The heartbroken remaining members of Aslan have revealed how they still haven’t come to terms with Christy Dignam’s death – and wish “he had been given 30 more years”.
The Dublin singer passed away just over a week ago following a 10-year battle with two rare blood cancers, amyloidosis and multiple myeloma.
Thousands of fans turned out on the streets of Finglas last Saturday to pay their respects to the late Aslan frontman before his wife Kathryn, daughter Kiera and close family and friends held a private ceremony at Glasnevin Cemetery.
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Guitarist and vocalist Joe Jewell, who grew up with Christy after they became best friends at the age of nine, said he cherished the time they got to spend together but wished he had been given more.
Speaking to the Irish Sunday Mirror, devastated Joe said: “For him to get ten years for me was amazing but to be honest I wish he had been given 30 more years.
“Hopefully his legacy can now live on through us.
“We are musicians at the end of the day and we want to still play as a band. We could never even attempt to try and replace Christy, he could never be replaced.
“It will never be Aslan in its true form again but we want to continue and let his memory live on through us.”
Joe said over the course of their lifetimes together, the pair were never too far apart.
Reminiscing over their shared times growing up in the north Dublin suburb, Joe said: “We worked in the same jobs before the band, our mams went to the same bingo hall, it was Finglas, everybody knew each other like that.
“Christy and I first started hanging out when we were about nine. We used to call up to each other and then hang around on the street. The usual carry on that kids do.
“We also were practically in the same jobs. Our first job was making aluminium windows at the back of Dominick Street in town.
“We were always really tied to each other’s waist. It was like a brotherly kind of friendship. We were never too far apart from each other.
“The furthest I was away from him was when the band split for a while (in 1988). That was the longest we were apart but I did go to see him a couple of times at gigs.
“We had great times and we had crap times, like every band. Anytime we argued it was always about music.”
Drummer Alan Downey said his bandmate’s death has still not hit him as he spoke of how Christy’s rare talent will never be seen again. Alan said: “It was such a huge shock when I heard he had died. You are never ready for something like that, nothing prepares you.
“I honestly thought he would still be here at Christmas. I don’t think his death has really hit me.
“We were great friends, super friends, and we could talk to each other about absolutely anything. We had our rows like any friendship but we also had our laughs and our closeness.
“He was one of the greatest storytellers, he just had this kind of command over a room.
“When he came into a room everyone stopped talking. Whether it be rehearsal or whatever, you would hear a quietness in the room and then he would come out with something and entertain everyone.”
Alan said fans could relate to Christy and his struggles and the singer’s openness and vulnerability is what made him so special
He continued: “He had an aura about him, where people looked up to him, you could see it when he was up on stage.
“Especially in the last few years when older people used to come to the gigs and it was like they had gone to Lourdes or something when they met him.
“It was like there was this feeling of wellness or healing when people met him, I don’t know what it was. I think it was because he showed all his flaws, they were exposed.
“Whether it was sexual abuse of heroin addiction or cancer, people who had experienced something similar got some sort of solace when he talked about his experiences.
“To hear him on the TV, the radio or in the paper talking so openly about whatever the issue, they found comfort.”
And he said how Christy’s family, including his wife Kathryn and daughter Kiera, were always such a big part of his life.
He added: “In words said by Christy himself, Kathryn was his rock throughout his life.”
Meanwhile, guitarist Billy McGuinness said how special last weekend’s turnout in his hometown was and how he became emotional when he witnessed the love being shown for the late singer.
Legendary band U2 sent a tri-colour wreath which was placed beside his coffin and the bands guitarist Adam Clayton turned up to pay his respects on behalf of the global superstars.
Billy said: “The turnout in Finglas was brilliant. The houses had the banners out, music was playing out of their houses and you could see the crowds growing the closer we got to Erins Isle.”
