Local band vying to play with their heroes

A ROCK band with a frontman from Firhouse has launched a campaign to secure a place as a support act for an upcoming gig by legendary bands Def Leppard and Motley Crue in Dublin, reports Aideen O’Flaherty.

The two seminal bands are joint headliners for a gig in Marlay Park next July, and local rock band WALKER are vying to be on the line-up alongside their heroes, as a support act.

WALKER, who have played gigs in venues around the city including Fibbers, consists of frontman and Firhouse native Glen Walker, guitarist Kelan Hughes, drummer Ali Cruz and bassist Pete Jordan.

The band now wants to bring their energetic live show to a larger audience, and in that vein they recently published a new campaign video calling on MCD, Motley Crue and Def Leppard to add WALKER to the line-up for the Marlay Park gig as an opening act.

At the time of going to print, the campaign video had amassed over 60,000 views, and while the band has acknowledged that it could be considered a hare-brained scheme, they’re willing to give it a try.

Frontman Glen Walker said: “We have been gigging and releasing music for over half a decade.

“We’ve had the privilege of working with music producer Michael Wagener (Ozzy Osbourne, Queen, Metallica etc.) and we were grateful to be included on the bill for MCD’s Sunstroke Festival in 2020.

“We are on a mission and we’d love it if you’d help us spread the word!

“We’re hoping to attract the attention of gig promoters MCD, Def Leppard and Motley Crue.”

The band unveiled a large banner with the caption ‘LET WALKER OPEN FOR DEF LEPPARD AND MOTLEY CRUE IN DUBLIN’ in their campaign video, which they hope will reach a decision maker.

“It’s a stupid idea, but not stupid if it works,” said Glen. “And it just might, with hundreds of positive comments and well wishes from hopeful fans.”

The group’s campaign video, titled A Message for Def Leppard & Motley Crue, is out now on YouTube.