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James Allan (musician)

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James Allan
Background information
Birth nameJames Allan
Born (1979-09-21) 21 September 1979 (age 45)
OriginDalmarnock, Scotland
GenresIndie rock[1]
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2003 – present
LabelsColumbia
Member ofGlasvegas
Association football career
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
Abronhill United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Falkirk 2 (0)
1999–2001 Cowdenbeath 24 (3)
2001–2002 East Fife 33 (2)
2002–2003 Queen's Park 26 (4)
2003–2004 Gretna 6 (0)
2004–2005 Stirling Albion 9 (0)
2004–2006 Dumbarton 16 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James Allan (born 21 September 1979) is the lead singer and guitarist of the Scottish rock band Glasvegas, and a former footballer.

Early and personal life

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Born in Dalmarnock, Glasgow, he attended the city's St Mungo's Academy.[2] His sister Denise is the band's co-manager.[3] Their cousin is Glasvegas bandmate/guitarist Rab Allan.[citation needed]

Football career

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Allan played as a winger for Falkirk, Cowdenbeath, East Fife, Queen's Park, Gretna, Stirling Albion and Dumbarton,[4] making 116 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.

Music career

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During his football career, Allan decided to write songs and form a band. After touring Scotland for several years Glasvegas released four singles, before eventually being signed to Columbia. His songs deal with social issues such as psychopathic fathers ("Daddy's Gone"), murder ("Flowers & Football Tops") and the challenges of social work ("Geraldine"). He also wrote about homosexuality ("I Feel Wrong").[6]

On 8 September 2009, a Tuesday, 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.[7] However, he made a call to the band's manager on 9 September 2009 that he was safe and well in New York,[8] 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 bandmates.[9]

Allan cites Elvis Presley and Phil Spector as his main influences.[10] He also says that Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen is one of his inspirations.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Glasvegas Singer Missing". Clash. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Fulton, Rick (6 January 2009). "Exclusive - Glasvegas star Rab Allan: Manager rules us with an iron fist.. and she's my cousin". Dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  4. ^ McAllister, Jim (2002). The Sons of the Rock - The Official History of Dumbarton Football Club. Dumbarton: J&J Robertson Printers.
  5. ^ James Allan at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Glasvegas' James Allan 'missing since Friday' (9 September 2009)". NME. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Glasvegas speak out over James Allan's disappearance". NME. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  10. ^ Lindsay, Cam.Conversations: James Allan. Exclaim! Nov 2008
  11. ^ McMonagle, Mickey. James Allan breaks cover to go on booze-up with Bunnyman. Daily Record. 4 October 2009
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