Ulster band Ash to support U2 on tour

By Maureen Coleman

21 April 2005

 

Rock band Ash was today confirmed as the second Ulster act to support U2 on their Vertigo Tour this summer.

 

The Downpatrick foursome will back the Irish supergroup in Zurich on July 18, Milan on July 20 and 21 and Rome on July 23.

 

However, despite press speculation, the band is not lined up to support U2 on their second date at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday, June 25.

 

Northern Irish indie group Snow Patrol were one of the first acts unveiled as support to U2 on the massive European leg of their current tour.

 

The Belfast and Bangor band are set to play Croke Park on the first of U2's double date in Dublin.

 

But as yet, no act has been confirmed for the second date.

 

The news that Ash will tour with Bono and co was announced on U2's website.

 

Ash - Tim Wheeler, Charlotte Hatherley, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray - are currently on tour in the US with New York's The Bravery.

 

The band was formed in Downpatrick by Wheeler and Hamilton when they were still at school.

 

Since the release of their debut album 1977 in 1996, the band has notched up numerous Top Ten singles including Goldfinger, Oh Yeah, Burn Baby Burn, Shining Light and Starcrossed.

 

They've also won a string of awards, including Q's Single of the Year for Burn Baby Burn in 2001, and Hot Press Album of the Year for Free All Angels in 2002.

 

Ash recently became the first band to be have their music included on Star Wars merchandise, when George Lucas used the single Clones as the title theme of the video game Republic Commando.