Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / SCOTLAND
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

11:37 GMT, Sunday, 23 November 2008

Emotional reunion for Orange Juice

By Pauline McLean
BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent

It was an emotional day for the original line-up of the Scottish band Orange Juice.

Edwyn Collins Not only was it the first time the band have been back together in more than 20 years, but they were presented with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Tartan Clefs.

The awards - presented at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow - celebrate the Scottish music industry, at the same time raising funds for Nordoff-Robbins music therapy in Scotland. It's a charity close to the heart of singer Edwyn Collins, who's used the therapy himself since suffering a double brain haemorrhage three years ago.

"I'm working again, writing songs again, slowly," said Collins after the event.

"It's thanks to the therapy that I was able to find my voice again and it's getting better all the time."

Postcard Records

Earlier in the day the band returned to the "headquarters" of their old record label Postcard. There are apparently plans to erect a blue plaque outside this ordinary tenement flat which in the early 80s was responsible for producing some of the most innovative music of the day. Current bands like Franz Ferdinand admit the label hugely influenced their own work.

But reuniting the original line-up of Orange Juice - who were last together in 1983 - was easier than it sounded. Although Collins remained in the business, the others have found new pursuits in other parts of the world.

Sharleen Spiteri Bassist David McClymont now lives in Australia and writes for the travel series Lonely Planet. Guitarist James Kirk - who also wrote many of the band's early songs - is now a chiropodist based in Glasgow. And drummer Steven Daly is a journalist for the US magazine Vanity Fair.

"We've kept in touch with each other over the years but never actually got together like this," said David.

"It's amazing what Edwyn has achieved since his illness. That's why we all thought it was important to get together again."

Also receiving awards - and performing at Saturday night's ceremony - were Hue and Cry, Eddie Reader, Dougie MacLean, The Almighty, The Fratellis and Sharleen Spiteri.

Sharleen Spiteri's award - presented by her close friend, the comedian Peter Kay - came as a huge surprise to her.

"People kept saying 'you should bring your mum and dad' and I was thinking, but they've seen me sing a hundred times. And then I saw Peter here and I thought, that's a bit weird.

"It's a great honour to receive this award. I was involved in a therapy session recently and I know how important this work is."

Another surprise win was the new award for Best Live Act - voted for by the public. Despite competition from current favourites Glasvegas, it was an unsigned band which won the public vote, although Beecake have the advantage of having Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd as their front man.

The event was expected to raise at least £70,000 for the charity.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Orange Juice lift gong at awards (23 Nov 08 |  Scotland )
N'Dour to play Celtic Connections (21 Oct 08 |  Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West )
Singer Edwyn Collins displays art (29 Aug 08 |  Entertainment )
Defining the sound of young Scotland (18 Feb 08 |  Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West )
Edwyn Collins to return to stage (11 Oct 07 |  Entertainment )
Collins back after brain surgery (01 Aug 07 |  Entertainment )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Tartan Clef
Nordoff-Robbins
Music - Edwyn Collins: Home Again review
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©