How did Aslan’s frontman Christy Dignam die? Cancer battle & cause of death Explained

Christy Dignam, the lead vocalist for Aslan, passed away at the age of 63. Let’s see how did Christy die and his cause of death in detail.

How did Christy Dignam die?

Christy Dignam, the frontman of Aslan died on 13 June 2023. He received palliative treatment at home starting in December of last year after being given a cancer diagnosis in 2013.

This sad news was announced by his family in the following social media statement, that reads,

On behalf of my family, it is with a broken heart that we convey the news of my father’s passing, Christy Dignam. Dad peacefully left us where he wanted to, at home today 4pm Tuesday, June 13th 2023, after a courageously long-fought battle, surrounded by his family.
We ask that you honour our family’s need for privacy during this immensely painful period.
Let us all hold him in our hearts and cherish the remarkable life of a talented singer, great story teller and amazing person.
We thank you so much for your love and support shown to us.
Kathryn, Kiera, Darren, Cian, Ava, Jake and our extended family x

Who was Christy Dignam?

Christy was a lead singer of Irish rock band Aslan. Dignam was well-known for his work with the band Aslan and for being honest about his drug use.

Dignam, who was born on May 23, 1960, at Dublin’s Holles Street Hospital, and grew up in the Finglas neighborhood of the city.

Aslan was founded in Dublin in 1982 and had a number of successful singles, including Crazy World and This is. 

His more than 40-year career was marked by multiple Irish chart hits as well as persistent issues with drug addiction and recovery.

He learned the ancient art of bel canto singing at the Bel Canto House School of Singing in Dublin with master Frank Merriman.

Musical career:

Dignam began his musical career as Meelah XVIII, a predecessor to Aslan. “What a great singer!” read a review of a concert to close a toxic dump in Finglas in Hot Press.

Meelah XVIII recorded a song for The Dave Fanning Show on 2FM in 1980. The Aslan triple CD, The “Rarities” disc from “The Platinum Collection,” featured the Meelah XVIII songs “Toy Soldier” and “Meelah Pt. 2.”

Dignam, Tony Talbot, Mick McKenna, Joe Jewell, and Gerry Conlon were the musicians for Meelah XVIII. Dignam’s relationship with his bandmates was getting tense as the Aslan singles “This Is,” “Please Don’t Stop,” “Loving Me Lately,” “Pretty Thing,” and “Feel No Shame” gained popularity.

Dignam also struggled with heroin addiction. Dignam’s split from Aslan was announced in a newspaper article titled “ASLAN: IT’S THE END” that appeared in The Star on September 7, 1988.

Prior to the band’s eventual breakup, the remaining members of Aslan performed under a new lead singer, Eamon Doyle, for a while.

Dignam formed Dignam & Goff, a solo project with guitarist Conor Goff. However, on July 11, 1993, Aslan came rejoined for what was meant to be a “once-off gig” in Finglas.

Albums:

Aslan proceeded to grow into one of Ireland’s most popular and diligent bands with a rekindled spark and new music.”Feel No Shame”, “Goodbye Charlie Moonhead”, “Here Comes Lucy Jones”, and “Waiting for the Madness To End” represent a few of their studio albums.

They released two “best of” albums: Shame About Lucy Moonhead and the triple album The Platinum Collection.

Additionally, they released the number-one live album Made in Dublin as well as the official bootleg CD Aslan Live at the Olympia, which is only available at live performances and featured appearances by Jerry Fish, Relish, and Damien Rice.

His first solo album, The Man Who Stayed Alive, was released by Sony Music Ireland in October 2021 and peaked at number seven on the Irish Albums Chart Top 50 of the Official Charts Company.

Dignam’s heroin addiction:

Christy was sexually assaulted by a neighbor at the age of six. This went on for three years until, at the age of nine, Dignam asked his best friend’s brother, a guy in his twenties, for assistance.

Dignam described his predicament to his closest friend’s brother at the meeting, and he was then raped by him as well. Christy said that his drug addiction was due to these events that caused psychological trauma.

In the 1980s, Dignam started using heroin, and his drug usage led to disagreements that ultimately drove him to leave Aslan. In 2004, he enrolled in a number of drug rehabilitation centers, including a stay at Wat Tham Krabok, a Buddhist temple in Thailand.

The film Heroin: Facing the Dragon included a segment about this. In his autobiography, This is Christy Dignam, which he co-wrote with writer Neil Fetherstonhaugh and was released by Merlin Publishing.

Dignam detailed his struggle with heroin addiction. It “should be required reading for anyone straddling the edges of the drug culture,” according to one reviewer.

Christy’s cancer battle:

A suspected chest illness that later developed into pneumonia was the reason Dignam was initially taken to the hospital. After undergoing a series of tests in March 2013, he was diagnosed with both myeloma, a cancer that targets plasma cells in the bone marrow.

He was also diagnosed with amyloidosis, a condition in which amyloid proteins accumulate in the body’s organs. When Dignam regained consciousness, he described experiencing a near-death experience that led to physicians giving him two shots of adrenaline.

They had to cut into my side of the neck, directly into the jugular, and down into my heart because there was a blockage in my arm where the adrenaline was entering, according to Dignam.

For almost a minute, I thought I had passed away, and nothing seemed to matter. Then, all of a sudden, the adrenaline started my heart again., he described. For the condition, he received chemotherapy as a result.

Due to Christy experiencing a health setback in September of last year, the band had to postpone a 40th-anniversary performance in the 3Arena.

Christy under palliative care:

It had been rescheduled on March 18 this year, but the band stated all further shows are canceled after Christy’s family issued a statement confirming that he is undergoing palliative care.

Christy was admitted to Beaumont Hospital in July 2022 and received care from the Haematology and Cardiac Care team for six months.

This summer, the band was scheduled to tour the Republic of Ireland and have a performance at Londonderr’s Millennium Forum on July 15.

However, the other Aslan members declared on their social media profiles that they were “devastated that all future shows will be cancelled” because of Dignam’s poor health.

“As always, Christy’s health has been, and is, our priority. It has been a tough road for all of us but most of all Christy,” they said.

“There are no words to describe how we are feeling with the update that has been shared by Christy’s family.”

Christy Dignam cause of death:

Christy passed away at his home on 13 June 2023 at the age of 63. He has lived at home with his family and a palliative care team since December of last year.

Dignam received treatment for amyloidosis, a condition in which the body develops an abnormal protein buildup that results in organ failure. He was admitted to the hospital in July 2022 and had treatment there for six months.

Unfortunately, his death news broke out suddenly today. Christy is survived by his daughter Kiera, his wife of more than 30 years, Kathryn, and three grandchildren.

Tributes flooded social media after his sudden demise news broke out.

Condolences to Christy Dignam:

Dame Stuffy posted,

My sincere condolences to you and your family Kiera, your dad was a cherished icon of Irish music, his legacy will live on through you and the music he created with Aslan. Xx

Rory Cowan posted,

My heart is very heavy. My old pal Christy Dignam has died. God love him. We lost a fabulous Dubliner today. My deepest sympathies go out to Kiera and Kathryn and the rest of Christy’s family and his Aslan family.

Niall Doorhy Dancer posted,

Very saddened to hear of Chisty Dignam’s passing today. His music will live for generations to come. May he RIP

HOME of the DUBS posted,

Christy Dignam R.I.P
Sad news this evening as the family of Christy Dignam announced via social media that the Aslan singer passed away at home at 4pm this afternoon..
Christy had battled illness bravely over the last few years .
Our thoughts go to his family and friends at this time.
Christy was a true son of Dublin and will never be forgotten.
R.I.P

RTÉ Radio 1 posted,

Aslan singer Christy Dignam has died aged 63, following a long-fought battle with cancer. Rest in peace Christy.

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