Aslan's Billy McGuinness makes honest admission about new lead singer Lee Tomkins
Lee joined the group in February, less than a year after Christy Dignam's passing in June 2023
Aslan star Billy McGuinness has admitted the band “knew it was going to be tough” when they announced new frontman Lee Tomkins would be joining the band.
But the Co Meath star said they never wanted Lee to “replace Christy” after his death in 2023. Opening up about Lee being part of the band for the past eight months, Billy said he’s “fitting in great”.
The 63-year-old told the Irish Mirror: “We knew it was going to be tough. That is why we started off with all the small gigs so we started small in March. The Australian tour was a big boost for us because the gigs were sold out over there. We’re going back to Australia next year.
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“The plan is then if The Academy goes well, then the next step is the Olympia. It’s baby steps, we’re getting out there. We’re not trying to conquer the world. We’re trying to play our music. The songs are great, we enjoy playing them. Lee is fitting in great. He is a great singer and he brings his own stamp, his own dynamic.”
Billy admitted the worst thing they could’ve done is “try and find a Christy lookalike”. “The worst thing we could’ve done is try and find a Christy lookalike. He’s on guitar and that changed the sound. The sound is more rockier. It’s a different Aslan but it still has the same core as Aslan.
“It’s a new journey. It’s very exciting. We’re loving it. I mean at our age; we should be putting on the pipe and slippers,” he said, laughing.
Crazy World singer Christy died on June 13 last year at the age of 63, after suffering from cancer for a decade. Billy previously told the Sunday World: “Myself, Joe and Alan were in a very dark period when Christy passed, and now we’re finally out of that.
“It’s a year and three months on and the cloud that was over us is well and truly gone. We have come out of it.”
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