THE Scot who discovered Oasis has signed a Coatbridge musician to his new record label.

Alan McGee, who signed Liam and Noel Gallagher's legendary band immediately upon seeing them play at Glasgow's King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, has handed a record deal to singer/songwriter Pete MacLeod.

Pete has been revealed as one of the first artists to be signed to the music impresario's new label, 359 Music.

He has long been admired by Alan – who founded Creation Records – and the pair have spoken before about their desire to work together and bring Pete's music to a wider audience.

Pete has already gathered a global following by touring extensively where and whenever possible – building a fan base from LA to Hamburg and everywhere in between.

Alan said: "Pete writes songs with such passion and conviction, it hurts.

"It's my intention to have albums out by the end of this year for all of the first six signings to the label and I aim to have 21 artists with releases out on 359 by Christmas Day 2014, the 359th day of the year.

"359 isn't Creation. All I really want to do is be a launch pad for new and/or ignored talent.

"After that, everything else is a bonus."

In the past year, Pete's self-released single Rolling Stone has been named BBC Radio Scotland single of the month by Janice Forsyth and entered into Q magazine's top 50 downloads of the month.

Pete wrote the track after returning to Scotland from LA when his father was battling cancer as a way of letting him know how much he'd inspired his music and was sold as a way to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research UK.

While signing to Alan's label is a dream come true for Pete, the moment will be tinged with sadness as Pete's father lost his brave battle with the disease in June, but Pete has no doubt that his father's influence and guidance will live on in the form of his music for many years to come.

Pete said: "My dad always believed in my music and never stopped encouraging me to write and play the music I love.

"While I'm sorry that he won't see this next stage in my career, I know he'll always be with me and that's what keeps me going."

Pete and Alan expect to announce a release date for the album in the next few weeks.

stef.lach@heraldandtimes.co.uk