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19th June 2023
11:43am BST

"When they [Aslan] started early '80s or so, one of the things was to get a Fanning Session. I mean like, you know, it's public service broadcasting. We don't deserve praise for it. We should just do it and we did it. 400 bands over 10 years. "And the point about it is, is that when Aslan did their session near the beginning, they were so pleased and so proud and so like: 'Wow, this is a wrung on the ladder that we have now reached. We can also use this as a demo tape for record companies et cetera.' "I've no idea what might have happened after that, if we had anything to do with it, but I don't think we probably did because it's just a wrung of a ladder. "Then they got their kind of deal and they were with the record company. They brought out an album. They did well with the single 'This Is' and all that happened."However, referencing the period between 1988 and 1993 when Dignam left Aslan, Fanning added:
"And then - I know this is a time for eulogising but I don't want to deify the guy either - he [Dignam] blew it royally. "He would say later on that: 'Because I was abused at the age of six by a neighbour and there was this hole in my life for ages so I filled it, not by trying to get high with heroin, but just by filling it with heroin to keep myself away from the memory of it.' And I remember saying to him: 'Are you sure about that now, Christy? Are you sure you're not trying to pull the wool over my eyes?'."Fanning went on to highlight that Dignam rejoined the group, after which they had their biggest hit song with 'Crazy World'.
"I'll tell you what, they released six albums. I wouldn't know one song on the last three albums. I really wouldn't. They just became the band who played loads of gigs in Ireland, Monday to Friday. "It really worked well but they just should have done more and didn't."Also on Dignam, Fanning stated: "Somebody said: 'I've never seen a better frontman.' I have. I've seen much better frontmen but that's the way it is, even in Irish bands. "I thought Aslan was great. I thought Christy was great but I do think the demons were just as strong." Following the segment, many fans of Aslan and Dignam took to social media to voice their frustration with Fanning's comments. You can read some of those Tweets right here: https://twitter.com/IsMiseAnse0/status/1669385637147860998 https://twitter.com/BillBadbody/status/1670101880796508160 https://twitter.com/TheNewReview2/status/1669102639278178304 https://twitter.com/TadhgHickey/status/1670199813869125632 Read more:
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