James Allan (musician)

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James Allan
Background information
Birth nameJames Allan
Born (1979-09-21) 21 September 1979 (age 44)
OriginDalmarnock, Scotland
GenresIndie rock[1]
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2003 – present
LabelsColumbia

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

Born 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]

Football career

Allan played as a winger for Falkirk, Cowdenbeath, East Fife, Queen's Park, Gretna, Stirling Albion and Dumbarton, 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

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 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 bandmates.[11]

Allan cites Elvis Presley and Phil Spector as his main influences.[12] He also says Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen is one of his inspirations.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Glasvegas Singer Missing". Clash. Retrieved 5 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  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. ^ Rangers are better
  4. ^ Glasvegas star Rab Allan: Manager rules with an iron fist... (6 January 2009)
  5. ^ Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database
  6. ^ Wilde, John. "Viva Glasvegas!". Sony Magazine:4. Retrieved on 6 January 2009.
  7. ^ Barr, Tim. 1 November 2008. "I used to think guitars were for weirdos". News of the World. Retrieved on 6 January 2008.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Glasvegas' James Allan 'missing since Friday' (9 September 2009)
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Glasvegas speak out over James Allan's disappearance". NME. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  12. ^ Lindsay, Cam.Conversations: James Allan. Exclaim! Nov 2008
  13. ^ McMonagle, Mickey. James Allan breaks cover to go on booze-up with Bunnyman. Daily Record. 4 October 2009
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