James Allan (musician)
| James Allan | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Allan |
| Born | 21 September 1979 |
| Origin | Dalmarnock, Scotland |
| Genres | Indie rock[1] |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Columbia |
| Associated acts | Glasvegas |
James Allan (born 21 September 1979) is the lead singer and guitarist of the Scottish rock band Glasvegas, and a former footballer.
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[edit] Early and personal life
Born in in Dalmarnock, Glasgow, he attended the city's St Mungo's Academy.[2] Allan is a lifelong supporter of Celtic. [3]
Allan's cousin is Glasvegas bandmate/guitarist Rab Allan. His sister Denise is the band's co-manager.[4]
[edit] Football career
Allan played as a winger for Cowdenbeath, East Fife, Queen's Park, Gretna, Stirling Albion and Dumbarton, making 105 appearances in the Scottish Football League.[5] He was part of the Cowdenbeath squad that won promotion as runners up in the 2000–01 Scottish Third Division.
[edit] Music career
During his football career, Allan decided to write songs and form a band.[6][7] After touring Scotland for several years Glasvegas released four singles, before eventually being signed to Columbia. His songs deal with social issues such as absentee fathers ("Daddy's Gone"), murder ("Flowers & Football Tops") and the challenges of social work ("Geraldine").[8]
On 8 September 2009, bandmates Rab Allan and Paul Donoghue announced that James Allan had been missing since the previous Friday, which resulted in a no-show at the Mercury Prize awards ceremony.[9] However he made a call to the band's manager on the 9 September 2009 that he was safe and well in New York,[10] where Glasvegas were about to embark upon a US tour supporting Kings of Leon. It is thought that the lack of communication sourced from Allan being without a mobile phone for six months, according to fellow bandmates.[11]
Allan cites Elvis Presley and Phil Spector as his main influences.[12] He recently met up with Ian McCulloch, in his home city for a night out. Here, he described the Echo and the Bunnymen frontman as one of his inspirations.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ "Glasvegas Singer Missing". Clash. http://www.clashmusic.com/news/glasvegas-singer-missing. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
- ^ Dingwall, John. 2 August 2008. "Exclusive: Scots band Glasvegas set to break into the big-time with hotly-tipped debut". Daily Record. Retrieved on 6 January 2009.
- ^ Rangers are better.[1]
- ^ Glasvegas star Rab Allan: Manager rules with an iron fist... (6 January 2009)
- ^ Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database
- ^ Wilde, John. "Viva Glasvegas!". Sony Magazine:4. Retrieved on 6 January 2009.
- ^ Barr, Tim. 1 November 2008. "I used to think guitars were for weirdos". News of the World. Retrieved on 6 January 2008.
- ^ Martin, Gavin. 8 August 2008. "Viva Glasvegas: Ex-football pro James Allan tackles big issues with his Glasgow band". Daily Mirror. Retrieved on 6 January 2008.
- ^ Glasvegas' James Allan 'missing since Friday' (9 September 2009)
- ^ Dingwall, John. 14 September 2009. "Glasvegas frontman James Allan back as band perform on Kings of Leon bill". Daily Record. Retrieved on 17 October 2009.
- ^ "Glasvegas speak out over James Allan's disappearance". NME. http://www.nme.com/news/glasvegas/47277. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ Lindsay, Cam.Conversations: James Allan. Exclaim! Nov 2008
- ^ McMonagle, Mickey. James Allan breaks cover to go on booze-up with Bunnyman. Daily Record. 4 Oct 2009
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- 1979 births
- Living people
- People from Glasgow
- Scottish rock guitarists
- Scottish rock singers
- Scottish footballers
- Cowdenbeath F.C. players
- East Fife F.C. players
- Queen's Park F.C. players
- Gretna F.C. players
- Stirling Albion F.C. players
- Dumbarton F.C. players
- Scottish Football League players
- People educated at St Mungo's Academy
