Access All Areas: Glasvegas

Scottish sensations ‘Glasvegas’ are the hottest band around at the moment. Guitarist Rab Allan talks to the Ripple about battling the charts with Metallica and being the next Westlife.

You’re the most hyped band of the year with the NME hailing your album, “the best album of the year,” how do you feel about it?

I agree with them, I think it’s the best album of the year! In terms of pressure, the pressure was when James was writing the album and no-one knew who we were and we were lucky that everyone in the press seemed to like it. There are different pressures now like getting out of bed in time!

Your album was beaten to number one by Metallica, any bitter feelings?

None at all, I went to the bookies and put money on them, so I got something out of it! We knew from day one that they would get to number one as they’re one of the biggest bands in the world. We weren’t that far off, we’ve sold a lot of albums and I’m surprised at that.

How would you describe your sound to new listeners?

It’s quite hard to describe, it’s a big sound and very orchestral.

Your music is quite wall of sound like, was Phil Spector a big influence on the music?

When we started we listened to the Spector Christmas album a lot. We love the girl groups stuff, the 60’s was an
incredible time.

What do you think of other so called 60’s soul singers like Duffy?

I think she’s got a great voice but there are many people like her trying to do the whole 60’s thing but it still comes out very pop sounding and not very original at all. I don’t think there’s a lot of stuff going on and people could do something really good if they tried.

If only you were all girls, you could have been the next Ronettes!

We could have also been the next Westlife!

You’ve also been likened to Jesus and Mary Chain and Oasis, how do you feel about the comparison?

I guess the main issue is the stand up drummer and the feedback on the guitar, but other than that I don’t see the comparison with Oasis, it’s probably because were friends with the man responsible for Oasis, Alan McGee.

Is he a nice chap?

He’s an incredible guy and to be friends with him is bizarre because when I was growing up Oasis was my favourite band and to be friends with him is so weird.

You’re supporting 80’s legends Echo and the Bunnymen on their Ocean Rain tour, were they an influence on you growing up?

Not really, the first time I really listened to them was last year, I always knew all the hits but then we did a festival with them last year and they blew us away. I was with the band yesterday, we were at the embassy getting our visas and one of them collapsed and fainted because he got wasted the night before and Ian McCulloch just walked and left him. The guys a legend.

Is there anyone else you want to work with in the future?

Kate Bush, she’s incredible and most of the people we’d like to work with are dead!

Coming from Glasgow would you say that there’s quite a tight music scene in Glasgow?

I guess it depends where you go in Glasgow, we weren’t involved in the arty scene because we came from the East End and all the other bands like Belle and Sebastian and Idlewild come from the West End. The East End is more deprived, people aren’t really into music they’re into smoking dope and drinking and that’s about it whereas the West End is quite arty.

A fan described your music as ‘life changing’; do you believe that your music has the ability to change lives?

I think all music can because music’s done it to me before, it’s a subjective thing. I think with us people either really love us or think were totally shit. So you’re like the marmite of bands? Do you know what I’m going to use that! It’s always one way or other, if someone’s said that then we’ve achieved what we set out to do.

Have you got any advice for any other bands trying to make it?

We got put down a lot for what for what we were doing, we’d play ‘Daddy’s Gone’ and people would say we were a joke but we just kept on at it.

If you weren’t in a band what would you be doing now?

I wanted to be a teacher and I also wanted to be in a band but I was told that it would never happen…guess they were wrong.

Rajina Gurung

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