Post by earl on Apr 24, 2008 19:32:24 GMT
;D ;D Straight from the pages of Fr. Ted!
Forget scantily-clad school-girls, writhing Romanians and pompadoured heart-throbs - Epic records have a new pitch for super-stardom, and it's a trio more accustomed to church basements than to concert halls. They call themselves the Priests and they are ... well, they're priests.
Father Martin O'Hagan, 45, his brother Eugene, 48, and their school chum David Delargy, 44, have together signed a £1m contract with Sony BMG's Epic records. They all three hold parishes in the Northern Ireland diocese of Down and Connor. And they sing, we should think, like angels.
The Priests pledge that proceeds from their music will go to charity, and that a special clause in their contract ensures their parishes will not languish. They can for instance skip out on promotional duties if there is a funeral that needs to be presided over. "Our [parish] work means a great deal to us," Father Martin said. "We are priests first and foremost. Our work will be at the heart of our plans."
The three men first teamed up at St MacNissi's college, Co Antrim, where they were nicknamed Holy Holy Holy for their religious fervour. They all attended The Seminary in Belfast and concluded their training at the Irish college in Rome before returning to Ireland. They were "discovered" last year by an Irish pop musician who persuaded them to make a demo, which he took to Sony BMG.
Father Eugene said his own music tasted tended towards the "catholic", with the quartet Il Divo a particular favourite. Father David said: "My first ever purchase was Blondie - Parallel Lines." And Father Martin said: "I enjoy a bit of jazz and very relaxing music."
The signing was announced on the steps of Westminster cathedral. "Their voices are incredible," said Epic's managing director, Nick Raphael. "They're going to be wonderful global superstars." Father David was, inevitably, self-effacing. "We are singing sacred music," he said, "continuing what we have always been doing." Presumably Raphael's not yet told them about the sequin jumpsuits.
The priests' as-yet-untitled debut record is planned for release around November.
_________________________________________________________
"Sorry lads. Can't play Wembly. Have to do a Wake."
Forget scantily-clad school-girls, writhing Romanians and pompadoured heart-throbs - Epic records have a new pitch for super-stardom, and it's a trio more accustomed to church basements than to concert halls. They call themselves the Priests and they are ... well, they're priests.
Father Martin O'Hagan, 45, his brother Eugene, 48, and their school chum David Delargy, 44, have together signed a £1m contract with Sony BMG's Epic records. They all three hold parishes in the Northern Ireland diocese of Down and Connor. And they sing, we should think, like angels.
The Priests pledge that proceeds from their music will go to charity, and that a special clause in their contract ensures their parishes will not languish. They can for instance skip out on promotional duties if there is a funeral that needs to be presided over. "Our [parish] work means a great deal to us," Father Martin said. "We are priests first and foremost. Our work will be at the heart of our plans."
The three men first teamed up at St MacNissi's college, Co Antrim, where they were nicknamed Holy Holy Holy for their religious fervour. They all attended The Seminary in Belfast and concluded their training at the Irish college in Rome before returning to Ireland. They were "discovered" last year by an Irish pop musician who persuaded them to make a demo, which he took to Sony BMG.
Father Eugene said his own music tasted tended towards the "catholic", with the quartet Il Divo a particular favourite. Father David said: "My first ever purchase was Blondie - Parallel Lines." And Father Martin said: "I enjoy a bit of jazz and very relaxing music."
The signing was announced on the steps of Westminster cathedral. "Their voices are incredible," said Epic's managing director, Nick Raphael. "They're going to be wonderful global superstars." Father David was, inevitably, self-effacing. "We are singing sacred music," he said, "continuing what we have always been doing." Presumably Raphael's not yet told them about the sequin jumpsuits.
The priests' as-yet-untitled debut record is planned for release around November.
_________________________________________________________
"Sorry lads. Can't play Wembly. Have to do a Wake."