After a brief illness, an Irish pop trio announces the passing of a “much loved bandmate.”
After a brief illness, 46-year-old Mark Sheehan, guitarist for the Irish pop group the Script, passed away at a hospital.
In 2001, Sheehan founded the group with drummer Glen Power and vocalist Danny O’Donoghue.
Mark Sheehan, a beloved husband, father, brother, bandmate, and friend, passed away today in a hospital following a brief illness, the band stated in a statement posted on their social media platforms.
The family and group beg that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.
Sheehan has three children with Reena Sheehan, whom he married after they first met while she was employed as a studio vocalist.
Sheehan took a vacation to spend time with his family, according to O’Donoghue’s Sunday World interview from the previous year, when the guitarist missed the band’s US leg of the tour. The gang, he said, was in favour of Sheehan’s choice, and he referred to them as “a band of brothers” who “stick together no matter what.”
Later, Sheehan reconnected with his bandmates for a handful of performances throughout Ireland. This summer, the quartet will tour the UK and Europe as Pink’s opening act.
Growing up in Dublin, O’Donoghue and Sheehan had been closest friends since they were 12 years old.
2008 saw the release of The Script’s self-titled debut album, which immediately shot to the top of the charts in the UK and Ireland. We Cry, Breakeven, and The Man Who Can’t Be Moved were among its top successes; the last peaked at No. 2 in the UK singles charts.
The band collected more UK No. 1 albums between 2010 and 2019 than any other Irish group.
Former Westlife vocalist Brian McFadden referred to the news as “devastating” in a tweet. He said, “Mark was one of the good guys!”
“Today we lost another young legend of music,” ex-Boyzone vocalist Mikey Graham, whose bandmate Stephen Gately passed away unexpectedly in 2009 from an undetected heart disease, stated.
“I can and can comprehend the suffering Glen & Danny, as well as their families, are going through right now. You have my complete love and support at this time. Mark, you will return home on the strength of the music you gave the world.
Laura Whitmore, a former Love Island anchor, posted on Instagram, saying: “Thinking of you all at this time. One of the kindest and most accomplished persons you could ever meet was Mark.
Sheehan was described as “one of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve ever had the pleasure of touring with and getting to know” by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder in a tweet. “Mark, you will be missed,” he remarked.
Sheehan’s passing came as “a great shock to music lovers everywhere and to the Script’s legions of fans around the world,” according to Irish Culture Minister Catherine Martin. She said, “My sincere condolences to his family, bandmates, and friends.”
This report was made possible by PA Media.
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