Who is Frank Kearns?
Frank Kearns is a contemporary and former school mate of U2, founding member of Frankie Corpse and the Undertakers, Cactus World News and founder of Irelands first Rockschool
- Formed Frankie Corpse and the Undertakers in Mount Temple school which later became the subject of the book ‘I was Bono’s doppelgänger’ by Neil McCormick.
- Character of Frank Kearns was played by actor David Fennelly in the movie ‘Killing Bono’
- Founding member and guitarist with Cactus World News a favourite band of Lou Reed
- Produced ‘I fought the law and the law won’ for actor Colin Farrell
- Produced and engineered Damien Rice, Sinead O’Connor
- Created Ireland’s first Rockschool www.rockschool.ie offering drum lessons and guitar lessons in Dublin
- Co wrote ‘Speed of the Stars’ album with Steve Kilbey the Australian singer from the Church. A video by Red Tape pictures of ‘The Archaeologist’ was selected finalist in Brisbane West end film festival
- Sound supervisor on Ken Sweeney RTE commissioned documentaries ‘In search of the Blue Nile’ and award winning Documentary about REM which won silver award at the New York Festival’s International Radio Awards 2018
This page is currently being updated . With over twenty-five years experience in the music industry Frank has a huge wealth of knowledge in all aspects of the Music industry but especially with young emerging Irish talent.
Internationally, his band Cactus World News sold over quarter of a million cds and when they completed their last tour, Frank returned to Ireland in the early nineties and started teaching guitar professionally with his first student being U2’s drummer Larry Mullen Jnr. The Frank Kearns Rockschool is now the premier provider of guitar and Drum lessons in Dublin.
Frank’s idea was to meet each student at their map of the world and encourage creativity in playing thus Ireland’s first Rockschool was founded (now called The Frank kearns Rockschool) in 1991.
In his role as producer, He has produced top artists such as actor Colin Farrell’s “I fought the Law” , Australian Pop Idol winner Damien Leith and played on four tracks from the Australian band The Church’s album ‘Untitled #23’ , also he co-wrote “Inside out” with Ricky Maymi (Brian Jonestown Massacre) and John Kilbey. Recently in the news for Movie “Killing Bono” (Paramount Pictures) featuring young Irish actor David Fennelly playing the character of Frankie Corpse (Frank Kearns) in the Mount Temple band Frankie Corpse and the Undertakers.
During 2015 Frank Kearns successfully crowdfunded a release of Cactus World News unreleased material exceeding the goal set.
His project ‘Speed of the Stars’ with Steve Kilbey from Australian band The Church was also crowdfunded successfully through Pledgemusic with additional funds raised from Frank’s auction of rare U2 memorabilia – see Sydney Morning Herald article
His recent work as sound supervisor and editor can be heard on the Ken Sweeney produced Blue Nile Radio documentary and award winning documentary on REM
Frank Kearns is regularly consulted as an expert on U2 and their formation in Mount Temple school. A recent BBC interview contains rare pictures never before seen of Frank Kearns and U2.
Frank Kearns article in The Sun newspaper about witnessing U2’s first rehearsal
@U2 Interview: Frank Kearns Talks About His Early Days With U2 (Part 1)
Interview with Frank Kearns about Delores O Riordan Cranberries
In 2017 Frank Kearns, Gary Cooke ( Apres Match) and John Coleary (Savage Eye) created a new show ‘The Sketch Pistols’ incorporating comedy and Punk rock music.
Pic: Gary and Frank with Minister Charlie Flanagan
Frank Kearns with President Michael D Higgins at the Hot Press covers awards in Dublin, April 2017
