Here’s who graced the grounds of Slane Castle since the beginning of time (or the beginning of Slane). From rock ‘n’ roll legends The Rolling Stones (twice) to metal legends Guns ‘n’ Roses to beat legend Bob Dylan, Slane has hosted some of the finest acts from around the world. The Thin White Duke landed in 1987 with support from none other than Dublin band Aslan, what a combo! In 1993 Neil Young headlined with a supporting line up never since beaten including Pearl Jam, Van Morrison, Saw Doctors and 4 Non Blondes.
1986 personified the era of the eighties with Queen, Chris Rea, The Bangles and Fountain Head (who?). Somebody must have been fired over 2000 – Bryan Adams, Macey Gray and Melanie C, how very un-Slane-like. Sorry to diss Bryan Adams but Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Freddie Mercury and Phil Lynott more than filled the headline slot, Brian or Byran Adams is like a child in the big kids playground.
Your thoughts?
16th August 1981
THIN LIZZY
U2/HazelO’Connor/Rose Tattoo
Sweet Savage/The Bureau/Megahype
24th July 1982
ROLLING STONES
J.Geils Band/The Chieftans/George Thorogood and the Destroyers
8th July 1984
BOB DYLAN
UB40/Santanta/In Tua Nua
1st June 1985
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
5th July 1986
QUEEN
Chris Rea/Bangles/Fountain Head
11th July 1987
DAVID BOWIE
Big Country/Aslan/The Grove
16th May 1992
GUNS ‘N’ ROSES
Faith No More/My Little Funhouse
10th July 1993
NEIL YOUNG
Pearl Jam/Van Morrison/Saw Doctors/James/ 4 Non Blondes/ The Blue Angels
22nd July 1995
REM
Oasis/Spearhead/Sharon Shannon/Belly/Luka Bloom
29th August 1998
THE VERVE
Manic Street Preachers/Robbie Williams/Finlay Quaye/The Sea Horses/James/Junkster
28th August 1999
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
Stereophonics/Placebo/Happy Mondays/Gomez/David Gray/Simon Carmody
26th August 2000
BRYAN ADAMS
Moby/Macy Gray/Melanie C/Muse/Eagle – Eye Cherry/Dara/Screaming Orphans
25th August 2001
U2
Red Hot Chili Peppers/Coldplay/Kelis/JJ72/Relish
1st September 2001
U2
Moby/Ash/Nelly Furtado/The Walls/Dara
21st August 2002
STEREOPHONICS
The Charlatans/Nickelback/Counting Crows/Ocean ColourScene/Doves/The Revs
23rd August 2003
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Foo Fighters/Queens of Stone Age/PJ Havey/Feeder.
29th August 2005
MADONNA
18th August 2007
ROLLING STONES
The Charlatans/The Hold Steady/Tinariwen/Frankie Gavin
20th June 2009
OASIS
The Prodigy/Kasabian/Glasvegas/The Blizzards
