On the Couch With High King Darren Holden
Born in Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, musician Darren Holden has performed on Broadway with Riverdance, toured with Paul Young, Belinda Carlisle and Bonnie Tyler, been in a Billy Joel musical and sung the US national anthem for President George W Bush. Darren sings with folk supergroup The High Kings, who are currently on a tour of the United States.
Who controls the remote in your house?
I like to think I do, but every time I get up to make a cuppa I return to see SpongeBob has been turned on by daughters Sophie or Ava. I call him the Yellow Eejit.
Do you watch a lot of music TV?
I love Other Voices and Transatlantic Sessions – I rarely miss those, and I also watch a lot of what Sky Arts has to o er. Great stu .
How much TV do you think you watch every week?
I would say around ve hours a week. I’m usually too busy, but never miss The Walking Dead or Match of the Day. I’ll always try to keep up with Corrie too.
Do you have any memorable moments in one of your own TV appearances?
When I played Billy Joel in the Broadway show Movin’ Out, I was on telly in the States pretty much three days a week, doing promo. One particular time in San Diego I was due to perform for CBS but their grand piano wasn’t available. So one of their sta obtained a tiny piano from Toys ‘R’ Us. There I was singing It’s still Rock ‘n’ Roll to Me while playing this little rink a-dink thing. Billy phoned me after it aired and let’s just say that never happened again!
What show would you like a cameo in?
I’d love one in The Walking Dead – that’d be totally out-there! I’d probably have nightmares for months after, though.
Is there just too much good TV now to watch it all?
Just too much TV, period. Most of what’s on is throwaway in my opinion. How many ‘dream homes’ can you look at?! Most of the good stu is on the homegrown channels.
Who would be in your dream line-up – dead or alive – for a TV music special?
Oh! I would have to go with Elvis, Glen Campbell, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Brian Setzer, Billy Joel, Glen Hansard and Paddy Moloney. That’s a show I’d watch.
All-time favourite TV drama, comedy, soap, documentary and live event?
Drama is The Sopranos. Comedy would be Fawlty Towers. For soap, Dallas, and for documentary, Elvis Presley: The Searcher. As for live event, any hurling championship match with Kilkenny.
Are there any genres of telly you just can’t abide?
I cannot stand 95% of reality TV. The Kardashians mirror everything that’s gone wrong with society these days. Young people looking up to these fakers who are literally famous for being famous. What have they achieved? Insu erable.
What’s your favourite TV show theme music?
Loved CHiPs when I was a kid – it’s a tie between that and the theme from Taxi by Mike Post.
For more information on The High Kings, see www.thehighkings.com