Echo helps in Killing Bono
AHEAD of a headline slot at Auntie Annie's in Belfast this Friday night, we were delighted to get the low-down on another range of activities currently underway in the Joe Echo camp.
Enjoying an unparalleled year of highs and successes, the Castledawson man has been consistently pushing the boundaries as a man in love with music.
His activities this last year have saw him rise the ranks, almost under the radar, as one of the country's most formidable artists.
Enjoying stages with the Inishowen Gospel Choir and recently with Paolo Nutini, headlining the acoustic stage at Glasgowbury '09 and penning a song for a certain Madonna will no doubt rank high as highlights with the man himself, but it isn't time to put the feet up just yet as we learned this week in an exclusive talk with the Mid-Ulster based maestro.
"It's called Killing Bono and it's based on the book "I Was Bono's Doppelganger" by Neil McCormick. I've got about eight songs done, finished recording in the last few weeks, and I'll be on set in January as a musical advisor."
The first piece of news concerns the film version of the acclaimed book which will be helmed by Hollywood director Nick Hamm. Featuring iconic actors such as Bill Nighy alongside upstarts such as Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian) and Irish actor Robert Sheehan, Joe Echo will be on set as musical provider and advisor.
Gribbin's involvement seems only natural after extensive work on and off the film set having recorded the soundtrack to forthcoming British film Heartless; itself no stranger to good press reviews.
"I got involved through a girl in London who knew of my work," he said. "They needed someone who was versatile for a film that was going through the punk scene, new romantic music to stadium rock, and they thought of me."
Indeed, versatility is as akin to Joe Echo as breathing to you and me. What began as a singer/songwriter project after Leya parted ways soon morphed into a many headed monster of genres and sounds which has led to collaborations with Andy Cato and Paul Oakenfold - and later the Madonna linkage.
And although the film will be a major jewel in Gribbin's already bulging crown, a few more recent personal achievements have him most pleased.
"Well I was in Australia recently and signed a publishing deal and the major news was getting on the books of booking agent Steve Strange (Coldplay, Queens Of The Stone Age et al).
"It's a massive plus for the next year really and it makes it so much easier to get on bigger bills, get into all the festivals and support the bigger bands," he admitted. "I'm over the moon."
In between times he may jaunt over to the Grammys in the hope that Celebration (sang by Madonna, co-written by Joe Echo) may pick up a gong. "I'm hoping to get over, it's a once in a lifetime achievement, and it would be great to get the chance to go.
"It's every musician's dream to get recognised with a nomination and regardless of whether it wins or not, the recognition is fantastic."
The album, too, is still on the burner and we're promised a release "definitely next year - early to mid 2010" as soon as he gets a chance to get back into the studio.
"The album's well on and I've got about 17 or 18 songs to choose from. There's lots to tidy up but I think if I had a good month in the studio I could get it wrapped up.
"But I'm just happy to be involved in a number of projects because I'm under no illusion; there's no guarantee of success in this game but if I keep plugging away who knows?"
Joe Echo will play Auntie Annies in Belfast this Friday night (December 18th) with support from fellow former Mid-Ulster-ian Silhouette (Shauna Tohill).
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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