brown

8. Danny O'Donoghue

The Script frontman Danny charmed audiences during his time on The Voice UK, letting the county see a whole different side to his personality... as the sexy, charming man of music.

9. Olly Murs

10. Bruno Mars

11. Marvin Humes

12. Drake

13. Conor Maynard

14. Robbie Williams

15. Jason Derulo

16. Adam Levine

17. Usher

18. Chris Brown

19. Calvin Harris

20. Tinie Tempah

Source: Capital FM VIP Newsletter / Edited: DannyODonoghue.Net

Danny O'Donoghue & The Script Officially approved Fanlistings new member

Welcome to

Tracey Wood from The UK

Join The Danny O'Donoghue Fanlisting HERE

Join The Script Fanlisting HERE

Source: Danny O'Donoghue / The Script Fanlisting

Arthur's Day may be axed after storm

This morning, drinks giant Diageo, who own Guinness refused to confirm if the festival will return next year, saying no decision has yet been made, but insiders say those involved in the event have been informally told it's being scrapped.

The day-long festival, which kicked off in 2009 and has featured world famous acts including The Script, was originally hailed as a success for live music. However, it was shrouded in controversy this year after coming under fire from health officials and parents groups in recent months.

"Arthur's Day 2013 was a great success, enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people," a spokesperson told the Herald.

"At this point in time, no decision has been made in relation to Arthur's Day next year."

The outcry over Arthur's Day was not just limited to Ireland with concerned medics from around the world also calling on Diageo to cancel the event.

SLAMMED

Liver disease specialist, Dr Stephen Stewart, slammed the music event as "the unnecessary promotion of alcohol".

"The response has been phenomenal," he said.

"It's been widely reported and discussed in the US and Canada, for example.

"We weren't doing this for coverage or anything like that; we were doing this to stop people dying," he added.

Last month the festival, now in its fifth year, played in over 500 music venues across Dublin and Ireland with headline acts, including Dublin chart toppers The Script and UK singer Emeli Sande.

The Script frontman Danny O'Donoghue, who has been involved with Arthur's Day since the beginning, defended it as a success for live music.

"It's not a big day, it's a music and arts, food and culinary festival," he told the Herald.

"It's giving young people a chance to bring their own ideas and get funding for that," added bandmate Glen Power

Source: Herald / Edited: DannyODonoghue.Net

Pre Order - The Rock 'n' Roll Diaries Paperback

Want to get your hands on a paperback copy of The Rock 'n' Roll Diaries 1st..? Pre-order HERE:

Source: @TheRnRDiaries

Look how easy it is to download The Kindle app - Even a Mark can do it!

If Mark can do it anyone can.....

Source: The RNR Diaries

Jamie Scallion - from Rocker to Writer.

I've been in bands for a very long time. My dad was in a band, my brother was in a band. You could say it is in my blood. I love writing songs. Coming up with a strong concept and working on telling that story in three or four minutes is a consuming passion.

It felt like a natural progression to write a book. It has very different disciplines of course, a marathon not a sprint. Muscles I didn't know I had were needed in the pursuit of writing my novels. I wrote four novels before I felt like I was getting somewhere.

I started touring with 'The Script' in early 2008. We were both supporting a bigger band at the time on a four week UK tour. We got on like a house on fire and our friendship was built on four cornerstones: laughter, creation, inclusion and innovation. Laughter because they made me laugh, creation, because each of their songs is a vignette, songs like 'The Man Who Can't be Moved' or 'If You Could See Me Now' have a storytelling flair that really appeals to me. Inclusion because I was drawn to the way they treated their fans; with respect and affection. 'The Script' isn't an exclusive members' club, it's a party anyone can join. Innovation because I had never seen a band so focussed on thinking outside the box and striving to create an experience that pushes boundaries.

After that first tour the lads started to get pretty big, pretty fast. They began to invite my band on the road with them more and more and the friendship built. When I mentioned I had written a novel that drew from my experiences in a band Mark and Danny asked to read it. I sent them a PDF and they read it in a matter of days.

"What if we brought the band to life with music!" they said.

This was a crossroads moment. I saw it very much as a choice between traditional publishing and some kind of enhanced self-publishing. By applying the same ethos 'The Script' lived by I felt sure the books would have a good chance. Decision made, we started to work up a model that concentrated on using talented friends to help build the book and design the world it would live in. The tour bus became our office. Our shop front would be the World Wide Web. We wanted to harness the power of social media to create the buzz. Despite Mark and Danny being behind it we didn't want to over use 'The Script's' clout to gain superficial followers. We wanted to engage people, to get people reading sample chapters, listening to excerpts of the songs we had written. We were meticulous in our plans. Our mantras were "don't run before we can walk" and "if we don't know something, let's ask someone who does".

On the music side we were savvy of course. On the literary side, not so much. We took meetings with literary professionals, many of whom were positive but constricted by traditional practices. Some didn't understand what we were trying to do at all. One even suggested we re-write the story and base it on three Irish lads from Dublin. But Amazon got it! They were enthusiastic from the moment we explained our idea, saw its scope and had exactly the place for us to house the book. KDP Select was the only outlet where we could maximise the potential and could help us to spread the word in the most effective way. We retained our independence and ability to act quickly whilst at the same time having the added benefits such as the Kindle Owners' Lending Library allowing us to extend our reach even further and build on our positive word of mouth.

I love being in control of my own destiny and I love the direct contact with our small but very engaged fan base. It's already been the most empowering and exciting thing I've ever done in my life. Whatever happens next, we are immensely proud of what we have achieved so far. 

-- Jamie Scallion

Get The Rock 'n' Roll Diaries: Kindle

Capital's Sexiest Male In Pop 2013 – Vote Now

Decide who should take the crown as the year's top hunk and Tweet your support.

Capital has launched its first Sexiest Male In Pop poll for 2013 and wants listeners to pick the winner.

Thanks to your suggestions, we've shortlisted 20 worthy hunks and it's up to you to choose the champion for this year.

Do you think Olly Murs deserves the title? What about superstar DJ Calvin Harris? Could it be a boyband superstar or even the experience of Mr. JT that swings it?

The results will be posted later this week - so cast your VOTE RIGHT NOW!

Whoever it may be, cast your vote HERE  for the pop star you want to win and then tell all your friends on Twitter to help you out.

Source: Capital FM / Edited: DannyODonoghue.Net

X Factor Rumour Mill starting already..... Ladbrokes offer odds on new judges

Simon Cowell and Robbie Williams favourites to replace Gary Barlow as X Factor judge

Head judge Gary said that he would be leaving at the end of the current run of the ITV favourite during last night's live show as part of his comments on act Rough Copy's performance of 'In the Air Tonight'.

He later confirmed in a statement: "I’ve had an amazing time on X Factor these past three years. A show like this needs to stay fresh and exciting, so it’s a great opportunity for someone to come in and take the show past its incredible ten year anniversary.

So as usual the rumor mill begins to turn our favorite fellow Irishman is yet again appearing in it. 

Here at The Dublin Weekender, would like to remind you that this is all RUMOR and money making for the bookmakers.

Danny has not even commented on this and to be honest he probably doesn't even know he has been mentioned as he is working hard with 'The Script' in the studio on their new album. Plus I'm sure all the fans can remember Danny's thoughts on The X Factor and the way it is judged and run.

The new X Factor judge in 2014 odds according to Ladbrokes, in full.

Simon Cowell 7/1

Robbie Williams 7/1

Rita Ora 8/1

Mel B 8/1

Cheryl Cole 9/1

Mark Owen 9/1

Katy Perry 10/1

LA Reid 10/1

Geri Halliwell 10/1

Shane Filan 12/1

Danny O'Donoghue 12/1

Will.I.Am 12/1

Bruno Mars 14/1

Emeli Sande 16/1

Paula Abdul 20/1

Olly Murs 20/1

Rod Stewart 20/1

Leona Lewis 25/1

Anastacia 25/1

Demi Lovato 25/1

Sir Tom Jones 33/1

Ed Sheeran 33/1

Britney Spears 33/1

Tulisa Contostavlos 33/1

Brian Freedman 50/1

Noel Gallagher 50/1

We can't stress this enough it is all rumor and if Danny ever says he is even thinking about it we will denounce our mother country Ireland (so you know our opinion already) If Danny becomes judge on The X Factor our editor has said he will dance naked down Grafton Street! Okay, now I and the rest of the office feel very sick, bad image.

Source: Dublin Weekender / Edited: DannyODonoghue.Net