Harry had all the Style to live up to Slane’s past stars
NO-ONE is more surprised that I went to see Harry Styles perform at Slane Castle than myself.
On the other hand, being invited to the historic venue by Lord Henry Mount Charles – how could I refuse?
When it was announced last year that Rock Lord had booked the former One Direction singer to headline at a venue where the cream of rock ‘n’ roll royalty have performed, I thought he had lost his mind.
Shows how much I know as Slane 23 was an instant sellout and what’s more, it has attracted an entirely new audience to what has become something of an institution.
Of the 80,000 people who bought tickets to see Harry perform by the banks of the Boyne, the vast majority of them were young people – with a good many in their teens.
ROCKERS
During the week Lord Henry’s son, Alex Conyngham said this was a concert for a new generation although there were many seasoned rockers there as well.
This was driven home by the fact that Bono’s son Eli and his band Inhaler is following in his father’s footsteps who along with U2 played Slane three times.
As for Harry Styles, he must have understood that he had a lot to live up to knowing that the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, Bob Dylan, Robbie Williams, David Bowie, Eminem, Oasis and REM and Metallica have also headlined the event.
I’ve seen most of the above and many more, including the first Slane way back in August 1981 when the mighty U2 played support to Phil Lynott’s Thin Lizzy in front of just 18,000 fans.
For me the two performances by the Rolling Stones were the highlights – but those of us who made the annual pilgrimage to Slane have to accept that as Springsteen sang, those were the glory days, but they are all in the past.
Having listened to Harry Styles over the past week I can understand what a new generation can see in him, and why he has become the superstar that David Bowie was to their grandparents many years ago.
It might not be rock ‘n’ roll, but I like it.