The Corrs biography

 

Sibling quartet The Corrs may be Ireland's biggest export since cardiganed crooner Daniel O' Donnell, having sold 40m albums worldwide and topped the charts in 18 countries but spare a thought for hapless Geordie poppet/TV presenter who once asked the band during an MTV interview: "So, how did you all meet?"

The Corrs have earned their massive success on the back of a smart, palatable blend of Celtic folk and sunny pop beats. Their image is chic, cosmopolitan and sophisticated but with just enough of the Emerald blarney to appear authentic - Pop's very own version of The Riverdance. Baby sister and lead singer, 30-year-old Andrea has been voted the sexiest woman in the world (Robbie Williams courted her by sending her 100 roses and asking "What can I do to make you love me?") Bono, Prince Charles and even his Holiness The Pope have been known to sing the band's praises. Well, in the Pope's case, mumble as he nods off during another Vatican sermon.

It was eldest sibling, 39-year-old Jim who originally decided to form the band. The guitarist was already working as a professional musician when he persuaded his sisters Andrea, Sharon, (violins) 34, Caroline, drums (31) and Andrea to accompany him to an audition for Alan Parker's film of Roddy Doyle's book The Commitments in 1990. They all landed small parts in the flick and the film's musical cordinator John Hughes was so impressed he decided to manage them. He would later help develop their sound and land them a major record deal with Warners in 1994. Prior to the film the siblings weren't a musical ensemble although they were all influenced by music growing up in Dundalk (in the North of the Republic, close to the border with Northern Ireland.) Daddy Corr Gerry was an electrician by day but sang semi-professionally at night in a duo called Sound Affair with mummy Corr Jean. All the children were taught piano. "We couldn't have been brought up in a better environment to pursue a career in music," says Jim.

"Most musicians meet other band members in school or college or a rehearsal room," says Andrea. "I met mine at the breakfast table and the queue to the toilet. I never actually made a decision to do this but it's not like I was dragged into it. In a way, it was decided for me because music was everything to me. We had to shed some of the family stuff in order to breathe and be creative together."

After forming in 1991 they enjoyed some success in Ireland but it was in 1994 when the band took off internationally after they were invited by the American ambassador to Ireland to perform at the 1994 World Cup. That gig led to a support slot on Celine Dion's 1996 tour. The Corrs' debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten was released later that year, reaching four times platinum status in Ireland. But it was 1998's follow up, Talk On Corners which announced the band's star arrival. The album featured the band's trademark mix of sweet harmonies and folky Irish charm with the hits Runaway, So Young and Breathless helping the album to shift 30m copies worldwide and picking up a hatful of Grammys and Brit awards along the way.

The album turned the group into superstars. (The band share song writing credits and divide all income equally). They all maintain a home in Dublin but also have properties in London and Spain. The band credit U2 as giving them the ambition to achieve their goals. "I think they gave a lot of people in Ireland the belief that they could make their dreams come true," says Sharon. "Ireland has never lacked for optimism but there was a certain lack of conviction. When you see Bono standing up in front of the whole world and you recognise yourself in him and start to believe "I could do that."

2000 album In Blue was clouded by the death of the siblings' 57-year-old mother Jean Corr from a rare lung disease the previous year. "It had a profound effect on the way I see life and mortality," says Andrea. "But not in a negative way. I think it's actually a blessing when you realise that we all have a limited time span. Things that wold have been of major importance become relatively minor. I wrote the song No More Cry on In Blue about her and it was angry, almost like a rant."

Andrea has since found a degree of happiness. She is dating actor Shaun Evans whom she met on the set of the film The Boys From County Clare. Both Sharon and Caroline have now married, Sharon to a barrister, Gavin Bonner and Caroline to a property developer, Frank Woods. Caroline also has a 15 month old son, Jake.

The band's new album, Borrowed Heaven, is only their fourth studio album and follows an Unplugged and a Greatest Hits set released since 2000's In Blue. With the new single , Summer Sunshine the album is full of the band's typical upbeat pop but also some more melancholy material. Bono has contributed a smoky ballad, Time Enough For Tears and both Andrea and Sharon contribute songs about their mother, Angel and Goodbye. The album's title track, Borrowed Heaven is penned by Andrea and is about the "impermanence of our lives."

But enough of all this seriousness. Are The Corrs really as squeaky clean as they seem? Bono reckons they can drink the Gallaghers under the table. "We are good at it," admits Sharon. "We don't spit on the street or get involved in air rage incidents but we do like to let our hair down with a drink. Let's face it, no-one can be THAT f....ing squeaky clean!"