Gavin Friday: Thief of My Heart

Posted in Kiss Me I'm Irish, Music, Retrovirus |

Since Shag Tobacco, Gavin has not released any solo albums of original work. He did release an audio play of Peter and the Wolf in 2002, but that’s a different animal altogether. This is very bittersweet for me. Bitter, because his work is so good that I wish there was more of it, and sweet because it is a very precious artifact to me. Gavin and his musical partner (Maurice Seezer) have released soundtrack scores to several higher profile films like In The Name of the Father, The Boxer, In America, and Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Most of the film score works have been companion pieces for films by Jim Sheridan.

There is one score that remains unreleased, and that was for Disco Pigs (which was directed by Jim’s daughter Kirsten). That would be the first time I had laid eyes upon the actor Cillian Murphy (yet, another transfixion!) Gavin would later star in Breakfast on Pluto with Cillian, as Cillian’s love interest/Glam Rocker/IRA member a.k.a., Billy Hatchet. Gavin’s charisma has always been top-notch, but after watching that film, I think he was born to act, too! A real renaissance man: music, film. . . and art!

Yes, Gavin is a painter, too! (Sigh again. . . .)

In October 2009, Gavin’s musical history took a turn that has raised some eyebrows (especially the ones on my face!) His pal Bono threw him a mega-music bash on his 50th birthday, known as An Evening with Gavin Friday and Friends. This shindig took place at Carnegie Hall in NYC; apparently, one of Gavin’s lifelong dreams was to perform there. And this is where Gavin’s friends in high places worked in his favor. It wasn’t all self-fellating; it was for the (Red) Nights AIDS benefit concert series, so there was a bit of altruism brimming under the surface.

It was an eclectic mix of performers, which was yet again, another bittersweet moment. I REALLY should’ve attended this show, but tickets that didn’t require a second mortgage were scarfed up before I could act! The main draw (aside from Gavin) that made me weak in the knees was the fact that JG Thirlwell was part of the ensemble (as an adopted member of the Virgin Prunes, nonetheless). I really should’ve been there, but. . . in hindsight, I think I would’ve been disappointed since assholes like Scarlett Johansson, Lady GaGa, and Courtney Love were also part of the evening’s festivities. I hate those losers so fucking much, it would’ve distracted me from the main event! (I know that sounds petty, but seriously. . . what the fuck?)

So, to keep my love untainted by that trio of the aforementioned E.Coli. . . I opted out of going to it. My view of Gavin will never be tarnished as a result. Despite that, he’s still the Thief of My Heart. . . and I am eagerly awaiting his new album slated to come out in 2010 (crosses fingers and heart)!

For a selected discography of Gavin Friday, click here.

Gavin Friday and Cillian Murphy in Breakfast on Pluto, 2005

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