Alright, settle down you lot, time for a little telly talk.
Looks like good ol’ Adam Clayton, bassist for the "world’s biggest rock band" U2, is having a bit of a chinwag about showbands. He’s calling them influential, you know, like your dad’s dusty old records collecting cobwebs in the attic. "U2 owe them an enormous debt," he says. Debt? More like a gentle nod to those swanning about in sparkly suits back in the day.
Personally, I can’t imagine Bono belting out "The Leaving of Liverpool" between stadium anthems, can you?
Anyway, RTÉ and the Irish Independent are having a right old knees-up promoting their TV picks. Ballroom Blitz? Sounds like a right laugh. Murder on the Orient Express? Classic. And Our Little Secret? Well, who doesn’t love a good bit of juicy gossip?
All this talk of TV reminds me, I haven’t done enough swearing today. Right, onto the Irish Examiner’s review of Ballroom Blitz. Seems Clayton’s having a bit of a rediscovery, a "reappraisal" if you will. Fair play to him. Sometimes you need to look back at the old tat to see how far you’ve come.
The Irish Times, bless their hearts, are trying to be all helpful with a TV guide. "The best new shows to watch." They’re probably the kind of people who fold their socks and alphabetize their spice rack. Me? I just chuck it all in a drawer and hope for the best.
And finally, RTÉ chimes in again with their top 10 picks. Ten? That’s practically War and Peace. I’m exhausted just reading the list.
Look, here’s the deal. Life’s too short for bad telly. If it doesn’t make you laugh, cry, or at least raise an eyebrow, switch it off. Go for a walk, have a pint, do something, anything, but don’t waste precious time on rubbish.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find something to watch. Preferably something with explosions.
Keywords: Adam Clayton, U2, showbands, Ballroom Blitz, TV, streaming, Irish Examiner, Irish Times, RTÉ, Irish Independent, Murder on the Orient Express, Our Little Secret, television, reviews, recommendations, top picks.
- Adam Clayton: ‘U2 owe the showbands an enormous debt’ RTÉ News
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Adam Clayton, bassist for iconic Irish rock band U2, acknowledges the profound influence of Irish showbands on the band’s development. In a new documentary titled “Ballroom Blitz”, Clayton praises the showbands for their significant contribution to Irish music.
- TV review: Ballroom Blitz sees U2’s Adam Clayton reappraise the showbands Irish Examiner
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The Irish Examiner published a review of “Ballroom Blitz”, which explores the history and impact of Irish showbands. The review highlights Adam Clayton’s reflections on the showbands’ influence on U2’s music.
- TV guide: the best new shows to watch, beginning tonight The Irish Times
- What’s on? Top 10 TV and streaming tips for Wednesday RTÉ News
How has the energy and performance style of Irish showbands influenced U2’s live shows?
## Tonight on the Chat Show: Adam Clayton on U2’s Inspiration
**Host:** Welcome back to the show! We’ve got a special guest tonight, bassist for the world’s biggest rock band U2, Adam Clayton! Adam, thanks for joining us.
**Adam Clayton:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** You’ve been speaking a lot lately about the influence of showbands on U2’s music. Can you tell us a bit about that?
**Adam Clayton:** Absolutely. When [Bono], [The Edge], and I were growing up in Ireland, showbands were a huge part of the music scene.
They were vibrant, energetic, and they gave us a taste for the excitement of live performance. We owe them a massive debt for paving the way.
**Host:** It must be fascinating to think about how their music helped shape the sound of a band like U2.
**Adam Clayton:** It really is. Looking back on those old records makes me appreciate even more how far we’ve come.
**Host:** Do you think there’s anything about showbands’ music that we could see reflected in U2’s style today?
**Adam Clayton:** I think the sense of showmanship and the ability to connect with the audience are definitely present in both.
**Host:** Well said! Thanks for sharing your insights with us, Adam.
