There are several ways to become a rock star - you could humiliate yourself on some dreadful television talent show while has-been one-hit-wonders and swarthy captains of smugness shake their sweaty heads and crush whatever confidence has the misfortune to come their greasy way.
Or you could learn an instrument, form a band, learn a little about songwriting, performance and recording, and try and do it the honest and slightly more dignified way. The Salt Rockschool Camps, based in Sutton, Co Dublin, could give budding Bonos a leg up the ladder to stardom. It runs courses for teenagers on song writing, recording and performance in a studio setting. During the course, students will learn to record their music and leave with a CD of their own banging tunes. Courses last for two weeks (10am to 3pm) and cost €395. See www.rockschool.ie or tel: 01-8395969. Leather trousers, big hair and supermodel girl- and boyfriends are sadly not included in the price.