Gavin Friday (born Fionán Martin Hanvey in Dublin) is an Irish singer, composer, actor, painter and cultural provocateur best known as the frontman of the influential post-punk band Virgin Prunes. Emerging from Dublin’s experimental “Lypton Village” scene alongside childhood friends Bono and Guggi, Friday became one of Ireland’s most distinctive artistic voices through his theatrical performances, avant-garde music and film soundtrack work. 

The Virgin Prunes, formed in 1977, gained a cult following for their confrontational live shows, blending punk, gothic imagery, performance art and Irish literary influences. Friday’s dramatic stage persona and fearless experimentation made him a standout figure in Irish alternative culture during the 1980s. 

After leaving the band in the mid-1980s, Friday expanded into painting, cabaret and solo music. Working closely with composer Maurice Seezer, he released acclaimed solo albums including Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves, Adam ’n’ Eve, Shag Tobacco and Catholic. His song “Angel” became internationally known after appearing in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. 

Friday also became highly respected as a film composer, contributing music to films including In the Name of the Father, The Boxer, Disco Pigs and In America, the latter earning an Ivor Novello nomination. 

Known for his long friendship and creative collaborations with Bono and U2, Friday has often acted as a creative adviser within the wider U2 orbit while maintaining a fiercely independent artistic identity. 

In recent years he returned with the album Ecce Homo (2024), a deeply personal work reflecting on grief, identity, ageing and creativity. Widely regarded as one of Ireland’s great cult artists, Gavin Friday remains admired for his originality, flamboyance and refusal to conform to mainstream expectations.

Support the show