The empire strikes back
It's not every band that can attract a private audience of Bono, Guggi and friends to a practice session in the Workman's Club. But Tallaght quartet Bipolar Empire don't do anything by halves.
Peter Murphy, 16 May 2011
We used to rehearse there when it was just sawdust, no lights or anything, we just needed a place to play," explains Bipolar Empire's Callum McAdam. "It was a shame because we had only packed up four minutes before he came in."
"Bono was just walking in to check out the place, to see what the venue was like, and we happened to be there," adds guitarist and vocalist Shane O'Reilly. "And he goes, 'Real rock 'n' roll!'"
Callum: "His mate, I think it was Guggi, goes, 'What kind of sound are yiz lads?' and before we could even answer Bono turns around and goes, 'Well it's kind of like Beach Boys harmonies and early Revolver.' He'd only heard one song but it was mad that he was able to describe it to his friend. He was a lovely bloke."
For the recording of their debut album Feel That You Own It, Bipolar Empire decamped to LA to record with one of this country's most celebrated producers, Pat McCarthy, whose CV includes Madonna's Ray Of Light, Patti Smith's Gone Again and a slew of REM albums.
Callum: "It was quite nerve-wracking when we went over and we were told how fortunate we were to be working with such an iconic producer. He's got so many ideas but he doesn't push you into a corner like Joe Meek, doesn't hold a rifle to your head or anything crazy, he just has complete faith that you'll get the best out of yourself by the end of the recording."
Was he a hard taskmaster?
Shane: "He told me at the start, 'You'll know when I'm angry. I don't go mad – when I'm angry, I go quiet.' And there were a few times when he was overly quiet, I'd be getting carried away for a few hours on a guitar riff, and he wouldn't say anything. Eventually he was like, 'Aaagh! It's been five hours recording guitar overdubs! There are more important things to be doing! The main vocal isn't even done!' But he's very, very creative. He wanted to capture the air in the room. I think he only works with artists if he has a connection with them. He seemed to have a lot of respect for Patti Smith, he was talking about doing a tribute album of Patti Smith songs for the RED company."
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