James Allan (born 21 September 1979) is the lead singer and guitarist of the Scottish rock band Glasvegas, and a former footballer.
James Allan | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | James Allan |
Born | (1979-09-21) 21 September 1979 (age 42) |
Origin | Dalmarnock, Scotland |
Genres | Indie rock[1] |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
Years active | 2003 – present |
Labels | Columbia |
Born in Dalmarnock, Glasgow, he attended the city's St Mungo's Academy.[2] Allan is a lifelong supporter of Celtic.[3]
Allan's cousin is Glasvegas bandmate/guitarist Rab Allan. His sister Denise is the band's co-manager.[4]
Personal information | |||
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Full name | James Allan | ||
Date of birth | (1979-09-21) 21 September 1979 (age 42) | ||
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,[5] making 116 appearances in the Scottish Football League.[6] He was part of the Cowdenbeath squad that won promotion as runners up in the 2000–01 Scottish Third Division.
During his football career, Allan decided to write songs and form a band.[7] 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").[8]
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.[9] However, he made a call to the band's manager on 9 September 2009 that he was safe and well in New York,[10] 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.[11]
Allan cites Elvis Presley and Phil Spector as his main influences.[12] He also says that Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen is one of his inspirations.[13]
Glasvegas | |
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Studio albums | |
Singles and EPs |
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Related articles |
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General | |
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National libraries | |
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