Foo Fighters are kings of the castle tonight at Slane. They'll be the the 25th headline act to play the Boyne-side venue. Odran De Bhaldraithe looks back at the bands and artists who have rocked the ramparts since 1981
The Slane Concert is the brainchild of rock and roll aristocrat and owner of Slane Castle, Henry Conyngham. Though the concert doesn’t happen every year (tonight's will be the 24th in 35 years), it still remains as one of the biggest events on the Irish music calendar. Here, we take a look at the past concerts and what it was that made Slane what it is today.
Thin Lizzy, August 16, 1981
Thin Lizzy’s rock `n' roll outlaw appeal was beginning to fade somewhat in 1981, but their appearance as headliners at the inaugural Slane Concert is often referenced as a late career highlight for the Phil Lynott's classic Dublin rockers. 30,000 people converged Boyne-side to see them supported by Megahype, The Bureau, Sweet Savage, Rose Tattoo, Hazel O’Connor and a band who would get to know Slane very closely over the decades to come - U2.
The Rolling Stones, July 24, 1982
For its second showing, Slane went international as 100,000 people paid the small price of £12.00 to see George Thorogood and the Destroyers, The Chieftains and The J. Geils Band support the musical juggernaut that is The Rolling Stones.
U2, August 14, 1983
The way we were
1983 was the year the Slane Concert wasn’t in Slane. U2's mission for world domination was really beginning to gather pace and they planned to rally the troops with a show of strength in Slane as part of their War Tour, but the venue was refused planning permission and so the 1983 Slane concert took place in the Phoenix Park Racecourse.
Bob Dylan, July 8, 1984
Slane’s 1984 concert is the reason why the event is rarely, if ever, held on a Sunday. When gig-goers arrived the day before, they rampaged through the small town of Slane, setting fire to three cars and attacking the local Garda station, injuring 12 Gardaí. Two young men also drowned in the River Boyne. On stage, folk hero Bob Dylan played for over two hours, bringing out Carlos Santana, Van Morrison and Bono, who was living in the castle at the time as U2 recorded The Unforgettable Fire there.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, June 1, 1985
Springsteen and his band of merry accomplices are the only act to ever play the Slane Concert without support and in 1985, they showed why. Playing for almost three hours, The Boss showed a crowd of 75,000 people that support acts are for wimps. Images of the River Boyne were famously displayed on the screen as Springsteen performed The River; this footage was kept and used for the rest of his tour.
Queen, July 5, 1986
Queen’s tour in the summer of 1986 was their last with Freddie Mercury. Playing to a crowd of 95,000 (only bested by their performances in England’s Wembley Arena and Knebworth Park), Mercury shook Irish souls one last time. Whether or not they knew it, the concert-goers witnessed history being made.
David Bowie, July 11, 1987
In the ‘80s, there were only a handful of acts that could make a big concert like Slane both culturally significant and profitable. Lord Mountcharles had already secured U2, Queen and Springsteen as well as legends like The Stones and Dylan. Now he wanted Bowie. And he got him. But Bowie’s performance would be the last of the decade in Slane. Radio silence ensued for the next five years.
Guns ‘n’ Roses, May 16, 1992
The Slane Concert rose from the dead in 1992, with world-conquering Guns ‘n’ Roses providing the resuscitation. The hard-rockers were said to have been very moved by a present of 40-year-old whiskey and a barrel of Guinness from U2, who you’d be forgiven for mistaking as the owners of Slane Castle at this point.
Neil Young, July 10, 1993
1993 was a mixture of legends and legends in the making. Neil Young topped an extraordinary bill that grunge heroes Pearl Jam and Irish treasures Van Morrison and the Saw Doctors.
R.E.M., July 22, 1995
After taking 1994 off, Slane came back with a bang in 1995, playing host to alt-rock giants R.E.M. Support came from a group of rowdy upstarts from Manchester called Oasis, who had recently finished their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? A rock was hurled at Liam Gallagher during Roll with It. Liam did not roll with it and his response has gone down in infamy. Unfortunately, two young men drowned in the River Boyne in an attempt to gain free entry into the concert, which led to a two-year hiatus for the concerts.
The Verve, August 29, 1998
Slane returned with a roar in 1998, hosting something of a British invasion as headliners The Verve were supported by Welsh rockers Manic Street Preachers, who would release the Irish number one album This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours weeks later, and future Slane headliner, Robbie Williams.
Robbie Williams, August 28, 1999
In 1999, Slane went pop as Robbie Williams returned, this time as court jester turned pop king. He performed to 95,000 people and the concert was broadcast live. It was a very British affair, with support coming from David Gray, Placebo, Happy Mondays and future headliners Stereophonics.
Bryan Adams, August 26, 2000
Summer of ’00 doesn’t have the same ring to it as Summer of ’69, but Canadian soft-rocker Bryan Adams closed out the first summer of the new millennium with a two-hour set. Support came from Muse, Macy Gray and Moby, among others.
U2, August 25 and September 1, 2001
U2’s return to Slane was such a big deal that then-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern introduced emergency legislation to allow them to play a second concert a week after the first to meet the incredible demand for tickets. Both gigs had totally different support acts, with highlights including Moby, Red Hot Chili Peppers. The date of the second gig coincided with Ireland’s World Cup qualification showdown with The Netherlands (the one with the Jason McAteer goal) and the game was shown on a large screen at the request of fans. Fittingly, the band’s U2 Go Home video was filmed at the concerts.
Stereophonics, August 24, 2002
Having supported Robbie Williams in 1999, Stereophonics returned to headline Slane in 2002. Support came from the Charlatans, Doves and Nickelback among others.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, August 23, 2003
Having supported U2 in 2001, the Chilis clearly liked what they saw and they returned for a headlining slot in 2003. The concert also saw tonight's headliners, Foo Fighters, take the Slane stage for the first time, having cancelled their performance in support of U2, also in 2001. Other highlights on the bill included stoner-rockers Queens of the Stone Age and Feeder.
Madonna, August 29, 2004
In 2004, Slane went pop again, but this time in more ways than one. Iggy Pop and the Stooges provided support for the Queen of Pop herself. The concert is notable for being the only Slane Concert to take place on a Sunday since the infamous happenings of the Bob Dylan gig in 1984, although the Madonna fan base proved to be a lot less unruly.
The Rolling Stones, August 18, 2007
25 years after their first headlining gig at Slane, The Rolling Stones returned to become only the second repeat headliners in Slane history, and the only band to have actually played Slane Castle as headliners twice as U2’s 1983 headline gig was moved to Phoenix Park. With tickets costing a bit more than £12.00 this time, The Stones rocked a crowd of over 80,000 people, with support coming from The Charlatans, The Hold Steady and more.
Oasis, June 20, 2009
Oasis’ 2009 headline gig at Slane should be remembered for having the greatest on-stage guest in Slane Concert history. Never mind Bob Dylan bringing out Bono and Van Morrison, the Gallaghers brought out their mother, Peggy. After supporting R.E.M. in ’95, Oasis returned on their game as headliners, closing out the show with a mouth-watering encore of Don’t Look Back in Anger, Falling Down and Champagne Supernova. It was, as Liam Gallagher put it, “f***ing biblical”.
Kings of Leon, May 28, 2011
Kings of Leon were pretty much the biggest band in Ireland, at least, in 2011 so it made perfect sense for them to headline the 2011 Slane Concert. To celebrate, the band played their longest ever set, with 25 songs and a four song encore.
Bon Jovi, June 15, 2013
After taking 2012 off, Slane decided to atone by staging two concerts. The first saw Bon Jovi supported by Bressie, The Coronas and Ham Sandwich.
Eminem, August 17, 2013
The second saw Eminem’s return come full circle and hip-hop finally make its way to Slane. Having cancelled his scheduled 2005 appearance to enter rehab, Marhsall Mathers redeemed himself with a jam-packed bill including young talent such as Chance the Rapper and Odd Future members EarlWolf, as well as English rap/soul hybrid Plan B.
