Yesterday, the Sunday Mirror tabloid (Eire edition) published a new interview with Noel Hogan that should warm the heart of any Cranberries fan: He insists the band will regroup, but he’s not sure when.
Noel also revealed that the Cranberries didn’t intend to start doing solo projects until they had finished their uncompleted sixth album. However, with a number of personal issues, including the illness of Dolores’s mother- in-law, the band decided to take a break earlier than planned.
Here’s the full article:
HOGAN GOES OUT ON HIS OWN WITH THE MONO BAND; BUT HE WILL RETURN WITH CRANBERRIES
By MAEVE QUIGLEYCRANBERRIES guitarist Noel Hogan said the band WILL be back – but not until they have finished their own solo work.
Millionaire Noel – who wrote some of the band’s biggest hits including Linger and Dreams – has just released a new album with his Mono Band.
But he insists that some day he will reunite with his band members and make more Cranberries music.
He said: “We went into the studio almost three years ago and we had started to demo the next album.
“We only had about four or five tracks done when Dolores’s mother-in-law became ill and she had to go back to Canada for a while.
“There was no real rush to get another album out – we weren’t under any real obligations to anyone to get one done.
“We had originally planned to take a break and do our own projects after another album but because of the circumstances we decided to just go and do what we wanted there and then.
“We will see what happens down the road and we haven’t given ourselves any time frame as everyone wanted the time and space to do their own projects properly.
“But definitely at some point we will pick up the phone to each other and say that it’s time to regroup.”
Dolores O’Riordan is working on a solo album which is scheduled for release next month [Editor’s note: this should say “next year,” not “next month”] and Fergal Lawler is also working on his on projects.
Noel said: “Obviously I see Mike as he’s my brother and he’s been helping me out with my live shows by playing in my band.
“I still speak to Ferg and Dolores the odd time on the phone but it’s not like it used to be when we were practically living in each other’s pockets for years.”
Already Mono Band are in demand in America and Noel admits that being in The Cranberries has helped his solo project take off.
But he also has a lot to live up to which is making the 33-year- old very nervous.
Noel said: “There has been a lot of interest in the album in America – we’ve already done a few gigs out there and a few of the tracks have been picked up by radio.
“Being in The Cranberries has opened doors for Mono Band – it has made us much easier than if we were fresh out of the box.”
Noel still lives in Limerick with his wife Catherine and children Sophie, five, and Rachel, four.
He said: “I think it is possible to have an international music career and still be based in Ireland.
“In many ways if I hadn’t stayed in Ireland my personality and everything would have changed and I would have lost the whole idea of what it is to be in a band.”
The Sunday Mirror is also giving away tickets to Mono Band’s gig at Whelan’s at the Budrising Festival. Here’s how to enter:
NOEL Hogan’s Mono Band is just one of the acts that play the BudRising Dublin City Festival from June 1-7.
BudRising will bring music lovers seven days and nights of inspirational sounds in 23 indoor and outdoor venues across Dublin city centre.
Beck, The Las, Jimmy Cliff, Dizzee Rascal, Echo And The Bunnymen and Noel Hogan from the Cranberries’ new outfit Mono Band are just some of the great acts that will be playing.
The BudRising Festival Club at the POD will kick off proceedings at 6pm every evening with a FREE BBQ and end the party with serious dancing shenanigans once the gigs are over.
For more information see www.budrising.ie
We have three pairs of tickets to give away to one lucky reader who will get to see The Las, Jimmy Cliff and Dizzee Rascal at the festival.
Simply call or text us with your answer to the following question, plus your name and contact details.
Q: Which famous multi-million selling band is Noel Hogan a member of?
Is it:
A: THE CRANBERRIES B: THE BLUEBERRIES C: THE STRAWBERRIES
You can e-mail your answer to m.quigley@mgn.co.uk with name address and telephone number or text answer to 086 055 5657 To arrive before midday Tues 31
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
CALLS cost standard rate. One winner will be randomly selected, after the closing date, from all correct entries received. Usual MGN competition rules apply.
More Mono Band news soon!
Source: Sunday Mirror (Eire edition)