Bobby Bluebell’s thriving third act, ‘80s Glasgow and the gift that keeps on giving

Bobby Bluebell remembers the “cuddly duffle-coat friendship” of Glasgow bands in the early ‘80s and the Bluebells’ second act rebooted by the Volkswagen ad. The band are touring again and an even bigger part of the city’s thriving musical community, and he looks back here at the first gigs he ever saw and played, along with …

… singing “When I’m Dead And Gone’ in an old folks home.  

… on the town with Siobhan Fahey, her sisters and boyfriends Kevin Rowland and Gary Crowley.

… buying Rocket Man and Wee Neil Reid’s Mother Of Mine, aged 13. And Elton John at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall.

… his side project The Golden Tree (with Grahame Skinner of Hipsway) playing ‘Scottish’ songs by Marmalade, Strawberry Switchblade, Ewan MacColl, Coldplay, the Easybeats, Talking Heads and the Bay City Rollers.

… “Glasgow had six gangs. You had to choose your route home carefully if wearing Kickers.”

… Clare Grogan’s sister’s part in the Bluebells’ fortunes.

… Edwyn Collins and Alan Horne holding HIT and MISS signs in the front row of an Oxfam Warriors gig.

… “A cuddly duffle-coat friendship”: the Glasgow bands of the early ‘80s and memories of Altered Images and Peter Capaldi’s Dream Boys.

… why Dolly Parton was ditched and ‘Young At Heart’ chosen for the Volkswagen ad.

… playing the Old Grey Whistle Test with the Psychedelic Furs.

… “the best way to get an audience to stop talking is to entertain them.”

… “All hits are luck”.

… his Golden Rule when playing festivals.

The Bluebells tickets here: https://www.songkick.com/artists/315250-bluebells/calendar

The Golden Tree: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7HO0TGE0vgPgwDoaBUMAJF?si=LUsXAtrURVWYjEkzDpI0mQ&nd=1&dlsi=65dddbf6bf6c45e4

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