Mark Sheehan dies: Guitarist and co-founder of Irish band The Script was 46

Mark Sheehan, co-founder of popular Irish rock trio The Script, died today after a short illness, the band announced. He was 46. Further details were not released.

“Beloved husband, father, brother, band mate and friend Mark Sheehan passed away today in hospital after a short illness,” the band wrote. posted on social media. “The family and band ask fans to respect their privacy at this tragic time.”

The Irish Record Music Association named The Script their official Irish Charts Artist of the Decade and the group achieved more success and albums than any other Irish indigenous act between 2010 and 2019. Six of the seven LPs, including last year’s hit compilation , reached number 1 in the UK in 2012 #3 It peaked at number 2. It also had four top 5 singles and three number 1s in Ireland.

The band will support Pink for a series of European concerts over the summer.

Sheehan and singer/keyboardist Danny O’Donoghue were childhood friends in Dublin and part of boy band Mytown in the late 1990s. The couple moved to the US for a few years, landed a short-lived record deal with Universal and hit the UK Top 25 with the single “Party All Night”. The couple later returned to the Irish capital, where they recruited drummer Glen Power. and formed The Script in the early 2000s.

The band moved to London and scored a major hit in 2008 with their self-titled debut album, which topped the UK and Irish charts.

The disc, which would remain in the UK Albums Chart for nearly three years, including three weeks at No.1, contained ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’, the first of his many European hits. “Hall of Fame” featuring will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas reached #1 in the UK and Ireland in 2012 and “Superheroes” topped the Irish charts and #3 in the UK two years later.

The group won the International Award at the Silver Clef Awards in the UK in 2018.

The Script has also had some success in the United States, with 2008’s single “Breakeven” and three of his albums reaching the Top 15, led by a no. 3 peak for 2010 Science & Faith.

Sheehan was born on 29 October 1976 in Dublin. Also a singer, songwriter and producer, he is survived by his wife of 18 years Rina Sheehan and their children Cameron, Avery and Lil.