{{Short description|Irish singer}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Christy Dignam | image = Christydignam.jpg | caption = Dignam onstage circa 2004 | birth_name = Christopher Dignam | origin = | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1960|5|23}}<ref name="BirthDate">{{cite news |last1=Hyland |first1=Paul |last2=Flynn |first2=Melanie |title=‘Legend, friend, hero' – tributes flood in for Aslan frontman Christy Dignam (63) following his death from cancer |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/legend-friend-hero-tributes-flood-in-for-aslan-frontman-christy-dignam-63-following-his-death-from-cancer/a967593461.html |access-date=30 November 2023 |work=Irish Independent |date=13 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref> | birth_place = Finglas, Dublin, Ireland | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2023|6|13|1960|5|23}} | death_place = | instrument = Vocalist | genre = Rock | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter}} | years_active = 1980–2023 | label = EMI | past_member_of = {{hlist|Aslan|Dignam & Goff}} | website = {{URL|aslan.ie}} }}
'''Christopher Dignam''' (23 May 1960 – 13 June 2023)<ref name="BirthDate" /> was an Irish singer who was best known as the lead singer of the popular Irish rock band Aslan. His career of over 40 years was characterised by numerous successes on the Irish charts as well as recurring problems with drug addiction and recovery.
==Early life== Dignam was born in the National Maternity Hospital on Holles Street in Dublin on 23 May 1960. His father, Christopher Dignam Sr, worked for CIÉ as an upholsterer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Christy Dignam: One of Ireland's most recognisable performers and writer of pop/rock classics |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2023/06/13/christy-dignam-one-of-irelands-most-recognisable-performers-and-writer-of-one-of-irelands-poprock-classics/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> He grew up in the north Dublin suburb of Finglas, attending Naomh Feargal primary school and Patrician College.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-13 |title=‘Legend, friend, hero' – tributes flood in for Aslan frontman Christy Dignam (63) following his death from cancer |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/legend-friend-hero-tributes-flood-in-for-aslan-frontman-christy-dignam-63-following-his-death-from-cancer/a967593461.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Independent.ie |language=en}}</ref> At the age of six, he was raped by a neighbour. That continued to occur over a three-year period until at the age of nine, Dignam sought help from his best friend's brother, a man in his twenties. During the meeting with his best friend's brother, Dignam talked about his situation and he was then raped by that man as well.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mallon |first1=Sandra |title=Christy Dignam bravely opened up about his horrific sex abuse past |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/christy-dignam-bravely-opened-up-30226712 |access-date=4 July 2023 |work=Irish Mirror |date=13 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Egan |first1=Barry |title=How facing his mortality set Christy Dignam free |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/how-facing-his-mortality-set-christy-dignam-free/30117062.html |access-date=4 July 2023 |work=Irish Independent |date=23 March 2014 |language=en}}</ref> Dignam later suggested his drug addiction may have resulted from the psychological trauma caused by the events.<ref name="pride">{{cite news|last=Dromey |first=Paul |title=The Pride of Lions |publisher=Irish Examiner |date=29 May 2001 |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2001/05/29/story4175.asp |accessdate=11 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030415030651/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2001/05/29/story4175.asp |archivedate=15 April 2003 }}</ref>
He studied the classical art of bel canto singing with teacher Frank Merriman at the Bel Canto House School of Singing in Dublin, attending lessons alongside Hothouse Flowers frontman Fiachna Ó Braonáin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quann |first=Jack |title=Christy Dignam tributes flood in: 'A singular, stand-out voice' |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/a-singular-stand-out-voice-tributes-flood-in-for-christy-dignam-1474932 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Newstalk |language=en}}</ref>
==Music career== In 1980, Dignam and his childhood friend Joe Jewell<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=David |title=Legendary Irish singer and songwriter coming to Dundalk |url=https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/home/237920/legendary-irish-singer-songwriter-to-play-dundalk.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=www.dundalkdemocrat.ie |language=en}}</ref> formed a precursor to Aslan, named Meelah XVIII.<ref name=":1"/> The band, named for Leon Uris's novel Mila 18,<ref>{{Cite web |title=5 things you may not know about Aslan |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/rock-pop/5-things-you-may-not-know-about-aslan-1.529728 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> created a recording for ''The Dave Fanning Show'' on RTÉ Radio 2 in 1980. The Meelah XVIII songs "Toy Soldier" and "Meelah Pt. 2" were included on the Aslan triple CD, The "Rarities" disc from ''The Platinum Collection''. The band later recruited Alan Downey and Billy McGuinness to form Aslan.<ref name=":1"/>
As Aslan singles "This Is", "Please Don't Stop", "Loving Me Lately", "Pretty Thing" and "Feel No Shame" and the album "Feel No Shame" became popular, the band's record label EMI funded the band's tour of America, but Dignam's relationship with his bandmates was becoming strained due to his problems with heroin addiction and this became a contributing factor to him leaving the band.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/christy-dignam-irish-music-icon-dies-aged-63-22946720|title = Coldplay claim sixth chart-topping album in Ireland|website = OfficialCharts.com}}</ref>
On 7 September 1988, ''The Star'' newspaper ran with the headline "ASLAN: IT'S THE END", informing the public of Dignam's separation from Aslan. The remaining members of the band continued as Aslan for some time with new lead singer Eamon Doyle, before the band changed its name to Precious Stones with vocalist Dave McGinly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/preciousstones.html|title = Christy Dignam: Irish music icon dies, aged 63|website = Hot Press|accessdate= 16 June 2023}}</ref> Dignam went solo with guitarist Conor Goff, forming Dignam & Goff.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/dignam-christy.html|title = Christy Dignam|website = Irish Rock Discography|accessdate= 16 June 2023}}</ref>
However, on 11 July 1993, Aslan reformed, for what was supposed to be a "once off gig" at a friend's party in Finglas. With a reignited spark and new material, Aslan continued to become one of Ireland's most successful bands.<ref name="pride"/> Their studio albums include ''Feel No Shame'', ''Goodbye Charlie Moonhead'', ''Here Comes Lucy Jones'' and ''Waiting for the Madness To End''. They have had two "best of" albums: ''Shame About Lucy Moonhead'' and the triple album ''The Platinum Collection''. They have also had a best-selling live album ''Made in Dublin'' and an official bootleg album (available at gigs) called ''Aslan Live at the Olympia'', which featured appearances from Jerry Fish, Relish and Damien Rice.
In October 2021, his debut solo album ''The Man Who Stayed Alive'' was released by Sony Music Ireland and charted at number 7 on the Official Charts Company's Irish Albums Chart Top 50.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/coldplay-claim-sixth-chart-topping-album-in-ireland-with-music-of-the-spheres__34287/|title = Coldplay claim sixth chart-topping album in Ireland|website = OfficialCharts.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/irish-albums-chart/|title=Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company|website=OfficialCharts.com|accessdate=8 March 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== Dignam met his wife Kathryn at the age of 14, and the couple married in 1988.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2023-06-18 |title=Christy Dignam: ‘For years I was a headless chicken, trying to find out what the world is about... It's about trying to leave it a little bit better than what you found' |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/christy-dignam-for-years-i-was-a-headless-chicken-trying-to-find-out-what-the-world-is-about-its-about-trying-to-leave-it-a-little-bit-better-than-what-you-found/a1310309981.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Independent.ie |language=en}}</ref> They were married for 37 years up until Dignam's death, and had a daughter. He wrote an autobiography (with Damian Corless), ''My Crazy World'', published worldwide by Simon & Schuster in September 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Christy Dignam, despite everything, never stopped singing and never lost his connection to his audience |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2023/06/13/christy-dignam-despite-everything-never-stopped-singing-and-never-lost-his-connection-to-his-audience/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>
==Health== Dignam started using LSD and marijuana at 15, and heroin in his 20s.<ref name=":2" /> He developed an addiction to heroin which he battled for many years, and was arrested in a Garda raid during the late 1980s.<ref name=":0" /> His involvement with the drug caused conflicts which led to his eventual departure from Aslan. He entered multiple drug treatment programmes, including a stint in a rehab programme in a Buddhist monastery, Wat Tham Krabok, in Thailand in 2004. This was featured in the documentary ''Heroin: Facing The Dragon''.<ref name="RTE">Dignam, Christy. "Interview with Pat Kenny". ''The Late, Late Show''. RTĔ Television, Ireland. 12 November 2004.</ref> He also suffered at times from a crack cocaine addiction.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Richard |date=2023-06-13 |title=Christy Dignam: A difficult life marked by abuse, but he found solace in music |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-41161519.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref>
Dignam recounted his story of drug addiction in his autobiography, ''This is Christy Dignam'', co-written by journalist Neil Fetherstonhaugh and published by Merlin Publishing.<ref>{{cite book | last = Dignam | first = Christy | author2 = Neil Fetherstonhaugh | title = This Is-- Christy Dignam | publisher = Merlin Publishing | date = January 2004 | location = Dublin, Ireland | isbn = 1-903582-56-3 | page = [https://archive.org/details/thisischristydig00dign/page/296 296 pages] | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/thisischristydig00dign/page/296 }}</ref> One reviewer said it "should be required reading for anyone hovering on the edges of the drug culture."<ref>{{cite news | title = Shefflin's play host to Dublin veterans | publisher = Waterford News & Star | date = 17 September 2004 | url = http://archives.tcm.ie/waterfordnews/2004/09/17/story15618.asp | accessdate = 4 November 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070304133313/http://archives.tcm.ie/waterfordnews/2004/09/17/story15618.asp | archive-date = 4 March 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
===Diagnoses=== Dignam was initially admitted to hospital with a suspected chest infection; this progressed to pneumonia.
After numerous tests were carried out in March 2013, he was diagnosed with both amyloidosis, in which amyloid proteins build up in the body's organs, and myeloma, a cancer that attacks plasma cells in the bone marrow.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2013/0313/aslan.html|title=Aslan star Christy diagnosed with cancer|work=RTÉ Ten|date=13 March 2013|accessdate=13 March 2013}}</ref>
Upon returning to consciousness, Dignam spoke of having had a near-death experience that prompted doctors to inject him with two shots of adrenaline. Dignam said, "There was a blockage in my arm where the adrenaline was going in, so they had to slit the side of my neck, straight into the jugular and right down into my heart. I felt like I had died for a minute or so, nothing seemed to matter, then suddenly the adrenaline restarted my heart."<ref>{{cite news|first=Ken|last=Sweeney|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/singer-christy-dignam-speaks-of-cancer-battle/29172088.html|title=Singer Christy Dignam speaks of cancer battle|newspaper=Evening Herald|date=3 April 2013|access-date=3 April 2013}}</ref> He underwent chemotherapy for the condition, and as of September 2017, was continuing to receive chemotherapy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-news/theres-no-point-in-cancelling-anything-christy-dignam-says-the-show-must-go-on-despite-incurable-blood-cancer-36115550.html|title='There's no point in cancelling anything,' Christy Dignam says the show must go on despite incurable blood cancer|author=Allison Bray|work=Irish Independent|date=9 September 2017|accessdate=10 September 2017}}</ref>
From 2013, he was in receipt of treatment for amyloidosis however he continued to perform and make public appearances until his condition worsened.
On 16 January 2023, his family announced that Dignam was home since December 2022 and receiving palliative care.<ref>[https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2023/0116/1346964-family-confirm-christy-dignam-receiving-palliative-care/ Family confirm Christy Dignam receiving palliative care], rte.ie. Accessed 7 February 2023.</ref>
===Death=== Dignam died at home on 13 June 2023, at the age of 63.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McGlynn |first1=Michelle |title=Breaking: Aslan's Christy Dignam dies at age 63 |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41161477.html |website=Irish Examiner |access-date=13 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2023/0613/1388967-christy-dignam-death/|title=Aslan frontman Christy Dignam dies at age of 63|last=Crowley|first=Sinéad|publisher=RTÉ News|date=13 June 2023|access-date=13 June 2023}}</ref> Numerous public figures paid tribute to Dignam following his death, including President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and U2 frontman Bono.<ref>{{Cite web |title=‘A true legend of Irish music': Christy Dignam, frontman of Aslan, dies aged 63 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2023/06/13/christy-dignam-frontman-of-aslan-dies-aged-63/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>
==Further reading== *{{cite book | last = Dignam | first = Christy | author2 = Neil Fetherstonhaugh | title = This Is -- Christy Dignam | publisher = Merlin Publishing | date = January 2004 | location = Dublin, Ireland | isbn = 1-903582-56-3 | page = [https://archive.org/details/thisischristydig00dign/page/296 296 pages] | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/thisischristydig00dign/page/296 }}
*{{cite news | title = Aslan to receive Lifetime Achievement award | work = Hot Press | date = 31 January 2005 }} *{{cite book | last = Dignam | first = Christy |author2= Christy Dignam & Damian Corless | title = My Crazy World-- Christy Dignam | publisher = Simon And Schuster | date = September 2019 | location = London, UK | isbn = 978-1-4711-8431-4 | page = 296 pages }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.aslan.ie Aslan website] * {{discogs artist|Christy Dignam}} *[https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/christy-dignams-daughter-kiera-carrying-27034726 Kiera Dignam Singer] [https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/christy-dignams-daughter-kiera-carrying-27034726] at Dublinlive.ie * {{IMDb name|1892763}} * {{Aslan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dignam, Christy}} Category:1960 births Category:2023 deaths Category:Irish rock singers Category:Musicians from County Dublin Category:Deaths from cancer in the Republic of Ireland Category:20th-century Irish male singers Category:21st-century Irish male singers Category:Deaths from multiple myeloma Category:1980s in Irish music Category:1990s in Irish music Category:2000s in Irish music Category:2010s in Irish music Category:2020s in Irish music