Connect with us

Published

on

Mark Sheehan, a guitarist and co-founder of The Script, has died at the age of 46, the band has announced.

The musician died in hospital after a brief illness, according to a statement from the Irish rock band.

“Much loved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend Mark Sheehan passed away today in hospital after a brief illness,” the group Tweeted.

“The family and group ask fans to respect their privacy at this tragic time.”

File photo dated 23/08/15 of Mark Sheehan of The Script performing on the Virgin Media stage during day two of the V Festival, at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex. Mark Sheehan, guitarist for Irish pop band The Script, has died after a brief illness, the band announced on social media.
Image:
Mark Sheehan in 2015
File photo dated 03/09/19 of Danny O'Donoghue (left) and Mark Sheehan of The Script arriving at the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2019 in association with Hugo Boss, held at the Tate Modern in London. Mark Sheehan, guitarist for Irish pop band The Script, has died after a brief illness, the band announced on social media.
Image:
Danny O’Donoghue (left) and Mark Sheehan

The Script were founded in Dublin in 2001 with Sheehan on guitar, his childhood friend Danny O’Donoghue as the lead singer, and Glen Power on drums.

Sheehan and O’Donoghue, who had known each other since they were both 13, had initially left Dublin for Los Angeles to pursue careers in music.

While in the US, the pair worked in songwriting and producing, before returning to Ireland where they recruited Power to the band.

The Script pictured during rehearsals for tonights Childline concert at the O2 in Dublin.
Image:
Mark Sheehan (pictured centre) was a guitarist with The Script
File photo dated 16/06/13 of Danny O'Donoghue (left) and Mark Sheehan of The Script performing on the Main Stage at the Isle of Wight Festival, in Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight. . Mark Sheehan, guitarist for Irish pop band The Script, has died after a brief illness, the band announced on social media.
Image:
Danny O’Donoghue and Mark Sheehan of The Script

Their first album, named The Script, peaked at number one in both the UK and Ireland in 2008, with debut single We Cry charting at 15 in the UK.

Another song from the album, The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, reached number two in the singles charts.

The band’s follow-up album, Science And Faith, was released in 2010 and also hit number one in the UK and Ireland and number three in the US.

Read more:
Rapper Coolio cause of death is revealed
S Club 7’s Paul Cattermole dies ‘unexpectedly’ aged 46

Their third album, named #3, released in 2012, also topped the charts in Ireland and peaked at number two in the UK.

Three more albums followed, No Sound Without Silence, Freedom Child, and Sunsets & Full Moons, all of which reached number one in the album charts in the UK and Ireland.

File photo dated 26/05/13 of (left to right) Glen Power, Danny O'Donoghue and Mark Sheehan of The Script at Radio One's Big Weekend, at Ebrington Square in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Mark Sheehan, guitarist for Irish pop band The Script, has died after a brief illness, the band announced on social media.
Image:
The Script in 2013

They have sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, while their music has featured on a number of popular TV shows, including EastEnders, Made In Chelsea and the US comedy-drama 90210.

‘Such a lovely man’

Paying tribute to Sheehan, fellow Irish rock band Kodaline said in a statement posted to Twitter: “So sorry to hear the passing of Mark Sheehan.

“We had the great fortune of getting to spend time in his company over the years and was always such a lovely man. Deepest condolences to his family and his The Script brothers.”

In a tribute, posted on social media, Irish pop duo Jedward wrote: “Everyone in the Irish music industry and worldwide mourn your loss RIP Mark such a talented musician from The Script one of the most iconic Irish groups of our generation.”

Sheehan was a father-of-three. He spent most of his time in the US with his American wife Rina. The pair were married for more than 20 years.

Sheehan missed nearly a year of gigs in 2021 and early 2022 to be close to his family.

He was due to join up with the band later this year to support US pop star P!nk for her European tour.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Drummer Zak Starkey speaks out after leaving The Who

Published

on

By

Drummer Zak Starkey speaks out after leaving The Who

Drummer Zak Starkey has said he is “surprised and saddened” after parting ways with The Who following recent charity shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

The musician, who is the son of The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and his first wife, Maureen Starkey, had been with the band since 1996, when he joined for their Quadrophenia tour.

He was introduced to drumming as a child by “Uncle Keith” – The Who drummer and family friend Keith Moon, who died in 1978.

20 June 2023, Berlin: Zak Starkey, drummer, of the band The Who plays at the concert of The Who with Orchestra - "Hits Back!" at the Waldb'hne in Berlin. Photo by: Carsten Koall/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Image:
Pic: Carsten Koall/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

Earlier this week, the band issued a statement saying a “collective decision” had been made about his departure. It came after their Teenage Cancer Trust shows in March.

A review of one gig, published in the Metro, suggested frontman Roger Daltrey – who launched the annual gig series for the charity in 2000 – was “frustrated” with the drumming during some tracks.

Now, Starkey has issued a statement to Rolling Stone, saying he is “very proud” of his near 30 years with The Who.

“Filling the shoes of my Godfather, ‘Uncle Keith’ has been the biggest honour and I remain their biggest fan,” he said. “They’ve been like family to me.”

More on The Who

In January, Starkey suffered a blood clot in his right leg and a performance with his other band Mantra Of The Cosmos – which also features Shaun Ryder and Bez from Happy Mondays, and Andy Bell of Ride and Oasis – was cancelled.

Referencing this in his statement to Rolling Stone, Starkey said: “I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.”

He continued: “After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, I’m surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night, but what can you do?”

Starkey said he planned to “take some much needed time off with my family” and focus on the release of Mantra Of The Cosmos single Domino Bones, which features Noel Gallagher, as well as his autobiography.

“Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best,” he added.

Starkey has also previously played with Oasis, Lightning Seeds and Johnny Marr.

While Daltrey starts a solo tour at the weekend, The Who have two shows planned for Italy in July but no full tour. Details of a replacement for Starkey have not been announced.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Muscles from Brussels Jean-Claude Van Damme sends ‘big kiss’ to Putin with ambassadorial job request

Published

on

By

Muscles from Brussels Jean-Claude Van Damme sends 'big kiss' to Putin with ambassadorial job request

Jean Claude Van Damme appears to have told Vladimir Putin that he wants to come to Russia as an ‘”ambassador of peace”.

In a bizarre video posted on Telegram by a pro-Russian journalist from Ukraine, a man purporting to be the Hollywood action hero said he would be “honoured” to take on such a role.

Addressing the Kremlin leader directly, he said: “We want to come to Russia. We’ll try to do this the way you want to do this – to be an ambassador of peace.”

It would not be the first time the man nicknamed “The Muscles from Brussels” has visited Russia.

In 2010, he enjoyed ringside seats alongside Putin at a mixed martial arts event in Sochi.

The Belgian-born former bodybuilder shares a love of fighting with the Russian president, who is himself a judo black belt, and they are said to have known each other for years.

Tiptoeing around the topic of Russia’s war in Ukraine and its ongoing stand-off with the West, Van Damme promised to talk “only about peace, sport and happiness” and not politics, before signing off the video with a “big kiss for Putin”.

More on Russia

Most celebrities have turned their back on Vladimir Putin since he launched his invasion in February 2022 but a handful continue to defend him. Of those, American actor Steven Seagal is the most high profile.

The Under Siege star, who holds a Russian passport and is a frequent visitor to the country, acts as Moscow’s special representative for Russian-US humanitarian ties.

But when we caught up with him at Putin’s latest presidential inauguration last year, he refused to say why he supports the Kremlin leader…

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Steven Seagal calls Sky’s question about Putin ‘stupid’

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Gossip Girl and Buffy star Michelle Trachtenberg died as a result of complications from diabetes, medical examiner says

Published

on

By

Gossip Girl and Buffy star Michelle Trachtenberg died as a result of complications from diabetes, medical examiner says

Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg died as a result of complications from diabetes, New York City’s medical examiner has said.

The 39-year-old, who was also known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Harriet the Spy, was found dead at her home in New York City after officers responded to a 911 call on 26 February.

According to a source quoted by Sky News’ US partner network NBC, she had recently received a liver transplant.

At the time of her death, officials said no foul play was suspected, and the medical examiner’s office had listed her death as “undetermined”.

Trachtenberg’s family had objected to a post-mortem, which the medical examiner’s office honoured because there was no evidence of criminality.

But the medical examiner’s office said in a statement on Thursday it amended the cause and manner of death for the actress following a review of laboratory test results.

Trachtenberg was best known for her role as Dawn Summers in Buffy, the younger sister of the title character played by Sarah Michelle Gellar between 2000 and 2003.

More from Ents & Arts

Michelle Trachtenberg. File pic: AP
Image:
Michelle Trachtenberg. Pic: AP

Read more from Sky News:
What you can’t now bring into Britain from EU under new rules

Birmingham bin workers urged to accept ‘fair’ offer

Between 2008 and 2012, she played Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl – the malevolent rival of Blake Lively’s Serena van der Woodsen and Leighton Meester’s Blair Waldorf.

She also starred in the movie 17 Again, where she portrayed daughter Maggie O’Donnell, comedy film Eurotrip and the 2005 teen film Ice Princess.

In 2001, she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for hosting Discovery’s Truth or Scare.

Continue Reading

Trending