Thanks for visiting my site, which is here mostly
to introduce you to my music. It's nearly 25 years
now since I recorded my first solo album of
songs and first experienced the intoxicating
satisfaction of recording my music so as to
share it with others. The profound privilege of
hearing from someone that my songs have
touched them in some small way, is a pleasure
that never wears off - so I think I'll always want to
keep finding time and space for this most
sacred art.
I have lived in the beautiful city of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, since 1997, although I am originally from Glasgow. I was a student here in the 70's when I started making music seriously and writing songs for the first time. A couple of solo recordings were done in '81 and '83. Some elderly people may be the proud owners of these collectors' items although no masters or digital versions have survived (probably best that way......).
In the mid-eighties I teamed up with my long-term
collaborators Dot Reid and Charlie Irvine to form our
label Sticky Music and our band Lies Damned Lies.
LDL have recorded five albums of original music over
the years - starting out with the mad days of spending
lots of Richard Branson's cash making our
catastrophically expensive first album with Siren/Virgin
(1989). Squillions of pounds and no hits later, we
embarked on creating music that we felt much more real about, for ourselves and for a roster of other artists. The fruits of these years of labour is on display at www.stickymusic.co.uk
I still produce recordings for other people as time
allows (see links section).
In '97 I was ordained as an Anglican priest in the
Scottish Episcopal Church and have been lucky
enough to be the Rector of a brilliant wee church in
Leith, Edinburgh since '99 (see links section for more).
Creativity and spirituality are easy companions
and I'm very fortunate in being able to explore both
in my work and writing.
Right now I am researching for a masters degree from the theology school at the University of Edinburgh.
In the last few years I have produced two solo albums of new songs,
(and one or two judicious cover versions), on the Sticky Music label.
I get out to play a gig now and then - but really only when I'm asked!
(let me know if you'd like to put something together - front room gigs
can often be the best).
