Dave Fanning facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dave Fanning
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Dave Fanning at 2015 Web Summit Music Stage
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David Fanning
27 February 1956 Dublin, Ireland
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | English and Philosophy degree/Higher Diploma in Education |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Occupation | Radio and television presenter |
| Employer | RTÉ |
| Agent | Noel Kelly |
| Known for | Music industry work, friendship with U2, Fanning's Fab 50 |
| Spouse(s) | Ursula Courtney |
| Children | Jack, Robert and Hayley |
David Fanning (born 27 February 1956) is a famous Irish radio and television presenter. He is also a rock journalist, DJ, and film critic. Dave Fanning is well-known for his long career in broadcasting. He has helped many new Irish music artists get noticed.
He currently hosts shows on RTÉ 2fm and RTÉ Radio 1, which are big radio stations in Ireland. For over 40 years, Dave has been the first person in the world to play new songs from the famous band U2. The band members often call him to share their news.
Dave Fanning has presented more than twenty different TV shows for RTÉ Television. These include music shows like 2TV and movie shows like The Movie Show. He also hosted live TV coverage for big music events like Live 8 and Live Earth. He has interviewed over 200 global rock stars.
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Dave Fanning's Early Life and Beginnings
Dave Fanning was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1956. He is the youngest of six children. From a young age, he loved music and movies. He was even a member of The Beatles fan club when he was eight years old!
He went to Blackrock College and then to University College, Dublin (U.C.D.). There, he studied English and Philosophy. He started his career as a DJ on a pirate radio station called Radio Dublin. He also became the editor of an Irish rock magazine called Scene.
In 1978, Dave met Gerry Ryan while working at another pirate radio station, "Big D". They became good friends. Dave Fanning is married to Ursula, and they have three children.
A Voice on the Radio
Dave Fanning has been a disc jockey for RTÉ 2fm since it started in 1979. His evening show became very popular. He would play live sessions with new bands, helping them become famous. Many people saw him as Ireland's version of BBC Radio 1 presenter John Peel.
In 1993, Dave was invited to join Virgin Radio in the UK by Richard Branson. He had his own show there every week. He stayed with Virgin Radio until 1994. In 2014, Dave wrote and presented a six-part radio series for BBC 6 Music. This series was all about the history of Irish rock music.
In 2023, Dave Fanning announced he would be leaving his weekend show on RTÉ 2FM. However, he continues to broadcast on digital radio, TV, and online. He is known as "the ultimate fan" because he has made a career out of his love for music and movies.
Fanning's Fab Fifty
Since 1980, Dave Fanning has held an annual music poll called Fanning's Fab Fifty. Listeners vote for their favorite alternative music songs. The band U2 often tops this poll.
Dave has also released three compilation albums called Fanning's Fab 50 Vol 1, Vol 2, and Vol 3. These albums feature music from many famous artists. Some of these include U2, The Killers, R.E.M., Radiohead, David Bowie, and Coldplay. Many of these albums sold very well, reaching platinum status.
Dave Fanning and U2
Dave Fanning has always supported new Irish music talent. He would play demo tapes from bands on his show. When he moved to RTÉ Radio 2 (now RTÉ 2FM), he started The Fanning Sessions. Many bands recorded live sessions for his show.
For the very first session, Dave invited a young four-piece band from Dublin called U2. He had been playing their demo tapes for two years. His support for U2 was so strong that his listeners even helped choose the songs for the band's first single! The listeners picked "Out of Control" as the main song.
Dave's friendship with U2 has continued for decades. He was the resident DJ at a Dublin nightclub where U2 played many times. He also joined the band on their tour bus for their album War. He has made TV documentaries about U2 and interviewed them many times.
In 2004, U2 even performed a special musical tribute to Dave. This was when he received a top award from the Irish Music Industry. In 2016, Dave Fanning stepped in for U2 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebration. This was to mark forty years of the band's music.
On the Television Screen
Over the years, Dave Fanning has hosted more than 20 TV shows for RTÉ, Ireland's national television station. These shows covered music, movies, and even political documentaries.
In the 1990s, he wrote and presented over 400 episodes of The Movie Show. For this show, he traveled the world to interview movie stars. He also presented many music star interview shows like Planet Rock Profiles. These shows aired in many countries around the world.
Dave was a judge on the TV talent show You're a Star for its first four years. This show chose Ireland's act for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2005 and 2007, he hosted RTÉ's live TV coverage of huge concerts like Live 8 and Live Earth.
In 2018, Dave wrote, presented, and produced a highly praised TV documentary called Dolores. This documentary was about the Cranberries' singer Dolores O'Riordan.
Writing and Other Cool Stuff
Dave Fanning has written articles for over twenty different newspapers and magazines. He was a rock correspondent for The Irish Times for ten years. He was also a movie critic for the Sunday World.
In 2010, he wrote his autobiography called The Thing Is. The lead singer of U2, Bono, wrote a long introduction for the book. Reviewers praised the book, saying Dave's passion for music had not faded over the years.
Dave Fanning also conducts public interviews with famous people and musicians at festivals. He has interviewed people like Richard E. Grant, filmmaker David Cronenberg, and musician Billie Eilish. He has been a stage announcer at many major music festivals and concerts in Ireland. These include the first ever Slane concert in 1981.
His contributions have also been featured in big documentary films about bands like Oasis and Coldplay.
Awards and Recognition
Dave Fanning has won many "Best DJ" awards. He topped the annual readers' poll for over twenty years in Hot Press magazine. In 1980, he won a special Jacob's Award for his radio show.
In 1991, he received the IRMA Special Industry Award. He has also received awards like the 2012 Dublin Lord Mayor's Award. This award recognized his broadcasting career and his support for new Irish music. In 2014, he received the University College Dublin Music Society Award. This was for his "outstanding contribution to music."
Dave won many IRMA awards and was nominated for Best DJ at The Meteor Music Awards seven times, winning four times. In 2016, he was inducted into the Irish Radio Hall of Fame. This shows how important he is to Irish radio.
