Jazzateers back together for Glasgow gig

The band has never performed the 1983 record live before because they broke up almost as soon as it was released, and while a new version of the group later formed, the men behind the album never played together again.

"At the time we saw it as a marker to end an era," explains guitarist Ian Burgoyne.

"There was no real plans to do anything after it but through all the various line-ups we always looked back on that record as being definitive for us.

"We wanted something that would say to everyone, 'These are our influences', things like the Modern Lovers, Velvet Underground, New York Dolls and trying to put our own spin on it.

"You can hear all those different bands, but it still sounds Scottish, it's still a Scottish record."

The band initially formed in the late 1970s , but went through various line-up changes before settling on the group who will reform at Stereo, Renfield Lane, tomorrow.

That will be Ian on guitar, Grahame Skinner on vocals, Keith Band on bass and Colin Auld on drums, with Douglas MacIntyre joining them later on guitar.

In the early 1980s they were signed to the Postcard Records label and recorded an album, only for Postcard to go bankrupt before it could be released.

Eventually, they ended up signing a deal with Rough Trade, although what they recorded was not entirely what label bosses were expecting to get.

"I was playing with Aztec Camera at the time, who had just signed with Rough Trade, and the label really liked the early Jazzateers demos, where we had Alison Gourlay singing with us," recalls Ian.

"The problem was we thought we had left that sound far, far behind, so we said we would make a Jazzateers record, but it would not be like those demos.

"I don't think the actual album was what Geoff Travis, the Rough Trade boss, was expecting.

"There was no animosity, though. Keith and I were just pleased Geoff thought our songs were good enough to be on a record."

Now the album will finally be performed live, highlighting a typically varied programme at the Glasgow Jazz Festival, which runs from today until Sunday.

Other acts appearing over the next few days include the Blind Boys Of Alabama, drummer Chris Dave and Burt Bacharach.

Tomorrow's gig has already sparked a few nerves in Ian.

"Keith and I haven't played for about 20 years in any kind of band, so the first rehearsal was tough because it takes you a while to get back into anything," he says.

"It improved after that, because when we were serious about being a band we would rehearse five or six times a week and it is like riding a bike, once you are back on you are okay.

"We wrote the songs, we know the songs and it was easier than I thought it would be."

The band has returned to a Scottish gigging scene far different to when they started, with it easier than ever for local bands to grab nationwide attention.

For Ian, the roots of current Scottish success can be traced all the way back to Postcard's humble beginnings.

"Postcard was a trailblazer," he reflects. "There is a huge music scene in Scotland now but back then something like T In The Park was science fiction.

"You would not have believed a huge, successful music festival could take place in Scotland.

"Postcard was just saying, 'This is the face of young Scotland' and it made you proud to be a Scottish musician. What happened was you thought, 'I could do that'."

Just as important as the show for Ian is that he has rekindled friendships previously lost.

"One of the nice things about this is we have all met up again," he adds.

"When you are in a band it is difficult because everything gets so serious that relationships with the others in the band can go through peaks and troughs.

"One of the great pleasures is we all like each other again.

"Keith, Colin and I grew up through this band and one good thing is we will see each other as friends again."

l The Jazzateers, Stereo, tomorrow, £12.50, 8pm. More information on the Glasgow Jazz Festival at: http://www.jazzfest.co.uk