Glen Power

Glen Joseph Power (born 5 July 1978) is an Irish musician, songwriter, actor, and film composer, best known as the drummer and founding member of the pop rock band The Script. Outside The Script, Power has worked as a songwriter, collaborating with Journey frontman Steve Perry on Power's composition "The Streets of Kinsale" (2023) for The High Kings.[1] Power has also worked as a film composer, scoring and appearing in the short film Disposition (2016).[2]

Early life and education

Glen Joseph Power was born on 5 July 1978 in Dublin, Ireland. Power's father was a singer and accordion player. Power's secondary school in Dublin offered no music classes.[3] After being caught skipping school and threatened with expulsion, he negotiated an arrangement to leave school early while returning only to sit final examinations.[3]

At age 15, Power began drum studies at Newpark Music Centre in Dublin, studying under instructors Jacques Metoudi and Conor Guilfoyle.[4][3] After auditioning for entry to a rock college program, he was accepted from among 500 applicants.[3] His career guidance teacher reputedly told him that being a musician was "a hobby not a job".[5] Years after The Script's breakthrough, he returned to his former school and left his career guidance teacher a signed CD with a note reading: "Thank you so much for all of the advice you gave me years ago, I'm so glad I never took it".[5]

His primary drumming inspiration was Larry Mullen Jr. of U2, particularly Mullen's performance in the "Where the Streets Have No Name" video.[5] Other influences include Queen, George Michael and The Bee Gees.[3]

Early career

Power began playing drums at age eight.[4][3] By age 16, he was performing professionally, playing sessions throughout Dublin's music circuit.[4][3] From ages 16 through his early twenties, Power worked as a session drummer, including playing drums for the Irish comedian Brendan O'Carroll in 1991.[3]

Power has stated that he played in what he described as some of Dublin's "roughest venues".[3] He performed in establishments where patrons reputedly attempted to steal equipment, knives were pulled, fights erupted and where one patron "poured a pint of Guinness into a bag full of leads".[3]

He sang with a band for approximately one year while playing percussion. Describing how this vocal experience altered his drumming approach, Power stated: "When I got back behind the kit in my next band, my whole approach to what I needed to play had been changed and I understood what I needed to do to enhance what the singer was doing".[3] He learned restraint, discovering he "didn't need to be pounding out a thousand strokes a minute".[3]

Before joining The Script, Power briefly worked an office job scanning papers and ran a small Dublin studio producing jingles and hypnotherapy tapes.[3]

The Script

Danny O'Donoghue and Mark Sheehan, childhood friends who had worked as songwriters in Los Angeles,[6] recruited Power in 2005. Power was working in his small Dublin studio when Sheehan invited him to Los Angeles in January 2005 for jamming sessions.[3] During their first week together, the trio produced three songs. Power later recalled: "I never had the opportunity with any band to express myself so freely."[3]

The Script signed with Phonogenic (Sony Music) in 2005[7] and released their self-titled debut album in August 2008.[8] The band has released seven studio albums and a greatest hits compilation.

On 14 April 2023, Mark Sheehan died at age 46 following a brief illness.[9][10] Reflecting on first meeting Sheehan, Power stated: "We clicked instantly... One night hanging out together, he said to me 'I am taking you to the top' and looking back now, 10 years later, I can honestly say that Mark was indeed a man of his word".[11]

The band contemplated disbanding,[12] with Power describing Sheehan as "the bridge that brought us all together".[13]

In May 2024, Power and O'Donoghue announced The Script's expansion to a four-piece, welcoming longtime touring members Ben Sargeant (bass) and Ben Weaver (guitar).[14] The band released Satellites in August 2024.

Songwriting and collaborations outside The Script

The High Kings and Steve Perry collaboration

During the COVID-19 lockdown period, Power began writing songs for Irish traditional folk group The High Kings. What started as a collaboration request from the band's manager evolved into a larger project, with Power writing several songs for the group.[1] Power co-wrote "Chasing Rainbows" with The Script bandmate Danny O'Donoghue for The High Kings' eighth studio album, released as a single on 24 February 2023.[15]

One composition, "The Streets of Kinsale", based on the legend of the White Lady of Kinsale (Wilful Warrender), resulted in a collaboration with Journey vocalist Steve Perry.[1] Power explained the song's genesis: "I was sitting in the bathtub in London. There was a party at the back of my house and I heard a melody, which I changed a bit and thought, 'Oh, I know what that is. It's the song I've been thinking about'. So I jumped up, went downstairs with my towel, pulled my guitar out, put the capo on the second fret and the chorus arrived."[1]

The song deals with the legend of a wedding, in Kinsale, County Cork, that resulted in the funerals of the bride, groom, and bride's father all on the same day, with the bride's spirit still haunting the town.[1] Power had maintained contact with Perry after the Journey frontman had previously expressed interest in collaborating.[1] When The Script were performing in Los Angeles, Power sent Perry the demo. Five days later, Perry called asking if he could sing on the track.[1]

"The Streets of Kinsale" was released on 28 April 2023,[16][17] featuring Perry on vocals and harmonies alongside The High Kings, with Power credited as writer and producer.[18][19] Steve Perry has described himself as a Script fan, having attended several of their Las Vegas performances.[20]

Collaboration with son Luke Power

Power has collaborated musically with his son Luke, who performs as BadScandal in the electronic/house music genre.[21]

The pair released "Tomorrow" and "The Shore" in 2022.[21] The latter track was originally written by Glen Power for The High Kings; when it didn't suit them, BadScandal reworked it into a house track.[21]

The pair also co-wrote and recorded "Bitter Wine", with Glen Power providing the high-register chorus vocals.[1]

Film and acting experience

Since approximately 2016, Power has become involved in acting and participated in several acting workshops.[2] He appeared in and composed the soundtrack for the short film Disposition (2016).[2] He also composed music for the short film The Box (2017), a comedy-horror directed by Adam Collins.[22]

Personal life

In 2008, Power suffered a life-threatening head injury after slipping in a pub toilet.[3] Diagnosis revealed his skull was fractured in two places with burst blood vessels causing a hematoma.[3] He underwent emergency craniotomy surgery at Beaumont Hospital with titanium plates inserted in his head.[3] Reflecting on this experience he has reportedly said: "I don't worry about things like I used to. For me, it's like extra time".[3] Arising from his accident, Power has expressed his support for Headway Ireland, an organisation which provides brain injury support and rehabilitation services.[3]

Around 2011-2013, Power quit drinking alcohol entirely. The turning point came after performing in London: "We did a show in the O2 in London in front of 20,000 people and that should have been one of the highs of my career and I was miserable... After the gig we went back to the hotel and I had a drink but when I went to get another one something in me just went click and it was over".[3]

Power is a Reiki practitioner and practices mindfulness and meditation.[23] He appeared on Dermot Whelan's "The Mind Full Podcast" in 2024, discussing coping with Sheehan's death, alcohol-free living and his "un-peopling" technique for dealing with overwhelm.[23]

Discography

With The Script

As songwriter/producer for other artists

Film scores

  • Disposition (2016) – Complete soundtrack and actor[2]
  • The Box (2017) – Composer[22]

Collaborations

  • "Tomorrow" – Harddope, BadScandal, and Glen Power (2022)[21]
  • "The Shore" – Glen Power & BadScandal (2022) – Soave Records[21]
  • "Bitter Wine" – BadScandal featuring Glen Power (vocals)[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Glen Power: 'I sent Steve Perry a song I wrote for The High Kings and he phoned up asking to sing on it'". Hot Press. July 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Glen Power". Lorraine Brennan Management. January 23, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Glen Power Biography". The Script Bible. 6 July 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Glen Power". SABIAN Cymbals. July 14, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "The Track That Changed My Life: The Script's Glen Power on U2's 'Where The Streets Have No Name'". Hot Press. June 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  6. ^ "The Script". The Argus. March 20, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  7. ^ "The Script – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  8. ^ "Oh Danny boy! Script revel in chart success". The Independent. November 26, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  9. ^ "Mark Sheehan, guitarist with The Script, dies aged 46". The Irish Times. April 14, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  10. ^ "The Script guitarist Mark Sheehan has died in hospital". Irish Independent. April 14, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  11. ^ "'Thank you for the laughs': The Script's Glen Power shares emotional tribute to Mark Sheehan". Irish Examiner. April 15, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  12. ^ "The Script Considered Splitting Following Mark Sheehan's Death". Ireland's Classic Hits Radio. September 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  13. ^ "The Script remember Mark Sheehan on Late Late Show". RTÉ. September 30, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  14. ^ "The Script to transition to a four-piece so as to "not attempt to replicate" line-up with Mark Sheehan". Hot Press. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  15. ^ a b "The High Kings release new single written by Glen Power and Danny O'Donoghue from The Script". IMRO. 24 February 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  16. ^ "Steve Perry The High Kings The Streets of Kinsale". Ultimate Classic Rock. April 28, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  17. ^ "Steve Perry The High Kings Streets of Kinsale". Louder. April 28, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "The High Kings join forces with legendary singer Steve Perry (Journey)". IMRO. April 28, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "The High Kings present their brand new single 'The Streets of Kinsale'". The High Kings Official. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  20. ^ "Steve Perry: 'I've really bonded with Glen from The Script. He sent me this demo and I was immediately struck by how beautiful the melodies are'". Hot Press. May 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  21. ^ a b c d e "Glen Power & Badscandal drop 'The Shore'". Hot Press. December 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  22. ^ a b "The Box (2017)". IMDb. October 29, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  23. ^ a b "The Power of Healing with The Script's Glen Power". The Mind Full Podcast. October 13, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.