- Christy Dignam, lead vocalist of Aslan, passed away after illness.
- His daughter announced his passing on Facebook with a broken heart.
- Dignam’s courageous battle inspired many in the music industry.
Christy Dignam, the lead vocalist for the Irish rock band Aslan, passed away after a protracted illness.
In a Facebook post, his daughter Kiera announced his passing on behalf of the family.
She reported that the family broke the news “with a broken heart.
“Dad passed away peacefully at home on June 13, 2023, at 4 p.m., after a courageous, long-fought battle, surrounded by his family.
“We ask that you respect our family’s need for privacy during this incredibly difficult time,” the message read.
Let us all hold him in our hearts and celebrate the extraordinary life of a gifted singer, wonderful storyteller, and remarkable individual.
Mr. Dignam and his colleagues in Aslan, according to Irish President Michael D. Higgins, had a “remarkable connection” with their audience.
“Christy was essential to that connection, as his passionate performances ensured an unforgettable evening whenever Aslan performed,” he said.
Mr. Higgins stated that residents of virtually every Irish town will have their memories and “will feel a personal connection with Christy.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin stated in a tweet that Christy Dignam was “a true legend of Irish music.”
“His brave and dignified battle with cancer inspired many,” he said.
Christy Dignam was born in Dublin in May 1960 and grew up in the city’s northern Finglas neighborhood.
Beginning in 1980 with the band Meelah XVIII, he is best known as the lead vocalist of the Irish rock band Aslan.
Together with fellow Dubliners Joe Jewell, Billy McGuinness, and Alan Downey, he founded Aslan in 1982.
The band’s moniker was inspired by the lion in CS Lewis’s Narnia series.
The most recent of their six studio albums were released in 2012.
This Is, Crazy World, Where’s the Sun and Shine a Light were some of their most popular singles.
The group disbanded in 1988 and reunited in 1993 following a one-off charity performance in Finglas.
Mr. Dignam stated in an interview with the Irish broadcaster RTÉ in 2022, “I’ve always wished to sing. That has always been my only goal.
“When I was 13 or 14, I realized that wanting to be a singer did not guarantee that I would become a vocalist. I had to make it happen.”
“Somewhat of a Lazarus”
Throughout his life, he overcame numerous obstacles, including drug addiction, sexual assault as a child, and debilitating bouts of depression.
In 2013, Mr. Dignam was diagnosed with amyloidosis and initially given a prognosis of only a few months to live.
The disease leads to the accumulation of an abnormal protein, resulting in organ failure.
In 2014, he told the Irish Mirror that he was astonished to have reached his fifties: “I was in a plane crash a few years ago. I battled drug addiction, and now I have cancer, so it is a bit of a Lazarus.
“That’s three lives gone, and I’ve got six left.”
After the diagnosis, all he wanted was more time with his family.
“I now have grandchildren, and I wanted to attend their Communions and Confirmations,” he explained. “It’s the little things that you want to be present for.”
Aslan performed at the Millennium Forum in Londonderry on July 15 as part of his summer tour of Ireland.
But in a statement on their social media platforms, the other members of Aslan said they were “devastated that all future shows will be canceled” because of Mr. Dignam’s illness.
His wife Kathryn, daughter Kiera, who is a singer, grandsons Cian and Jake, and granddaughter Ava survive Mr. Dignam.
