Aslan

Irish rock group Aslan were tipped at one point to follow in the footsteps of U2 in conquering America. Sadly, Aslan imploded in 1988 on the very day their debut single was due to be released stateside, but regrouped half a decade later and forged a legacy that has seen them become one of Ireland's most popular and enduring acts. Inspired by David Bowie, the Smiths, and the Rolling Stones, Aslan crashed onto the Irish music scene in 1986 with the release of debut single "This Is," an entirely self-funded effort that earned them a record deal with EMI Ireland and would go on to become the longest playlisted track in the history of Irish radio. Following their mid-'90s re-formation, Aslan's music became softer and more melodically mature, evoking the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and contemporaries Oasis, and their domestic profile continued to rise through the '90s, establishing them as one of the country's most successful touring acts. Singer Christy Dignam, a classically trained tenor, guitarist Joe Jewell, and bassist Tony McGuiness first came together in 1980 under the moniker Meelah XVIII. Meelah XVIII's greatest achievement was a brief session recorded for Dave Fanning, an influential DJ at national radio station 2FM, but they disbanded before long. In 1983, the three teamed up again with guitarist Billy McGuinness (no relation) and drummer Alan Downey, adopting the name Aslan in deference to the heroic lion in C.S. Lewis' classic Narnia series. Building a strong live following in the then-economically deprived city, the band finally scraped together enough money to issue the "This Is" single in 1986, and quickly followed it with the Smiths-like numbers "Please Don't Go" and "Loving Me Lately" the same year. A short tour of the U.K. that summer led the BBC's Radio 1 to...