Dave Fanning

I don't particularily want to be a feature writer/opinion journalist for a quality broadsheet and I don't have any hippy or racist rants I need to get off my chest. Sadly, there isn't a great comedian inside me waiting to get out.I've read blogs - so many have so much more to say than I would ever have the time, talent or inclination to come up with. We do a ninety-minute radio programme every weekday at 6pm; with music and features there's plenty of ranting, raving and annoying. But, what the hell? Here in the office every day I'll read your bits, I'll type my own bits and I'll shout other bits which Helen will type (she uses all fingers on the keyboard, I use one).If you don't know who I am here's my biog from the 2FM website...cheers............................................ ............................................................ ................Dave's career in broadcasting began when he left University College Dublin in 1977 with a degree in English and Philosophy and a Higher Diploma in Education.In that year, Dave took over as editor of Ireland's only rock magazine 'Scene' and began as a deejay on fledgling pirate music station Radio Dublin.Ireland's first official national pop radio station (RTÉ 2FM) was launched in the Summer of '79. (Note d.o.b on myspace)Dave took the midnight shift five days a week.By the early '80's Dave was seen by the industry and music fans everywhere as Ireland's answer to John Peel, the legendary BBC Radio One presenter.Dave always supported young, new Irish talent; he played their demo tapes, he gave them sessions. His very first session in RTÉ 2FM was with a young, four-piece Dublin band called U2 and Dave's friendship with and support for the band led to Dave's listeners deciding on the A and B sides of the band's first single release. (This was in the days of vinyl, remember). The band came into Dave's show five nights in succession and the public picked 'Out of Control' as the first single.Dave's friendship with the band continues to this day. Besides getting the world exclusive play on all U2 releases, the band recorded a specially-filmed musical tribute to Dave when he was presented last year (by Larry Mullen) with yet another major award from the Irish Music Industry.(Dave's first major award was a prestigious Jacob's Award for "the depth and scope" of his radio show in 1980). Over the last couple of decades Dave has fronted over twenty television programmes for Ireland's national television station RTÉ. Besides various music shows, both live and recorded, he presented political documentaries from Cambodia and Ethiopia.Throughout the Nineties he presented almost 400 editions of The Movie Show, crossing the globe for one-on-one interviews with movie stars. He also researched, wrote and presented up to 150 rock star interview shows.In the early Nineties he presented live music shows on Britain's Channel 4 (Rocksteady, Friday at The Dome, Return to The Dome) and in '94 Richard Branson asked Dave to join his new station, Virgin Radio. Dave presented his own show there every weekend for 2 years.In Britain, in recent years, Dave was Programme Consultant on ITV's 'South Bank Show' for their music special 'Cool Clear Crystal Streams' and presented many documentaries on music including a BBC Radio 4 profile on Bono.Between '83 and '93 Dave was Rock Correspondent for The Irish Times and has written many articles for many publications at home at abroad. He was movie critic for The Sunday World from '97 to '04."When Billboard magazine referred to the introduction of RTÉ 2FM as one of the major factors behind the growth of Ireland as a major music centre, they really meant Dave Fanning". (Quote from 'Hot Press' magazine).Dave has been described as the ultimate fan, who through broadcasting has been able to make a career out of his many passions in life - chiefly, music and movies!Currently, and for the past few years, Dave presents a 90-minute magazine show every weekday at 6pm on 2FM. He's also preparing for a fifth series of his one-hour, weekly, music TV show "The Last Broadcast".Dave has recorded interviews with just about every major (and many minor!) music personality of the past few decades including legends like Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Brian Wilson, Neil Young, Eminem, Joni Mitchell, Garth Brooks, Robert Plant, Madonna, Beyonce, J-Lo, etc.Dave's 2-camera-shoot, one-on-one interviews with movie stars include Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, Cameron Diaz, Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, Mel Gibson, Pierce Brosnan, Lindsay Lohan, Denis Quaid, Nicholas Cage, Robert Redford, Harrison Ford, Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Dan Ackroyd, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Anthony Hopkins, Richard Dreyfuss, Ralph Fiennes, Eddie Murphy, Val Kilmer, Uma Thurman, George Clooney, Jeff Goldblum, Kim Basinger, Charlize Theron, Keanu Reeves, Robert De Niro, Antonio Banderas, Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone, Julianne Moore, Robin Williams, Kate Winslet, Susan Sarandon, Holly Hunter, Sandra Bullock, Kevin Spacey, Liam Neeson, Glen Close, Scarlett Johanssen (aged 10 and 18!)..and many, many more (including directors and producers).DAVE AND RUMBLE FILMS Dave is co-owner of Rumble Films, an independent film/tv production company that was founded 7 years ago. In that period, Rumble has produced high-end rock and pop interview shows which are screened in over 40 countries worldwide.Called Music Express, the series includes Blondie, REM, Blur, Garbage, Alanis Morissette, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck, Texas, Gerri Halliwell, Cranberries, Simply Red, Metallica, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Mavericks, Eels, Oasis, Richard Ashcroft, Sinead O'Connor, Robbie Williams, Radiohead, U2, Rod Stewart, Moby, Elvis Costello, Waterboys, Kylie Minogue, Travis, Nick Cave, Air, Corrs, Jarvis Cocker, Willie Nelson, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Beyonce, Def Leppard, New Order, David Byrne, Linken Park, Morrissey, John Paul Jones and more. One-hour specials include Lenny Kravitz, Tori Amos, U2, Neville Brothers, Alison Krauss etc.Every year Dave features a listeners' Fab Fifty on his radio show. For Christmas '05 he released an Ireland- only release triple album called 'Dave Fanning's Fab 50'. Currently, sales stand at 1-and-a-half times platinum.