Nothing compares to Irish rock ‘n’ roll museum
A group of lads gathered around the Wall of Fame at Dublin’s Irish Rock ’n’ Roll Museum.
They’d successfully identified historic artworks of Rory Gallagher, Shane MacGowan, Bob Geldof, U2, Phil Lynott and Luke Kelly.
But the image of a young woman, with a full head of hair, had them stumped.
They threw names around as a tiny figure siddled up behind the group, and connected, but as an observer, not a participant.
As much as the boys tried, they couldn’t guess the name of this female singer.
“That’s me,’’ the woman then said as she revealed herself to be none other than Sinead Marie Bernadette O’Connor, singer of the iconic hit Nothing Compares 2 U. She had ducked out for a smoke while recording an album and couldn’t resist having a little fun with the punters.
It’s not unusual to bump in to Irish rock royalty at the Rock ’n’ Roll Musem, located in the historic Temple Bar district of Dublin.
Bono and the Button Factory
Bono often turns up to the 550-seat Button Factory venue, which is part of the building, to watch his son’s indie band, Inhaler.
My wife Ali and I signed up for one of the last tours of the day, just before Christmas, and we were fortunate to have the tour guide to ourselselves.
It was 4 o’clock and outside the night was closing in and there was a breath-stopping abrupt coolness to the air.
Inside, we were peeling off jackets, as our tour guide started by probing us to find out just how much we knew about Irish music. It is important to know your audience.
U2’s rehearsal room, from their early days, was the first stop on our one-hour tour. It’s a pretty standard dark 4 x 4 rehearsal room. It’s hard to imagine that this is inspired the magic. There’s more to it than just U2 though. Others to have shaken these rooms with amplifiers turned to 11 include Van Morrisson, Christy Moore, Ray La Montagne and Def Leppard.
Musos will love this tour
If you are a muso, you will love this tour. The walls of the winding and long corridors are lined with guitars that have been gifted to the museum. Now in reality, every guitar looks the same, but when it has been played by Rory Gallagher, then it is special. There’s amplifier stacks around every corner. Marshalls mainly, but I did see the odd Messa Boogie and Vox.
When we arrive at the Button Factory stage tonight’s headline act is doing its sound check. Repeatedly we hear …. testing 1, 2. Testing 1, 2. Then again, testing 1, 2. A guitar screeches, a snare drum snaps and the bass booms causing my heart to jump. They sound like they are ready to create havoc.
From the Button factory stage we head across the road to the Temple Lane Recording studio. It is still a working studio. The Script recorded here, as did Paolo Nutini and Rihanna.
It’s all about Thin Lizzy
But, in essence, this is the space that the Irish Rock ’n’ Roll Museum uses to pay tribute to its favourite son, Phil Lynott, the front man of Thin Lizzy. Lynott tragically died of heart failure and pneumonia in early 1986 after a drug overdose at the tender age of just 36 but the man who gave the world The Boys are Back in Town will never be forgotten.
Lynott’s last recording was made on the mixing desk in this room. His Mirrored Bass, White Falcon and Gibson ES335 are all on display behind glass for fans to see, but not touch.
On some tours you get to enter the recording studio and lay down a track. Not today though, a proper pop star is at work.
As we head out into Temple Bar the plethora of bars are already heaving. Music blasts out as the pub doors open and shut. Pints are being poured, and downed, at a feverish pace as crowds of people join the chorus of spontaneous choirs.
Dublin, it seems, loves a good sign-a-long.
Tickets for the Irish Rock ’n’ Roll Museum experience start from 10.35 Euro.