Book Now Lynyrd Skynyrd Not even a plane crash resulting in the death of three key members of the band can kill rocknrolls spirit. Lynyrd Skynyrds road to fame was paved with drink and drama, and the 1977 crash that killed founding member and vocalist Ronnie Van Zant was a devastating blow to the blues and country rock outfit from the Deep South. However, the surviving members reunited in 1987, with Van Zants brother, Johnny, taking over lead vocals and songwriting duties. This incarnation has released several albums, but still relies on the legacy of the five original LPs from 1973 to 1977 that made the band famous. You can hardly blame them, given that this period covers tracks such as Sweet Home Alabama, Saturday Night Special and, of course, Free Bird. Support from Black Stone Cherry. Tickets on sale from Friday Mar 10, The O2, East Link Bridge, North Wall Quay D1, 6.30pm, 49.20. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.lynyrdskynyrd.com The Big Interview Ian Brown Never a frown withmetro Arts & Entertainment No More Hot Air: Climate Change Whats The Right Thing To Do? In Town Tonight A reading and discussion to raise awareness of the upcoming UN summit on climate change with contributions from Theo Dorgan (pictured) and Nuala N Dhomhnaill Tonight, Tallaght Library, Library Square, Tallaght D24, 7pm, free. Tel: (01) 478 9974. www.poetryireland.ie Planet Parade Fresh from their performance at this years Hard Working Class Heroes Festival, the Kildare three- piece will showcase tracks from new EP, Ghosts To People Tonight, Whelans, 25 Wexford Street D2, 8pm, free. Tel: 1890 200 078. www.myspace.com/planetparade Glengarry Glen Ross David Mamets scorching comedy about the cut-throat world of real estate is given a twist from new theatre group Idir Mn with an (almost) all female cast Until Sat, The New Theatre, 43 East Essex Street D2, 8pm, 10 to 16. Tel: (01) 670 3361. www.thenewtheatre.com life f Ian Browns place as one of Britains best frontmen wasnt secured by The Stone Roses first album 20 years old this year and still sounding as exciting as ever his six solo albums have done so. Looking every bit the rock icon when we meet his expensive-looking jacket has the words Born To Raise Chaos embroidered on the back hes been talking about himself all day but still sounds interested, although he claims the only thing more boring than talking about himself is reading about himself. Do I read my interviews? Mmmmm, sometimes, the 46-year-old says. Sometimes I do, if I see it. Ill stand in the shop and have a quick perusal. Gets a few glances if someone catches me, though. Not very cool, is it? Its been a long time since Brown, who plays two nights at The Olympia this week, has had to worry about appearing cool. Although its been a long time since he worried about anything. Why worry? You worry about something, its not going to change. If its going to happen, its going to happen. Ive got a few grey hairs but thats just from having kids. Actually, I worry about my kids. My lads 17-and-a-half now, so Ill think: Hes out in his car, its 3am, where is he? But then I only worry hes crashed because Ill have to pay the insurance! Browns latest album, My Way, is bold and infinitely more personal than his last offering, The World Is Yours, on which he voiced his disapproval of the war in Iraq and politicians who stand by while there are children living on the street. I wanted to bring it back full circle, explains Brown. Its not because Im happier with those situations. I wrote the last album so that rather than sitting I in interviews and talking about the war, I wanted to document it on an album. Newspaper quickly becomes chip wrappers but with an album, I could record my thoughts on the injustices in the world. Its then good to do something different, so this is about my life, my feelings and my way of being. Hopes, dreams, aspirations and all of that. Its upbeat and designed to connect with people and uplift. There are some blunt messages aimed, it would seem, at ex-bandmate John Squire. You walked yourself into the wilderness, he sings on Always Remember Me. Those were the days when we had it all and these are the times Ive got so much more. Stellify, the first single from the new album, was written for Rihanna. Ians sometime co-writer and producer Dave McCracken is signed to Jay-Zs Roc Nation stable, and through his connections, Brown was invited to write for US artists. Vanity Kills was for Kanye West, he says, but we missed the deadline. Then we wrote Stellify and after a few days of loving the tune, I said: Lets keep that for me. I can hear her singing it and shed do it better than me but I just love it. If I had another nine like that, Id quit. Where would I go from there? W here indeed? In all likelihood, hed quit music for gardening, something he threatened to do after the Roses split. I said things had got so messy that I just wanted a clean life and what could be cleaner than growing flowers and taking them to market? he says. Its a phrase that might surprise some who hear stories about the swaggering Things had got so messy that I just wanted a clean life and what could be cleaner than growing flowers and taking them to market? The former Stone Roses frontman with a reputation for rocknroll excess tells Andy Welch how hes mellowed in middle-age and discusses his latest album, aptly-titled My Way THEATRE REVIEW A Dolls House 12 metrolife Monday, November 23, 2009 Domestic goddess and trophy wife Nora (Lisa Lambe) is just two months away from paying off a debt kept secret from her domineering banker husband Torvald (Peter Gaynor). But when her money lender arrives disgraced lawyer Nils (Peter Hanly) he threatens to expose her desperate past, and in turn, ruin the couples social standing. Director Alan Stanford has transported Ibsens 19th century drama to the 1930s, and in doing so makes tantalising parallels with the present day the money lending/ redundancy plot is perfectly timed, while Noras conflicted sense of self is always resonant. Its also a timeless tale of gender politics; that a mother could abandon her children still shocks, suggesting that inequality between the sexes is alive and well 120 years after Ibsen first put pen to paper. For all their flaws, each character elicits sympathy thanks to compellingly well-rounded performances, including Simon Courys venerable Dr Rank, whose terminal illness spurs him to reveal his true love for coquettish Nora, and Mary Kellys no-nonsense Christine. Meanwhile, Sabine Dargents cage- like set is a perfect symbol of captivity in which Noras little songbird yearns to spread her wings, at any cost. Lucy White Until Fri, The Helix, DCU, Collins Avenue, Glasnevin D9, times vary, 18 to 25. Tel: (01) 700 7000. www.secondage.com The hoTTesT TickeTs in Town We have a pair of tickets to see Lynyrd Skynyrd Mar 10, 2010 at The O2, 6.30pm For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the question below to life@metroireland.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With your answer please include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Strictly one entry per person; entrants must be age 18+. Q. Which of the following was both a hit for Lynyrd Skynyrd and a film starring Reese Witherspoon? A Sweet Home Alabama B Walk The Line The winner of Fridays tickets to see Bill Bailey is: Chris Farrell index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html