A tribute has been paid to Christy Dignam, frontman of Irish rock band, Aslan, who passed away at the age of 63. Although Dignam never achieved global fame in the same way as fellow Irish musicians, Bono and Phil Lynott, he left a lasting mark on the Irish music scene. Known for his powerful, gritty voice, Dignam was a fighter, a romantic and a street poet, who poured his traumas and dreams into his music. His charisma and doggedness were the driving forces behind Aslan’s nearly 40-year career. The band’s biggest hits, This Is and Crazy World, reflected the soul of Dignam, who was born in Dublin in 1960.
Dignam’s legacy was complicated by his battles with addiction to heroin and subsequent fallout with Aslan. Despite losing the band and their record deal, Dignam’s story was not over. He defied the notion that there are no second acts in Irish music. He toured America as one half of the acoustic duo Dignam and Goff and was even courted by British prog-rock band Marillion as their singer. In 1993, Aslan made a triumphant return to the Irish music scene when they reformed for a charity gig. The old chemistry between bandmates was still there, and they wrote their great anthem Crazy World. It went to No. 1 in Ireland, but was never released in the UK.
Dignam’s life was filled with heartache and tragedy, including his own experiences of childhood abuse and addiction. These experiences informed his music, which always carried a crackle of optimism. Despite his illness, Dignam remained a dreamer and believed in the healing power of music. Aslan was more than just a band to him; it was a way of life, and he never stopped performing. In his 2021 solo LP, The Man Who Stayed Alive, he channeled his lockdown blues into well-received music. Although Aslan never conquered the world, they were Ireland’s band, and Dignam’s legacy will live on with his bandmates and their fans, who will continue to sing Crazy World.
