Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MEASURING SUCCESS
ROCK FRONTMAN ON HIS ‘BIZARRE’ SUCCESS AND THE ISSUES HE HAS WITH SOCIETY’S IDEOLOGY
Dublin star Glen Hansard has guested on stage with Bruce Springsteen and Ed Sheeran, dined with Bob Dylan and had a masterclass from Irish legend Van Morrison.
Frontman with roots rockers The Frames, he first came to widespread prominence when he appeared in smash music movie The Commitments, and won an Oscar for his song Once in the biographical film.
Between Two Shores, Hansard’s third solo album, shows the consummate talent that has attracted Bono and Hozier to join in annual Christmas busking sessions in his native city to raise money and awareness for the homeless.
“Everyone comes back to their hometown for Christmas,” he says. “So if you’re an Irish musician who is in town for Christmas, like Bono or Hozier, then you might as well pop in and sing a song or two.
“It means a lot to the people and the charities as there are a couple of very generous donations made by some of the singers.”
Glen, 47, has had personal family experience of homelessness – his aunt died living on the streets of Birmingham. But his musical career has been charmed, first meeting Springsteen the night he won his Oscar.
“I was about to go on stage and he (Bruce) looked at me and said, ‘Me, You and Bob’, meaning that me and him and Dylan had the award. I found myself later with him and a few others just talking about how bizarre I was finding the success.
“He said, ‘If you don’t mark your successes, whether it’s going for dinner or popping champagne, or even opening a beer, then the day your ship comes in might just be another day at the office’.
“Later, he invited me to perform with him and it felt amazing to stand with a master.”
On the new album, protest song Wheel’s On Fire underlines Hansard’s activism.
“I’ve been described as being at war with my own government but I can tell you that I’m certainly not,” he says.
“I don’t believe that throwing stones at people or calling them inadequate really helps.
“They are doing what they can for society within the confines of their ideology. So their ideology is what I have an issue with – not the people individually.”