Irish lyricist Michael Leahy featured in book about historic venue

BRUSSELS - Oct. 29, 2014 - PRLog -- On the European touring circuit, the AB in Brussels (also known by its older name, the Ancienne Belgique) is a favourite with musicians. The current hall, club and recording studio were built on the site of an old variety hall that dates back to the thirties.

When it opened, it hosted stars such as Charles Aznavour, Edith Piaf (who once arrived in slippers), Jacques Brel and later rockers such as Gene Vincent and The Shadows.

After falling into disrepair in the seventies, the venue was completely rebuilt and became one of Europe’s best live music halls, regularly picking up awards from international organisations.

The book “AB. Een muzikale geschiedenis (A Musical History)” was written in Dutch by journalist Johan Ral and published by Manteau. It spans all the years, with quotes from Wilco, Arno and Jools Holland.

Leahy figures due to a funny brush with Lio, now a major singer and actress in France. At the time, she was a 16 year-old with a hit called “Banana Split”. As Leahy’s group was coming out of a punk period, they decided to radically challenge their audience by playing in tuxedos and inviting Lio to sing (her first time ever with a live band). Almost inevitably, the punk audience began spitting and calling on her to strip. Despite her young age, Lio battled through unfazed – quite a baptism of fire for such a young singer.

Lio went on to become a major star in French music and cinema. Michael Leahy (http://www.a-lyric.com/2014/10/singing-with-lio-at-the-an...) went on to write for 2 Unlimited, La Muerte, CB Milton, Rudy Giovannini (http://vivastrauss.com/rudy-giovannini/), Perry Rose and is currently working on a musical with composer Alec Mansion.