SOLD-OUT homecomings are becoming a habit for Dublin band The Script - they returned to Dublin's O2 to play to delighted crowds over three nights.
In July 2009, the popular rockers - Danny O'Donoghue, 32, Glen Power, 33 and 36-year-old Mark Sheehan - supported U2 in Croke Park and by July 2011 they had triumphed on top of the bill at the Aviva. This weekend, they are headlining again, and the band have made a conscious decision to drop ticket prices, to make sure as many of their fans as possible get to see them.
'I think when acts like Madonna roll into town, charging (EURO)250 a head, they're sucking the life from the music business', says Mark, the group's multi-tasking writer, guitarist, vocalist and manager.
'When a big act charge so much, people are forced to spend all their money on one night out. Everyone's in a tough place financially right now and we wanted to do something to make a difference.' 'We dropped ticket prices dramatically to (EURO)39.50 - we didn't want to make it a sacrifice for anyone to come see us. We'd rather take a hit on the show than the fans. I can't think of anything worse than playing to a half-full house just to make cash on tickets. What's happened as a result is that not only did we sell out but we had to add extra nights.' By Saturday night, 42,000 fans will have seen The Script's new #3 tour in Dublin, firmly challenging the perception of a music industry on its knees. While Mark is proud of The Script's popularity, he says their live shows are something they work very hard at.
'We've made the show special, as we try to do with all of our gigs', says Mark. 'Of course, music can be downloaded and enjoyed at home. So we try to put on a live show that's a true experience. Something that's "undownloadable". And a brilliant night out at that people can afford. I hope we've achieved that.' Mark, drummer Glen and lead singer Danny are back on the road for the European leg of their world tour, which began last September and sees them play everywhere from Auckland to Albuquerque. Despite being back in the cramped conditions of the tour bus, Mark says that, for the first time, they are relishing the resultant cabin fever.
'This time it's different,' he says. 'We've found our touring legs. We love the routine - as musicians, touring is the only real routine we have. This year, we've brought a recording studio on the road. Every night, after the show we'll put down whatever idea that's come to us that night. We normally book an extra hotel room and turn it into a temporary studio.' Mark has three children with his wife and fellow Dubliner Rina Sheehan, though they prefer to keep them out of the public eye. He is a self-confessed whiskey fanatic and even has a custom built whiskey bar in his London home, which houses more than 100 rare bottles.
The tipple is more than just a hobby for him - Mark jokes that he uses it to combat his chronic fear of flying.
'I can't stand flying,' he says. 'Especially on private planes. They're so small and the turbulence is always worse.
'I prefer to fly with a commercial airline.
We fly more than pilots and I think we are playing the odds and eventually something has to go wrong. I have a bit of whiskey to try to balance out the fear.' That fear was turned into a mad panic when the band almost missed a sold-out date in Dubai last month after the BBC refused to release Danny from filming The Voice in Britain.
Danny was recording the battle stages for the show but filming ran over. He was due to jet to Dubai with his fellow band-mates the night before the gig.
What happened next tried and tested the group's relationship with the BBC.
'They held him up and we'd to do a gig in Dubai that Friday', Mark says. 'They had a 16-seat private jet waiting for us at the airport, but still Danny wasn't let go. So myself and Glen flew out ahead of him. I wouldn't take the private plane anyway since I'm terrified of it. I flew out commercial, thinking Danny would soon follow. 'When it got to the afternoon of the show and he still hadn't left, we began to panic. Glen and I did sound check on our own, which was weird. Then, all we could do was wait and see.
'When Danny got out, they'd swapped his plane for a tiny six seater and he's so tall the eight hour flight was very uncomfortable. They had to stop in Jordan to refuel - he made it with minutes to spare. He was in bits. It's the closest we've come to having to cancel a gig.'
It seems it would take a lot more than that for them to disappoint their loyal fans.
Source: Irish Daily Mail / Edited: DannyODonoghue.Net
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