BELLE OF THE POLL
The people voted Belle & Sebastian the best Scottish band of all time. Mark Robertson reports from our exclusive announcement party.
hrce months and 12.()()() votes later. The
List and ()range's poll to find the Best
Scottish Band of All Time has finally been decided. Bar rooms. changing rooms and living rooms nationwide have been ringing out in abject rage and blissful rapture since the contentious list was released last autumn.
Is it possible to compare the Associates with Texas'.’ (‘an the global pop colossus that was the Bay City Rollers be fairly judged against the cult influence of the Pastels? ls Rod Stewart actually Scottish (we know he‘s not. but at least it got people talking)? What was important about the whole event was that it got people excited about Scottish music past. present and future.
()n the night. it was the mighty Belle & Sebastian that were voted the people’s choice. They were at the head of a top ten that suggested Scottish music fans appreciate sounds from down the years. While the St) nominations may have leaned towards the contemporary. the top ten had two artists from the 70s. and several who made their name in the 80s and 90s as well as contemporary acts like ldlewild and Travis.
The announcement party at Glasgow‘s King Tut's was one of the biggest nights in The [.isr‘s 20-year history; a culmination of months of work which brought the great and good of the Scottish
music industry together for a celebration of home-grown musical achievement. Members of
Franz Ferdinand. the Sensational Alex Harvey
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Band. Bis. 'l‘rashcan Sinatras and Teenage l5anclub were atnong those in attendance with four bands from the fill being invited to play a short acoustic set and a cover of one classic Scottish song of their choice. all of which was being recorded for broadcast by BB(‘ Radio.
The proceedings kicked off with (‘olin Maclntyre. the one-man song machine that is Mull Historical Society. Looking surprisingly fresh considering he was just back from a jaunt around the LS. he took to the stage and knocked out a few of his own including a cracking solo version of his debut single 'Barcode Bypass' and a blistering rendition of the .lestis and Mary ('hain‘s ‘Some ('andy Talking’.
Maclntyrc was delighted about his placing at number II in the poll. ‘lt‘s flattering. as I don't think I‘ve been around for very long. I've put out a few records in a short space of time. I‘m sure if. when l was a kid. I was told that I'd be on a list like this. I'd have been pretty blown aw ay.‘
Snow Patrol's (iary Lightbody opened with Reindeer Section song ‘Will You Be There for Me’ before teaming up with bandmate Nathan (‘onnolly for a sprint through ‘(‘hoco|ate‘ and 'Run'. The pair were clearly nervous. not just because — as Lightbody pointed out from the stage — he wasn't actually Scottish. but performing in a room filled with so many of his peers and heroes. He closed with a solo rendition of 'the first Belle & Sebastian song I ever heard'
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From top left, clockwise: Belle & Sebastian accept their prize; Eugene Kelly, Colin Maclntyre, ldlewild and Snow Patrol cover up; Far right: Radio 1’s Vic Galloway and The List’s Mark Robertson congratulate 8&8’ Bob Gildea