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] |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 2003 – present |
Labels | Columbia |
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
[edit]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
[edit]Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | James Allan | ||
Date of birth | 21 September 1979 | ||
Place of birth | Dalmarnock, Scotland | ||
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 |
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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ "Glasvegas Singer Missing". Clash. Retrieved 5 April 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ McAllister, Jim (2002). The Sons of the Rock - The Official History of Dumbarton Football Club. Dumbarton: J&J Robertson Printers.
- ^ James Allan at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- ^ 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)". NME. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ 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. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
- ^ Lindsay, Cam.Conversations: James Allan. Exclaim! Nov 2008
- ^ McMonagle, Mickey. James Allan breaks cover to go on booze-up with Bunnyman. Daily Record. 4 October 2009