Latest news with #AHandToHold
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Aslan: 'That excitement, that's what's enabled us to keep pushing forward'
Almost four decades after their first single, Aslan guitarist Billy McGuinness says the legendary rock band is feeling the same buzz they did in 1986 as their latest single drops. The outfit's newest single, A Hand To Hold, is out now, their second release from their upcoming album and the latest to feature vocals from new singer Lee Tomkins. The single, which will be played live for the first time in Perth tonight as Aslan kick off their Australian tour, follows from their rockier hit Hear Your Call, which dropped in March. This latest track, Aslan say, 'shows a different side' to the iconic band. 'There's nervousness, we're excited,' long standing Aslan guitarist Billy McGuinness told the Star's Scene ahead of the release of their latest single, A Hand To Hold. 'And the only way, the way we test out music is, you play in front of a live audience, and that gives you so much. So there is an excitement there, we're going to be performing it in Lynott's in Perth, which is the first gig. 'I can't wait to hear how it goes down. We're very proud of the track. It's showing a different side of Aslan to Hear Your Call. 'Hear Your Call had the Aslan sound, and you kind of knew it was Aslan. With this track, a few people that I played it to, (I asked them) 'Who do you think this band is?' 'They're going, 'Geez, I haven't a clue'. And I think that's great, because it's different. And my, in my opinion, different is good'. He added: 'It's in your head, and it's catchy. I think it's showing Aslan's pop sensibilities, if that makes sense? Hear Your Call was a real rock song. But Hand To Hold is showing a poppier side of Aslan, which I think is great.' Aslan's new singer Lee Tomkins added: 'It's something Aslan hasn't done, a happy, happy poppy song, which Aslan hasn't done in a long, long time. 'So it's to show that side again, to show the fans that they can still do that type of thing, happy sing along. Enjoy yourself. Everyone clapping along. That's what it's made for. It's a sing along song'. Billy said the new single deals with life and how sometimes people can feel like nothing is going their way - like there's "A Devil in Heaven and a God in Hell." 'It's like what we say in the song,' Billy said. 'Some days it feels like there's a devil in heaven and a god in hell, because nothing is going right for you, and you get down. 'But the song is uplifting, as it's saying no matter what shit you're going through, there is someone there that can help you, that can hold your hands and make the day better, you know? There's a positivity in the song.' 'It's about bringing people together, basically, that's what the song is about,' Lee added. 'And to get people together, singing along, clapping along. It's just people enjoying themselves and taking a break from the crap that's going on in life, when they can just come to a gig, whatever it may be, for two hours, sing along, forget about life and enjoy themselves.' Billy said the excitement the band felt waiting to hear their first single, This Is, is still felt 40 years later. 'We're as excited about it,' the guitarist shared. 'Like we're over 40 years doing this and I remember back in 1986 when we released our first single This Is and the excitement of waiting to hear it on the radio or waiting to play it live, that hasn't changed. 'Fast forward 40 years, and we've still, I'm dying to hear it on the radio, and what do people think of it and dying to play it live. 'And I think that's a great thing, that we haven't lost that excitement or drive or buzz. 'When Lee came in, one thing that we didn't know at the time. We were just listening to him singing, but we didn't know that he was such a brilliant songwriter as well in his own right. 'So with him, with the guitar, and then you have Joe, who was one of the main songwriters with Aslan as well. 'So when you have Lee hooking up with Joe, it's different, it's fuzzy, it's exciting. 'And for a band that's going over 40 years, to have that excitement, I think it that's what's enabled us to keep pushing forward, because the day when we decide we don't get excited about music. Plus we're really enjoying it. I have to say, the fun we're having, the fun is back!' Aslan's iconic frontman Christy Dignam passed away just over two years ago, on June 13, 2023. Billy says the band still honour his legacy at every show. 'It happens at every gig,' Billy said. 'This Is, Lee will. Lee will always do a bit of a spiel about Christy. And if it's not This Is, it could be Crazy World, but he's mentioned at every gig. 'Look, what can you say? Do you know what I mean? He's gone. Life goes on, music goes on, and that's it. But we do mention him at every gig'. Aslan's latest single A Hand To Hold is out now on all streaming platforms. Aslan kick off their Australian tour tonight, before returning to Europe to play a string of UK and Irish dates later in the year.
Sunday World
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Aslan star Billy McGuinness recalls hilarious performance for Henry Mountcharles
It took place a decade ago as Billy was camping in front of Slane Castle with his wife, Adreena, and their two sons, Jake and Liam, now 21 and 26 ASLAN star Billy McGuinness once supported David Bowie in front of 80,000 fans at Slane with the band, but today he recalls another hilarious performance at the castle for an audience of one – owner Henry Mountcharles. It took place a decade ago as Billy was camping in front of Slane Castle with his wife, Adreena, and their two sons, Jake and Liam, now 21 and 26. 'We had got permission from the Slane groundskeeper to set up camp and we had the guitars out and I was singing ballads – The Wild Rover, Whiskey In The Jar, all that sh*te – and we were drinking cans,' Billy tells the Sunday World. 'Our tent was pitched in front of the castle and the next thing we saw Henry's wife, Iona, coming towards us. Aslan with new frontman Lee Tomkins Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 6th 'I went, 'oh balls, we're in trouble now!' I said, 'this is Henry's wife, she's coming down to stop us and tell us to take the tent down.' 'But she said, 'Henry is up in the bedroom, he has the window open and he's listening to you singing. Can you sing a bit louder he's really enjoying it? So, of course, I said that was no problem. 'We had a box of wine and we said, 'Do you want a glass of wine?' She said, 'Yes, I'd love one.' She sat down with us for the night and she got stuck into the box of wine…absolutely brilliant.' Billy struck up a friendship with Henry Mountcharles through the years and says he was deeply saddened to hear of his death last month at the age of 74 after a long illness. 'The first time I met him was when Aslan were supporting Bowie at Slane in 1987,' he recalls. 'Henry poked his head around the door of the dressing room that day and he said, 'I love that song, This Is.' He was passionate about music. Henry and Iona Mountcharles 'I live in Bettystown and I met him a few times out in Slane. One time I was out there in the bar and Iona said, 'Henry is in the snug, will you go in and chat to him. We had a great chat and I discovered that he was so knowledgeable about music. 'Henry put Slane on the map. I know you had Lisdoonvarna, but there were never gigs like Slane. He got the ball rolling to have a real rock venue outdoor and it was in a natural amphitheatre. 'So many fans have seen the biggest bands in the world at Slane and have such great memories from those days thanks to Henry. 'He'll be missed big time and I hope his son, Alex, keeps the buzz going. It would be great if he keeps the gigs going in Slane.' Aslan, who will next Friday release a stunning new single called A Hand To Hold, have re-established the legendary band and are enjoying a new wave of success since losing their much-loved iconic songwriter and frontman Christy Dignam. With their new singer Lee Tomkins (39), the band will head out on tour to Australia this coming week and have a string of UK and Irish shows taking them up to Christmas. 'We're going 43 years this year, so Lee wasn't even born when Aslan formed, which is making me feel very old,' Billy laughs. 'But Lee has fitted in and has now taken control of the band. The big test for Lee when we came back from Australia last year was getting up with Coldplay. Aslan's new single 'I said, 'Is Lee going to be able for this?' But I was more nervous than he was. I was bricking it going on stage. He took it in his stride. He's fearless. 'Aslan played with Bowie and with Elton John and so many brilliant artists over the years, so it was great for Lee to experience the biggest one – Coldplay.' Lee, a native of Finglas, said he's been working as a singer with different bands for more than two decades. 'It's not a case I was on the streets and they picked me up,' he tells me. 'I've been around the block a few times so you just know what to do. 'I remember going to see Aslan playing in Finglas and the places would be crammed. 'I was watching them and thinking how great the band were, but I never thought I would be singing with them now. That's one of them chances life gives you.' Aslan's new single, A Hand To Hold, will be released on all music platforms next Friday.
RTÉ News
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Aslan "move forward" with new single, A Hand To Hold
Aslan are set to release A Hand To Hold, their second new song since the death of their former front man Christy Dignam in 2023. The track with new singer Lee Tomkins on vocals will be released on 11 July and the Dublin band will perform it live for the first time on their upcoming Australian tour. It follows the release of the single Hear Your Call last March and Aslan, who are currently working on a new album due out later this year, have described it as having a "new sound". Speaking about A Hand To Hold, the Finglas five-piece say: "At times, when feeling that way, we don't realise there's a hand to hold, to show us not everything in life is as bad as it feels. Sometimes you need to open your eyes, to see there is still good amongst all the bad. "Like with all songs, the message that resonates with each individual, can be different, as we all have different thoughts, experiences and views in life. For us, it's a feel good song, a positive song. "There are a number of singalong parts in it, which we see as a way of bringing people together and this is something we really love when performing live, strangers, friends, singing together, singing back to us and with us." Singer Lee Tomkins has said he is "very excited" about performing the single live for the first time at their gig in Perth, Australia, on 11 July. "It feels good to be getting more new music out and for it to have a different sound to anything the band has done before, it's exciting," he said. "It's great to hear everyone singing along. That's the aim of the song so performing it in Australia for the first time is going to be special." Aslan founding member Joe Jewell also discussed said the recording process for the new single. "We are well settled in now. All we can do is keep being creative," he said. "The recording process is always enjoyable. Once the recording starts, it's full steam ahead." The band's drummer Alan Downey added that it's important for Aslan to continue putting out new material and to progress and move forward. "Releasing new material has always been a top priority for us. We thrive on being creative," he said. "It feels good every time we release something new. Being in recording mode is special. It obviously brings all the writing process, rehearsals, and ideas together and it's brilliant to hear that final recording." Guitarist Billy McGuinness added, "Having released our first single with Lee in March this year, it's great to be releasing our second one so quickly as it lets people who haven't seen the band live hear the direction we are going in," he said. "I think the last single Hear Your Call had the Aslan vibe but with this new single, it's definitely different for us. But different is good in my opinion. "It's great playing a new song for the first time, there is excitement and nervousness in the air. Like when we played Hear Your Call for the first time in the Olympia.
