Script (The) Biography

The Script is an alternative rock band from Dublin, Ireland. Currently based in London after signing to Sony Label Group imprint Phonogenic, the band released their debut album of the same name in August 2008. Their music has been featured in video games and the popular teen programmes 90210 and Waterloo Road.

Beginning

Danny O'Donoghue and Mark Sheehan met in a club in The Liberties area of Mount Brown, inner-city, Dublin 8, near the Guinness brewery, gravitating to each other through a shared liking of music, and in particular a love of American black music. "At that time, MTV only came on in Dublin after midnight, it was the fuzzy channel, and for my generation black culture was just a wave through us all," explains Sheehan. "It wasn't about gangs and guns; it was fashion and fun, singing and dancing."

Mark and Danny were formerly part of a band that had formed in 1996 called MyTown. They achieved moderate success in Ireland and the UK but were overshadowed by the thriving boyband circuit. There were three members; Danny O'Donoghue, Mark Sheehan, Glen Power.

Striking up a songwriting and production partnership, O'Donoghue and Sheehan's talent was recognized early, and, to their astonishment, they found themselves invited to Canada to collaborate with some of their production heroes, including such legends of modern R&B as Dallas Austin, Montell Jordan and Teddy Riley. They were based in the US for many years, but moved back to Dublin where they recruited Glen Power for their new band. He had been playing sessions from the age of fifteen, using the money to work on a solo project in his home. But that went on hold when his collaboration with Mark and Danny produced three songs in one week. "I had never had a chance with any other band to express myself with such freedom." The band signed to Phonogenic in 2005, and released an EP on Last.FM. The band's influences include a diverse group of artists that include U2, The Police, The Neptunes, Timbaland, and Van Morrison, all of which contribute to their distinct sound. On July 17, 18 and 21, 2009, they performed at Citi Field as the opening act for Paul McCartney.

Breakthrough and The Script

The Script performed "We Cry" for the first time on BalconyTV in Dublin on 13 September 2007. The band claimed that BalconyTV was the "first TV they ever did" when they won Best Band at the DanishTV Music Video Awards 2009 in the Pepper Club Dublin on 20 June 2008. At the awards the band said the award was their "first ever". The Script released their debut single "We Cry" on 14 April 2008. "We Cry" received "Single of the Day" on RTÉ 2FM, Today FM and by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 1, where many radio presenters heavily supported the band. The single peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, giving the band their first top 20 single. The track also performed well on the Irish Singles Chart, peaking at number 9 and giving the band their first top ten single in their home country. The Script also performed 'We Cry' on one of the CW's tv series, 90210.

Their second single, "The Man Who Can't Be Moved", was released on 15 September 2008. The single achieved high peak positions in most non-European countries, reaching number 2 in Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom. The band released their debut album, The Script, on the 11 August 2008. Following the success of "The Man Who Can't Be Moved", the album entered the UK Album Chart at number one with sales of 20,240 copies where it stayed for eleven weeks. The album spent three weeks in the top ten and was the eighteenth best selling album in the UK of 2008. The album also entered the Spanish Album Chart at number one, holding the top spot for five weeks. It had, of January 2009, spent 2 weeks in the top ten. The Irish office of Sony BMG music presented the group with their first multi platinum award disc for over 600,000 sales of their debut album, ‘The Script’.

The band's third single, "Breakeven", was released in Ireland on 21 November 2008 and in the UK on 29th Dec 2008. The single was an instant success on the Irish Singles Chart. After entering the chart at number forty, it spent one week before entering the top ten at number ten giving the Script their third top ten single in Russia. The single has, to date, spent 4 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 21. The band's fourth single "Talk You Down" was released in March 2009.

On 9 November The Script received an award at the World Music Awards for 'Best Selling Irish Act' of 2008. The band has confirmed that they plan to write a track for Leona Lewis's second album. In December 2008, the band were confirmed to be supporting Take That at their concert at Croke Park on 13 June 2009. The band played at the Cheerio's Childline concert on the opening night of Dublin's 02. They played among big stars Enrique Iglesias, Anastacia, The Pet Shop Boys and many more.

In January 2009, it was announced that The Script were nominated for a number of awards at the 2009 Meteor Ireland Music Awards which will be announced on 17 March 2009 and in the same month it was also announced they are up for Best Album at the Choice Music Prize to be announced in early March. A 17 March 2009 US release of The Script self-titled debut album was announced by Syco on 8 January. The band will also be featured in VH1's promotion You Oughta Know. On 18 March 2009, they won Best Irish Album and Best Irish Band at the 2009 Meteor Ireland Music Awards.


On 7 April 2009 the band was confirmed to be supporting U2 on their third concert at Croke Park, which will take place on 27 July 2009. On 29 April 2009, the band announced that their next single would be Before The Worst, to be released on 15 June 2009. In July 2009, The Script opened for Paul McCartney at the historic first concerts at New York's Citi Field and for U2 at Dublin's Croke Park.

The band's bonus track and B-side "Live Like We're Dying" was re-recorded by American Idol 2009 winner Kris Allen as the first single off of his self-titled album. Allen's version of "Live Like We're Dying" was digitally released as for download on 21 September 2009.

On 2 December 2009 the band's single "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" was featured as a remix on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show during the Enchanted Forest segment.

On 19 February 2010, they won Best Live Performance at the 2010 Meteor Ireland Music Awards.

On 16 April 2010, their first U.S. single "Breakeven" was certified Platinum by the RIAA (the Recording Industry Association of America), selling over one million copies in the U.S.

It has been announced that they will be doing a headlining tour across the U.S. in the autumn of 2010, kicking off in San Diego on October 11.

On 21 May 2010, they appeared live on NBC's Today Show as part of the show's outdoor summer Toyota Concert Series.

The song "Breakeven" has since peaked at #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 2010.

The Script announced a new album and single on their website on Monday 19th July.

The first single from upcoming album Science and Faith has been confirmed to be a song named "For The First Time". "For The First Time" was released in September 2010 and the album Science and Faith was released on the 13th September.

The Song "For The First Time" has entered the UK charts at #5.