Scotpop

Allan Glen
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Interviews with the bands, musicians, songwriters, filmmakers, record label bosses and writers who create the best Scottish pop.

Episodes

  1. 21 HR AGO

    Stuart Adamson book review - 'Alcoholism and the music business are brutal; together, they're explosive'

    In John Niven’s engaging music business novel Kill Your Friends, loathsome A&R man Steven Stelfox slashes and burns his way through a 90s music industry awash with cash, cocaine and conmen; if Stelfox had been operational in "the biz" a decade earlier he would've been eaten alive by a breed of major label record executive who would think nothing of remixing one of the world’s greatest singers out of a track on a whim because they could; who would ban a guitarist from their own recording session and add trumpets to his band's classic rock sound because they could; or who would, in a move Machiavelli would likely have dismissed "as a bit off", buy all the worldly rights to your band's music for a paltry sum in a rushed deal that even your battled-hardened lawyer would later describe as “less than satisfactory” because they … well, you get the picture.  This was the toxic environment that awaited Big Country’s temperamental Stuart Adamson, the former Skids guitarist who had a reputation for “liking a bevvy” and walking out of bands, and the subject of Scott Rowley’s Stay Alive, one of three books reviewed in this episode.  You can also hear a review of A Leap Into The Void by Douglas MacIntyre, the likeable artist-turned-record label boss of fascinating Scottish label Creeping Bent, who’s played with everyone from his own post-punk Lanarkshire band Article 58 to the recently revived – and brilliantly received – Scottish indiepop heroes Friends Again.  Douglas’s contacts book reads like a who's-who of Scottish music (spoiler alert: his wife – and daughter – are in bands and his in-laws are Clare Grogan of Altered Images and Stephen Lironi, the latter also once of that same great parish, as well as uber-producer of the multi-million selling Mmmbop by Hanson. And that’s not a joke.)  In this episode, Douglas talks about working in the studio with Malcolm Ross (Josef K/Orange Juice) and Postcard Records supremo Alan Horne, while there’s also a review of the brilliantly niche punk read Caledonia Screaming by the ever-creative Grant McPhee, an author, curator and filmmaker whose 2015 documentary Big Gold Dream thrust Fast Product and Postcard Records into the international limelight and made a breakout star of cult hero Davy Henderson (who also makes an appearance here).  Scotpop is already ranking at No 6 in the UK Apple podcast chart for Music Interviews so thanks for all the support (though I think that may be more to do with last week’s guest than me). I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please tell your friends and consider following/subscribing. It would also be great if you could leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts; it really helps others find the show. Cheers.

    20 min
  2. Sir Ian Rankin interview - how Scottish punk rock inspired one of the UK's most successful writers

    2 APR

    Sir Ian Rankin interview - how Scottish punk rock inspired one of the UK's most successful writers

    In this debut episode I’m delighted to be joined by Sir Ian Rankin, one of Scotland’s most successful and best-loved writers. Ian’s Rebus novels have sold more than 35 million copies worldwide and it was a great honour for me personally when he wrote a brilliant introduction to my own book, Stuart Adamson – In a Big Country, the critically acclaimed biography of the Skids and Big Country legend. Ian’s always been a huge fan of music and his knowledge on the subject – and Scottish music in particular – is well-known and encyclopaedic. So sit back, relax and listen – or watch – as two Fifers get overly emotional about the enduring legacy of Stuart Adamson, and Ian recalls the “thrill” of seeing the Skids play live in Fife, watching The Ramones, Pere Ubu, The Human League and more tear up stages in Edinburgh venues while he was a student at university in the capital and a brilliant tale involving the novelist, the late Scottish troubadour Jackie Leven and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. As will happen on every show, though, I start by asking my guest one very simple question: what was the first Scottish band you saw live and what impact did it have on you? You can watch or listen to part two of my interview with Ian in a few weeks, as he discusses the current state of music in Scotland and talks about his favourite Scotttish band, album and new act, another regular feature of Scotpop.

    21 min
  3. Scotpop - trailer

    1 APR

    Scotpop - trailer

    I've spent the past 30 years listening to musicians, bands and artists tell brilliant stories about Scottish music; now you'll be able to hear – and watch – them too. Follow now on Spotify and never miss an episode.

    2 min

  4. 31 MAR

    Introducing ... Scotpop

    If you've just discovered this podcast you're probably thinking "who, what, when, why now?" Well ... it's a show that celebrates the past, present and future of Scottish music with journalist, author and broadcaster Allan Glen who interviews the bands, songwriters, musicians, filmmakers, record label bosses and writers who create the best Scottish pop because Scottish pop is brilliant just now. Here's a quick introductory episode; Episode 1 featuring an interview with Sir Ian Rankin is out April 2.

    3 min
  • 4 Episodes

About

Interviews with the bands, musicians, songwriters, filmmakers, record label bosses and writers who create the best Scottish pop.

Information

  • Creator
    Allan Glen
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Allan Glen
  • Show Website
    Scotpop