Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band that released eleven studio albums between 1979 and 1995. They first achieved fame in the UK, Europe, and Australia with the 1981–83 hits “Love Song,” “Promised You a Miracle,” “Glittering Prize,” and “Waterfront.” In 1985, they scored a global hit with “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” Simple Minds […]
Aztec Camera was a Scottish new wave band led by guitarist–singer and songwriter Roddy Frame. They released two 1981 Postcard singles and the 1983 Rough Trade album High Land, Hard Rain, an acclaimed set with the underground hits “Oblivious,” “Pillar to Post,” and “Walk Out to Winter.” Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler produced Aztec Camera’s […]
The Associates were the Scottish new wave duo of singer Billy MacKenzie and multi-instrumentalist Alan Rankine. They made the 1980 Fiction album The Affectionate Punch and scored 1981 indie hits with “Tell Me Easters On Friday,” “Q Quarters,” “Kitchen Person,” and “White Car In Germany,” compiled on the Situation Two release Fourth Drawer Down. In 1982, […]
Jack Bruce (1943— 2014) was a Scottish-born bassist, vocalist, and composer who played in a series of popular English bands during the 1960s, followed by a successful solo career over the following half-century. He first emerged in 1965 with a two-album stint in the Graham Bond Organization, followed with brief time in Manfred Mann and […]
Al Stewart is a Scottish singer/songwriter who emerged from the British folk boom of the mid-1960s. He debuted with the 1967 orchestral-psych album Bed Sitter Images, his first of five albums on CBS, culminating with the lavish 1972/73 works Orange and Past, Present and Future. His 1975 release Modern Times marked his first collaboration with […]
Donovan (born May 10, 1946) is a Scottish folk-rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter who released his first two albums in 1965 on Pye, followed by a prolific run of titles on Epic between 1966 and 1976. After a self-titled one-off on RAK in 1977, he released a further round of albums on RCA during the […]
Nazareth are a Scottish hard-rock band from Dunfermline, formed in 1968 with Dan McCafferty, Manny Charlton, Pete Agnew, and Darrell Sweet. On their first two albums, Nazareth and Exercises, they established a four-piece attack built on blunt riffs, hard backbeats, and McCafferty’s rasp. Roger Glover produced the run from Razamanaz through Rampant and locked in […]
The Average White Band are a Scottish soul–funk sextet that debuted with the 1973 MCA release Show Your Hand. Between 1974 and 1979, AWB released six studio albums and a live set on Atlantic, followed with 1980–82 titles on RCA. Stateside, they’re best known for the instrumental “Pick Up the Pieces,” a 1974 chart-topper from […]
Orange Juice was a Scottish post-punk band that cut four 1980/81 singles on Postcard Records, the Glasgow indie that launched Josef K and Aztec Camera. They signed with Polydor for their 1982 debut album You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever and scored a UK Top 10 hit with the title-track from their second album, Rip […]
Gerry Rafferty (1947–2011) was a Scottish musician and songwriter who emerged in The Humblebums, a folk duo with future comedian Billy Connolly. The pair released two 1969–70 albums, which presaged Rafferty’s 1971 solo debut Can I Have My Money Back? In 1972, Rafferty teamed with longtime friend Joe Egan in the art-pop/folk combo Stealers Wheel, […]
Sheena Easton is a Scottish singer who emerged with the 1980 EMI hits “Modern Girl” and “Morning Train (Nine to Five),” followed by the 1981 albums Take My Time and You Could Have Been With Me, released around “For Your Eyes Only,” her ballad theme for the James Bond movie. She followed her initial flurry […]
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish goth/dream-pop trio that was active for 16 years, starting in 1981. Between 1982 and 1990, the band released six albums and assorted EPs on 4AD. Two additional longplayers appeared on Fontana during the 1990s. Members: Elizabeth Fraser (vocals), Robin Guthrie (guitar), Will Heggie (bass, 1981-83), Simon Raymonde (bass, 1983-97) Background […]
The Incredible String Band was a Scottish folk-rock band from Edinburgh that released six studio albums and a live double-LP between 1966 and 1970 on Elektra, followed by five further albums between 1971 and 1974 on Island Records. Formed in 1966 by multi-instrumentalists Robin Williamson and Mike Heron with original member Clive Palmer, The Incredible […]
The Rezillos were a Scottish New Wave band that released the 1978 Sire album Can’t Stand The Rezillos, surrounded by the singles “I Can’t Stand My Baby,” “(My Baby Does) Good Sculptures,” “Destination Venus,” and the UK Top 20 hit “Top of the Pops.” After their collapse, singer Fay Fife and multi-instrumentalist Eugene Reynolds formed […]
Café Jacques was a Scottish trio on Epic–Columbia that released the 1977–78 albums Round the Back and International, both produced by Rupert Hine. Members: Chris Thomson (guitar, vocals), Mike Ogletree (drums, percussion, acoustic guitar, vocals), Peter Veitch (keyboards, accordion) Background Café Jacques formed as a septet in 1973 when guitarist–singer Chris Thomson, an accounting student […]
Altered Images were a Scottish new wave band that released three albums between 1981 and 1983 on Epic. They debuted with the single “Dead Pop Stars,” followed by the album Happy Birthday, both produced by Siouxsie and the Banshees bassist Steve Severin. Pinky Blue followed in 1982 with production work by Martin Rushent. Their two […]
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (SAHB) was a theatrical Scottish hard-rock band that released eight studio albums and a live disc on Vertigo between 1972 and 1978. They formed when veteran soul-rock singer Alex Harvey enlisted hard-rockers Tear Gas as his backing band. Their popularity peaked with the 1974/75 albums The Impossible Dream and Tomorrow Belongs […]
Momus is the recording name of Scottish songwriter and musician Nicholas John Currie. He emerged from the Edinburgh group The Happy Family, which made a 1982 4AD album. As a solo artist, he released two shortplayers and the 1986 album Circus Maximus on Él, followed by six albums on Creation Records. His catalog combines narrative songs […]
Frankie Miller is a Scottish blues-rock and blue-eyed-soul singer who released seven albums between 1972 and 1980 on Chrysalis, followed by two albums on Capitol and Vertigo. He charted with the singles “Be Good to Yourself” and “Love Letters” from his 1977 fourth album Full House and scored a multi-national Top 10 with his 1978 […]
Shelagh McDonald is a Scottish singer/songwriter who released two albums in 1970 and 1971 on B & C Records. Background Shelagh McDonald was born in Edinburgh in 1948 and grew up immersed in classical music and traditional Scottish ballads. She studied piano as a child and gravitated to guitar in her teens, drawn to the […]
Josef K was a Scottish post-punk band that released five singles and the 1981 album The Only Fun in Town. An earlier demos set later surfaced as Sorry for Laughing. Along with Orange Juice and Aztec Camera, they recorded for Postcard Records, a small but fruitful Glaswegian indie. Their music influenced The Smiths and the […]
Thomas Leer — aka Thomas Wishart (born 1953) — is a Scottish musician and producer who cut the seminal 1978 DIY minimal-wave single “Private Plane,” followed by The Bridge, a collaborative album with guitarist/keyboardist Robert Rental. In 1981, Leer issued the home-recorded EPs 4 Movements and Contradictions on Cherry Red. His first proper album, The […]
Beggars Opera was a Scottish symphonic/psych band that released four albums on Vertigo between 1970 and 1973 — including the popular 1971/72 efforts Waters of Change and Pathfinder — followed by two mid-decade titles on Jupiter. A return to Vertigo yielded the 1980 album Life Line. A further round of ’80s-era recordings would appear on the […]
Bread Love and Dreams were a Scottish folk trio that released a self-titled album on Decca in 1969. After the departure of bassist Carolyn Davis, singing guitarists David McNiven and Angie Rew continued as a duo and recorded a double album that was split into the 1970/71 albums The Strange Tale of Captain Shannon and […]
The Blue Nile was a Scottish art-pop/sophisti-pop trio that released four albums at lengthy intervals between 1984 and 2004. Formed in Glasgow in 1981, the band debuted with a single that year on RSO. Three years later, the album A Walk Across the Rooftops appeared on Linn/A&M, followed a half-decade later by Hats. The subsequent two […]
Danny Wilson was a Scottish sophisti-pop band that charted with “Mary’s Prayer” from their 1987 Virgin debut Meet Danny Wilson. They scored another hit with “The Second Summer of Love” from their 1989 sophomore release Be Bop Mop Top. Members: Gary Clark (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Kit Clark (multi-instrumentalist), Ged Grimes (bass guitar, keyboards) Background Danny […]
Fingerprintz was a Scottish new wave band signed to Virgin Records. Between 1979 and 1981, they released three albums: The Very Dab, Distinguishing Marks, and Beat Noir. Bandleader Jimme O’Neill also wrote songs for Lene Lovich and later worked with Jacqui Brookes. He and guitarist Cha Burns later reteamed in The Silencers. Members: Jimme O’Neill […]
Pilot was a Scottish pop-rock band, best known for the transatlantic hit “Magic” and the UK/Australian chart-topper “January.” They released four albums between 1974 and 1977, led by the singing/songwriting team of bassist David Paton and keyboardist William Lyall. Alan Parsons produced their first two albums: From the Album of the Same Name and Second […]
Cado Belle was a Scottish soul-funk band that released a 1976 self-titled album and a 1977 EP, both on Anchor. Singer Maggie Reilly sings on the Mike Oldfield hits “Family Man” and “Moonlight Shadow.” Members: Maggie Reilly (vocals), Alan Darby (guitar), Gavin Hodgson (bass), Stuart MacKillop (keyboards), Davy Roy (drums, percussion), Colin Tully (saxophone, flute) […]
The Skids were a Scottish new wave rock band that released four albums and thirteen singles between 1978 and 1981 on Virgin. They scored UK hits with “Into the Valley,” “Masquerade,” and “Working for the Yankee Dollar.” Bill Nelson produced and played keyboards on their 1979 second album Days in Europa. After their 1980 release […]
Stealers Wheel was a Scottish folk-pop band that released three albums on A&M: Stealers Wheel (1972), Ferguslie Park (1973), and Right or Wrong (1975). They scored an international hit with “Stuck In the Middle With You,” performed by their original five-piece lineup. After the first album, songwriters Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty maintained the band with […]
Writing On the Wall was a Scottish post-psych band that released a standalone single and the album The Power of the Picts on Middle Earth in 1969. Four years later, the band released a one-off single on Pye. Members: Jake Scott (bass, vocals), Jimmy Hush (drums), William “Bill” Scott (keyboards), Linnie Paterson (lead vocals, 1968-70), […]
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in 1981 by former Skids guitarist Stuart Adamson. They soared internationally with their 1983 debut album The Crossing and its lead-off single “In a Big Country,” noted for its Celt-tinged e-bow guitar licks; followed by the 1984–88 Mercury albums Steeltown, The Seer, and Peace in Our Time. […]
Berlin Blondes were a Scottish coldwave/New Romantic band that released a self-titled album on EMI in 1980. Members: Steven Bonomi (vocals), Robert Farrell (guitar, synthesizer), Jim McKinven [Jim Spender] (keyboards, synthesizer, 1979-80), David Rudden (bass, 1979-80), Nick Clarke (bass, 1980-81), Steve ‘Stevo’ Jones (keyboards, 1981), Alasdair Gowans (bass, 1981), Brian Miller (drums, 1981), David Freeman […]
Rock Workshop was a British brass-rock and blues band that released the 1970–71 CBS albums Rock Workshop and The Very Last Time. The first features Scottish singer Alex Harvey, pre-Sensational Band. Guitarist Ray Russell arranged both albums, which also feature trumpeter Harry Beckett. Members: Alan Greed, Alan Rushton, Alex Harvey, Bob Downes, Brian Miller, Bud […]
Chris Rainbow (November 18, 1946 — February 25, 2015) was a Scottish art-pop musician, singer, and songwriter from Glasgow who released the 1975–78 Polydor albums Home of the Brave and Looking Over My Shoulder, followed by the 1979 EMI release White Trails. As a vocalist, he sang select songs for the Alan Parsons Project and […]
Stone the Crows were a Scottish soul-rock band that released four albums between 1970 and 1972 on Polydor. Their guitarist and songwriter Leslie Harvey (brother of Alex Harvey) was electrocuted on stage in 1972. Early bassist James Dewar subsequently fronted the Robin Trower band. Singer Maggie Bell cut two solo albums and later fronted Midnight […]
Chou Pahrot was a Scottish folk-rock/hard-rock band that released the 1978 EP Buzgo Tram Chorus and 1979 album Live on Klub Records. Members: Eggy Beard (violin), Monica Zarb (bass, vocals), Mama Voot (guitar, saxophone, vocals), Fish Feathers McTeeth (drums), The Amphibian (drums) Background Chou Pahrot formed in Paisley, near Glasgow, during the mid-seventies. The group […]
Dekka Danse was a Scottish synthpop band that cut a 1982 DJM standalone single, followed by the 1984 CBS album Waltz in the Wilderness. The band evolved from an earlier act, The Shapiros, which issued a 1979 one-off single on small-press Now. Members: John Innes (vocals), Alan Morrison (guitar), Jon Smith (keyboards), Eric Grant (bass), […]
Fiction Factory was a Scottish synthpop band that released the album Throw the Warped Wheel Out with accompanying singles on CBS in 1984, followed by Another Story on Foundry Records in 1985. Members: Kevin Patterson (vocals), Chic Medley (guitar), Graham McGregor (bass), Eddie Jordan (keyboards), Mike Ogletree (drums, percussion) Background Fiction Factory had its roots […]
5 Hand Reel was an English/Scottish folk-rock band that released three albums between 1976 and 1978 on RCA Victor, followed by a 1979 fourth on Topic Records. Members: Bobby Eaglesham (vocals, mandolin, guitar, dulcimer, side drum), Tom Hickland (vocals, fiddle, keyboards, organ), Barry Lyons (bass, keyboards, whistle), Dave Tulloch (percussion, side drum, harmonica), Chuck Fleming […]
Northwind was a Scottish folk-rock band from Glasgow that released the album Sister, Brother, Lover… in 1971 on Regal Zonophone. Two Apple Corps acetates cut in 1970 and studio tapes from 1973 later supplied Peaceful, an archival LP issued in 2024 by Bright Carvings. Members: Brian Young (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals), Tommy Ewing (vocals), […]
Slik was a Scottish pop-rock quartet that released five singles and a 1976 album on Bell Records. They hit No. 1 with “Forever and Ever” and scored a second hit with “Requiem.” After their prescient followup single “The Kid’s a Punk,” they morphed into the punk-oriented PVC2 for the 1977 EP Put You in the […]
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions were a Scottish pop-rock band that released ten singles and the 1984–87 Polydor albums Rattlesnakes, Easy Pieces, and Mainstream. They charted in the UK and Ireland with “Perfect Skin,” “Brand New Friend,” “Lost Weekend,” “Cut Me Down,” and “My Bag.” Members: Lloyd Cole (vocals, guitar), Stephen Irvine (drums, percussion), Neil […]
The Happy Family was a Scottish new wave/art-pop band on 4AD, formed by Josef K bassist Dave Weddell with singer/songwriter Nick Currie, who later recorded as Momus. After their 1982 EP Puritans, drummer Ian Stoddart cleared for Josef K alumnus Ronnie Torrance, who played on the lone Happy Family album, The Man on Your Street. […]
String Driven Thing was a British folk-rock band, originally formed in Scotland as a harmony combo by the husband/wife team Chris and Pauline Adams. In 1972, they moved to London and added violinist Graham Smith. After the 1973 release The Machine That Cried, the Adams departed. Smith led a new lineup through two further albums […]
The Armoury Show was a British new wave rock band that released the 1985 Parlophone album Waiting for the Floods. They were a supergroup comprised of ex-members of the Skids and Magazine. Members: Richard Jobson (vocals), Russell Webb (bass), John McGeoch (guitar, 1983-86), John Doyle (drums, 1983-86), Ray McVeigh (guitar, 1986), Ray Weston (drums, 1986-88), […]
Forever More was a Scottish post-psych band that released the 1970/71 albums Yours and Words on Black Plastic on RCA Victor. Bassist/vocalist Alan Gorrie became a mainstay of soul-funksters the Average White Band. Members: Stuart Francis (drums), Alan Gorrie (bass, vocals), Onnie McIntyre (guitar), Mick Travis [Mick Strode] (lead guitar, vocals) The Scots of St. […]
Cuban Heels were a Scottish new wave band that debuted with a 1978 standalone single on self-press Housewive’s Choice. After a lineup shuffle, they released the 1981 Virgin album Work Our Way to Heaven. Singer John Milarky first fronted Glasgow punks Johnny & the Self Abusers, the root band of Simple Minds. Members: John Milarky […]
Albania was a Scottish New Wave band that released multiple singles and the album Are You All Mine in 1981 on Chiswick, followed by a 1982 single on Stiff. Members: K-Y McKay (vocals, guitar), Robert Strain (guitar), Dusty McSheffrey (bass, keyboards), Jonnie Kilometer [Jonnie Miles] (drums), Nick C. Ash (keyboards, guitar), Andy Hamilton (saxophone) Background […]
Positive Noise was a Scottish new wave band on Statik Records that released the 1981–82 albums Heart of Darkness and Change of Heart. They issued eight singles, including “Give Me Passion,” “Charm,” “Waiting for the Seventh Man” and two 1983–84 stop-gaps (“When Lightning Strikes,” “A Million Miles Away”) found on their 1985 final album Distant […]
Tear Gas was a Scottish hard-rock band that released the album Piggy Go Getter on Famous/Paramount in 1970, followed by an eponymous album on Regal Zonophone in 1971. They then teamed with singer Alex Harvey in the long-running Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Members: Zal Cleminson (guitar, vocals), Chris Glen (bass, vocals), Gilson Lavis (drums, 1969-70), […]
Bodkin was a Scottish hard-rock/psych band that released a 1972 self-titled album on small-press West. Members: Mick Riddel (lead guitar), Doug Rome (Hammond organ), Dick Sneddon (drums), Bill Anderson (bass), Zeik Hume (vocals) Profile Bodkin took their name from the bodkin point arrowhead, a thick needle often used in leather work. Their singular album appeared […]
Barbara Dickson (born Sept. 27, 1947) is a Scottish folk/pop vocalist and actress who first entered showbiz in the late 1960s. Partnered with Glaswegian guitarist/vocalist Archie Fisher, they issued back-to-back duo albums in 1969/70. Her debut solo album, Do Right Woman, appeared in 1970 on Decca. In 1974, she contributed to the cast recording of […]
Jim Diamond (Sept. 28, 1951 — Oct. 8, 2015) was a Scottish vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Bridgetown, Glasgow, who debuted with a standalone single on Bradley’s in 1975. He then embarked on a series of band-oriented projects, starting with a 1976 album heading hard-rockers Bandit. After a brief stint with Alexis Korner, Diamond finished […]
The Fire Engines were a Scottish art-punk band from Edinburgh that released the album Lubricate Your Living Room on Bob Last’s Pop:Aural Music small-press in 1980. Just prior to the band, vocalist Davy Henderson cut an EP with Leicester combo the Disco Zombies. During the late 1980s, he recorded two albums with electro-posters Win alongside […]
The Bluebells were a Scottish new wave folk-pop band that charted with the 1983–84 singles “Cath,” “Sugar Bridge (It Will Stand),” “I’m Falling,” and the twice-charted “Young at Heart.” They released one proper album, Sisters, but recorded numerous songs and demos compiled on Exile on Twee Street: Songs From Glasgow 1980-1982. Members: Robert Hodgens (guitar), […]
The Humblebums were a Scottish folk-pop combo, best known as the launching vehicle of comedian Billy Connolly and singer–songwriter Gerry Rafferty. Connolly formed the act with guitarist Tam Harvey for the 1969 Transatlantic release First Collection of Merry Melodies. Harvey cleared for Rafferty, who wrote the bulk of their second release, The New Humblebums. Connolly and […]
Modern Man was a Scottish new wave band that released the 1980 album Concrete Scheme with accompanying singles on MAM Records. Members: Jim Cook (vocals), Colin King (drums), Ali McLeod (guitar), Danny Mitchell (guitar), Mike Moran (bass) Background Modern Man formed in Glasgow when drummer Colin King and guitarist Danny Mitchell developed a local covers […]
Deacon Blue are a Scottish sophisti-pop band that released the 1987–89 CBS albums Raintown and When the World Knows Your Name. They scored a 1988 international hit with “Real Gone Kid” and a 1990 UK No. 2 with the Dionne Warwick cover “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” Their subsequent albums Fellow Hoodlums and Whatever […]
Endgames were a Scottish new wave band that made multiple post-punk compilation appearances and signed with Virgin for the 1983–85 albums Building Beauty and Natural. Members: David Murdoch (keyboards), Douglas Muirden (keyboards, programming), David Rudden (bass, vocals), Willie Gardner (keyboards, bass, guitar), Brian McGee (drums, programming), Paul Wishart (saxophone) Background Endgames formed in Glasgow in […]
Flying Squad were a Scottish hard-rock band that released a self-titled album on Epic in 1978. Members: Ian Muir (vocals), Alex Calder (guitar), Monty McMonagle (guitar), George Crossan (bass), Jim Kelly (drums) Discography: Flying Squad (1978)
Midge Ure — aka James Ure (born Oct. 10, 1953) — is a Scottish vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter from Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, who fronted the bands Slik and the Rich Kids during the mid-to-late 1970s. In 1979, he replaced John Foxx in Ultravox, releasing five albums with the band between 1980 and 1986. At the […]
Miller Anderson (born April 12, 1945) is a Scottish guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who played in a series of bands between 1967 and 1975, including Paper Blitz Tissue, the Keef Hartley Band, Hemlock, Broken Glass, and Dog Soldier. As a solo artist, Anderson released the 1971 Deram album Bright City. Background Miller Anderson was born […]
Pallas are a Scottish symphonic-rock band from Aberdeen, formed in 1974 as Rainbow. They issued the 1978 Pallas EP and the 1981 cassette-only live album Arrive Alive on Granite Wax, followed by the 1984–86 Harvest albums The Sentinel and The Wedge. Pallas resumed album activity in the 1990s and subsequently released studio and live titles […]
Hue and Cry are a Scottish sophisti-pop duo that released four albums on Circa between 1987 and 1991, followed by a string of titles on Linn and self-press Blairhill in the decades that followed. Members: Pat Kane (vocals), Greg Kane (keyboards) Background Hue and Cry formed in 1984 in Coatbridge, Scotland, when singer and lyricist […]
Ali Thomson is a Scottish art-pop vocalist and songwriter behind the 1980/81 A&M albums Take a Little Rhythm and Deception Is an Art. The debut title track reached No. 15 on the Billboard chart in 1980. He is the brother of Supertramp bassist Dougie Thomson. Background Ali Thomson was born on April 19, 1959, in […]
Drinking Electricity was a Scottish coldwave/art-punk band that released three 1980 singles on Pop Aural. They followed with “Subliminal” and the 1982 album Overload on Survival Records. Members: Anne-Marie Heighway (vocals), David Rome (guitar, vocals), Paul Edgley (bass) Background Drinking Electricity formed in 1980 when synthesist–guitarist David Rome and singer Anne-Marie Heighway, office coworkers, teamed […]
Fish — aka Derek William Dick (born April 25, 1958) — is a Scottish vocalist who rose to prominence as the frontman of English symphonic-rock band Marillion during the 1980s. In 1990, he debuted as a solo artist with the album Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors on EMI, followed by several albums on Polydor […]
Strangeways were a Scottish hard-rock band that released a 1984 self-titled album on Bon Aire, followed by the 1987–89 RCA albums Native Sons and Walk in the Fire. Members: Ian James Stewart (guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards), Jim Drummond (drums, percussion, vocals), Dave Stewart (bass, vocals, 1984-2000), Tony Liddle (lead vocals, 1984-85), Terry Brock (lead vocals, 1986-89, […]
Blue was a Scottish pop-rock band that released the 1973–74 RSO albums Blue (as a trio) and Life in the Navy (as a quartet). In 1977, a revised lineup signed to Elton John‘s Rocket Record Company. John produced their third album, Another Night Time Flight, noted for its soaring title track and the UK Top […]
JSD Band was a Scottish folk-rock combo from Glasgow that released the 1970 album Country of the Blind on Regal Zonophone, followed by two albums in 1972/73 on Cube. Members: Jim Divers (bass, cello, vocals), Sean O’Rourke (harmonica, banjo, vocals, piccolo, flute, guitar), Des Coffield (guitar, vocals, mandolin, tenor banjo, piano), Chuck Fleming (fiddle, mandolin), […]
The Flowers were a Scottish post-punk band that released two singles on Bob Last’s Pop:Aural Music small-press in 1979/80. The first of those — “Confessions” / “After Dark” — was comped on the 1980 PVC release Mutant Pop 78/79 -> along with seminal cuts by The Human League, The Mekons, Gang of Four, 2.3, and […]
Head was a Scottish jazz-rock band from Glasgow that released the 1973 album GTF on SRT Productions Ltd., followed by the 1975/77 albums Red Dwarf on Canon Records and Blackpool Cool on the group’s eponymous self-press. Members: Billy Kyle (drums), Graham Mince (bass), John Davies (keyboards, trumpet), Charles Alexander (guitar), Howard Copland (saxophone), Lachlan McColl […]
The Human Beast was a Scottish hard-rock/psych trio from Edinburgh that released the album Volume One on Decca in 1970. In 1972, bassist/vocalist Edward Jones and drummer John Ramsey appeared on the album Basher, Chalky, Pongo and Me by Mike Hart and Comrades. Members: Gillies Buchan (guitar, vocals), Edward Jones (bass, vocals), John Ramsey (drums) […]
Holocaust was a Scottish hard-rock/metal band that emerged with two 1980 maxi-singles, followed by the 1981 album The Nightcomers and 1982 EP Coming Through, all on the self-run Phoenix Record and Filmworks. They returned with the 1984 album No Mans Land, then went quiet until the 1989 release The Sound of Souls on Chrome Records. […]
APB was a Scottish art-punk/funk band from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, that issued five singles on Oily Records between 1981 and 1983, followed by two singles apiece on Albion and Red River Records circa 1984/85. Most of these sides were compiled on the 1985 Link Records compilation Something to Believe In. In 1986, the band released the […]
Heavy Pettin was a Scottish hard-rock/metal band behind the 1983–85 Polydor albums Lettin Loose and Rock Ain’t Dead, followed by the 1989 FM Revolver release Big Bang. Members: Punky Mendoza (guitar), Gordon Bonnar (guitar), Gary Moat (drums), Steve “Hamie” Hayman (vocals), Brian Waugh (bass) Background Heavy Pettin formed in June 1981 in Glasgow when singer […]
Scars were a Scottish post-punk band from Edinburgh that released the 1979 single “Adult/ery” / “Horrorshow” on Fast Product, followed with three 1980/81 singles on Charisma-subsidiary Pre, culminating with the 1981 album Author! Author! Their first single appeared on the seminal sampler Fast Product: The First Year Plan and its stateside variant Mutant Pop 78/79 […]
Intimate Strangers were a Scottish sophisti-pop duo that released the album Charm in 1986 on IRS. They preceded it with the EP Deliverance, released in 1984 under the name Raise the Dragon. Musician Sean Lyons hailed from Metro. Members: Richard Spellman (vocals), Sean Lyons (guitar) Intimate Strangers formed in 1984 as Raise the Dragon. Discography: […]
Maggie Bell is a Scottish singer who fronted soul-rockers Stone the Crows on four albums between 1970 and 1972. As a solo artist, she debuted with the 1974 Atlantic release Queen of the Night, followed by Suicide Sal on Led Zeppelin‘s Swan Song label. In 1981, she recorded one album with super-group Midnight Flyer. Background […]
