Scotpop

Allan Glen
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Music writer, author and journalist Allan Glen interviews the bands, musicians, songwriters, filmmakers, record label bosses and writers who create the best Scottish pop. Allan is the author of Stuart Adamson - In a Big Country, the critically acclaimed biography on the Skids and Big Country legend, and a former NME writer and BBC broadcaster.

  1. Sep 30

    Sir Ian Rankin (author): 'Some of the greatest Scottish songwriters were Jekyll and Hyde characters'

    As he prepares for the release of his highly anticipated standalone novel The Heights, Sir Ian Rankin joins me on the podcast this week to talk about the state of music in Scotland. As anyone who has read Ian's Rebus books will know, his writing is peppered with Scottish music references – from characters called Burchill to in-jokes about Mogwai, from tributes to folk heroes to homages to his own Cardenden punk band The Dancing Pigs. We also discuss the fragility behind some of Scotland’s greatest artists, from Alex Harvey to Stuart Adamson, Jackie Leven to Frankie Miller. This is the second, and concluding, part of our interview, which was recorded just after the Friends Again show at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow earlier this year. In the interview we talk about the impact of that show - and the surprise appearance of Lloyd Cole as support act – and the power of nostalgia on the wider Scottish music scene. Don't forget you can sign up for the Scotpop newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news stories and the best new bands. For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to follow Scotpop on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@scotpoppodcast If you have any queries about sponsorship opportunities, you can email me at scotpoppodcast@gmail.com.

  2. Sep 16

    Clive Ford (Awrite Records/ex Skids roadie): The untold story of Stuart Adamson and the 'lost' Skids album

    25 years after the death of Stuart Adamson, secret recordings of his first band the Skids are emerging. They were recorded in Edinburgh in 1977 11 weeks after the band formed, with all songs written by Stuart, who died in 2001. What can they tell us about this mercurial talent? On this week’s Scotpop podcast I’m joined by Awrite Records founder and ex Skids roadie Clive Ford to talk about those early days of the Scottish punk legends. Clive also explains how he got his hands on the tape, and why it's being released now as '1977' on his Seattle-based record label. “The new album brings the story full circle,” he says on this week’s show. Don't forget you can sign up for the Scotpop newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news stories and the best new bands. For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to follow Scotpop on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@scotpoppodcast If you have any queries about sponsorship opportunities, you can email me at scotpoppodcast@gmail.com.

  3. Sep 2

    Clare Grogan (Altered Images) - "The music press in the 80s was vitriolic – particularly to women'

    In the summer of 1981, Altered Images exploded on to the post-punk scene in the UK in a blaze of chutzpah, charm and chisseled cheekbones – and that was just the boys. That posters of the band’s frontwoman Clare Grogan were already pinned on bedroom walls following her breakthrough performance in Bill Forsyth’s classic growing-up movie Gregory’s Girl the previous year seemed to seal their fate as the nation’s favourite new band; even the London-based, hypercritical NME loved their briliantly bright pop tunes and street-urchin antics. (Well, for a bit anyway …) For many, the arrival of the Glaswegian punk upstarts on Top of the Pops looking like the ultimate gatecrashers – with Clare wearing a bamboo hat the size of a small country – signalled the moment pop switched from black and white to colour. The 80s had arrived. On this week’s episode of Scotpop, Clare relives the highs and lows of being in Altered Images, who are back on tour in the UK. She also talks about: - Travelling the world with “the boys- which was fun. Until it wasn’t.” - Recording with superstar producer Mike Chapman (Suzi Quatro/Smokie/Sweet/Blondie) in America. “Were we subservient? Nah. We were a bunch of gobby Glaswegians.” - Her blossoming friendship with [future husband and MMMBop producer] Stephen Lironi who joined Altered Images for third album Bite. - And - it’s TRUE - what it REALLY feels like when you inspire one of the biggest hits of the 80s. (Altogether now: ‘Ah, ha ha, hahhh … ha”.) - Plus, so much more. Don't forget you can sign up for the Scotpop newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news stories and the best new bands. For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to follow Scotpop on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@scotpoppodcast If you have any queries about sponsorship opportunities, you can email me at scotpoppodcast@gmail.com.

  4. Aug 19

    Chris Thomson (Friends Again/The Bathers) interview - Bathers, break-ups and bailiffs

    Everyone loves a music business survivor – and few have survived the vicissitudes of the exploitative music business quite like this week’s guest. Dumped by his friends and former Friends Again bandmates when they decamped to form Love and Money in the mid-80s, Chris Thomson thought he had had weathered that perfect storm with a new Phonogram record deal. Until it was pulled. (The more observant listener may hazard a guess at who may have been behind that particularly ruthless move.) Undeterred, he later released several albums as The Bathers - including the implausibly perfect Kelvingrove Baby; all of them signalling the revival of a rare talent; all of them failing to “do the units”. Then came the bailiffs. “They were a couple of friendly bailiffs, lovely, “ he tells me at one point in our interview. “Nevertheless, they asked if I had 30 grand in my bank account. I said, ‘I’m overdrawn by about a thousand’.” Huge thanks to Chris for this interview. It really is a tale like no other. Don't forget you can sign up for the Scotpop newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news stories and the best new bands. For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to follow Scotpop on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@scotpoppodcast If you have any queries about sponsorship opportunities, you can email me at scotpoppodcast@gmail.com.

  5. Aug 5

    Davy Henderson (ex-Fire Engines/Win Pt 2) - 'People in the music business in the 80s were like politicians today - clueless'

    As anecdote-tellers go, few can match Davy Henderson. This week’s podcast picks up where we left off last time with the Scottish cult hero talking about his band Win, which he formed after splitting Edinburgh-based act Fire Engines. If you heard the first part, you’ll know Davy called time on Fire Engines after he accepted a publishing deal – with an advance of £2,000 – from Pop:Aural label boss Bob Last. As Davy candidly explained in last week’s interview, the split – and the way he handled it at the time – remains one of his major regrets. What I enjoyed about interviewing Davy is he offers a fascinating insight into the mind of a songwriter in a way that many are unable to articulate (at one point in Pt 2, in an attempt to explain why he loves music and the art of songwriting he flip flops between the genius of Miles Davis and – oh yes! – the wigs of Carl Perkins). Fascinating stuff. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Don't forget you can sign up for the Scotpop newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news stories and the best new bands. For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to follow Scotpop on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@scotpoppodcast If you have any queries about sponsorship opportunities, you can email me at scotpoppodcast@gmail.com.

  6. Jul 22

    Davy Henderson (ex-Fire Engines/Win/Sexual Objects/Nectarine No. 9) – 'I just wish we'd told some people to f*** off'

    From sonic adventurers Fire Engines and Win to industry-baiters Nectarine No. 9 and The Sexual Objects, Davy Henderson remains one of Scotland’s greatest cult heroes. Yet the story of the Edinburgh-born raconteur – who grew up living next door to the Bay City Rollers and BCR-nearly rans Bilbo Baggins in Clermiston – has never been fully told. Until now. Davy's also back with a new band, Bubbles, featuring guitarist-about-town Douglas MacIntyre and former Orange Juice and Josef K legend Malcolm (now Dr) Ross – so it's the perfect time to hear how it all began. This interview with Davy was originally conducted for a magazine feature but there was so much additional fascinating insight into the integral struggles within the music industry that I thought it would be great to include the interview in its entirety raw and (largely) unedited - with a bunch of noisy seagulls making an appearance at one pivotal moment. (Ah the joys of podcasting.) The interview was supposed to last 20 minutes but overran – by more than an hour. With Davy’s permission, I’ve split it into two parts. This is Pt 1. Don't forget you can sign up for the Scotpop newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news stories and the best new bands. For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to follow Scotpop on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have any queries about sponsorship opportunities, you can email me at scotpoppodcast@gmail.com.

  7. Jul 8

    Steven Lindsay (ex-The Big Dish) – The Nearly Man of Scottish Pop

    With a mop of wavy blonde hair, a voice melding the best bits of John Foxx and Bryan Ferry and a canon of critically acclaimed tunes, Steven Lindsay was destined to be a pop star. The Big Dish, the band he formed at the Glasgow School of Art in the mid-80s, toured with Scottish heavyweights Big Country and Lloyd Cole and the Commotions and came tantalisingly close to cracking the Top 30 with hook-laden singles Prospect Street and Miss America Yet without that elusive hit track and the accompanying Top of the Pops appearances that might have catapulted the band into the big league, self doubt crept in – and record labels started to ramp up the pressure. In this week's Scotpop, Steven opens up about the pressures of being on the road with The Big Dish, touring with Lloyd Cole and Big Country and the "ruthlessness" of the music industry in the 80s.  It’s a fascinating story and a great insight into an artist unafraid to be anything other than himself. You can sign up here for the Scotpop newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news stories and the best new bands. For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to follow Scotpop on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have any queries about sponsorship opportunities, you can email me at scotpoppodcast@gmail.com.

  8. Jun 17

    Erin Reidy (Brontës) interview – 'We write our best songs when we're at our most vulnerable'

    Erin Reidy joins me this week to talk about life in Brontës, who have built a steady buzz since bursting on to the Scottish scene in 2022 with their double A-side debut single, featuring life-affirming indie anthem First Hand Arrogance. (It’s a track I included when compiling the best 45 singles from Glasgow acts for Record Collector; yes, it’s that good.) Several line-up changes – and a critic-flooring, self-titled debut album later – the tight-knit four-piece are once again on manoeuvres, a mini-UK tour scheduled for later this year. In this week's episode, Erin talks great gigs, bad dates and the joys of being in one of the best new bands in Scotland. You can sign up here for the Scotpop newsletter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠ - featuring extended shownotes, behind the scenes info, Scottish music news stories and the best new bands. For the latest news on the podcast and music updates, make sure to follow Scotpop on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you have any queries about sponsorship opportunities, you can email me at scotpoppodcast@gmail.com.

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About

Music writer, author and journalist Allan Glen interviews the bands, musicians, songwriters, filmmakers, record label bosses and writers who create the best Scottish pop. Allan is the author of Stuart Adamson - In a Big Country, the critically acclaimed biography on the Skids and Big Country legend, and a former NME writer and BBC broadcaster.

Information

  • Creator
    Allan Glen
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Allan Glen
  • Show Website
    Scotpop

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