Deacon Blue
Encyclopedia
Deacon Blue are a Scottish
pop
band
formed in Glasgow
during 1985. Their name was taken from the title of the Steely Dan
song "Deacon Blues
". The band consists of vocalist Ricky Ross
and Lorraine McIntosh
, keyboard player James Prime
and drummer Dougie Vipond
.
The band released their debut album, Raintown
on May 1, 1987 in the United Kingdom
, it was released in the United States
in February 1988. The album, widely praised as Deacon Blue's finest work, has the overtones of a concept album
relating to the struggles of getting by in life in the inner city
of urban life - the city being unmistakably Glasgow
, referenced by the roots of the band and by the famous images on the cover of the album, the view of a rainy day over Glasgow's West End (with the Finnieston Crane
featuring prominently) and, on the rear, a long-exposure
capture of the Kingston Bridge
blasting through the city centre at night.
Their second studio album, When The World Knows Your Name
(1989) topped the UK Album Charts for two weeks, and included "Real Gone Kid
" which became their first UK top ten single.
Deacon Blue released their fourth album , Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
in 1993. Following Vipond's decision to quit the group in favour of a career in television, they split up in 1994. Five years later, the band held a reunion gig , and this led on to a new album, Walking Back Home
, with the band now working on a part-time basis. The band released another album, Homesick
, in 2001. Though Graeme Kelling died from pancreatic cancer
in 2004, the band has continued in his absence and 2006 saw Deacon Blue returning to the studio to record three new tracks for a Singles
album - including the track "Bigger than Dynamite
". Deacon Blue are confirmed to be recording new material for a 2011 or 2012 release.
's move from Dundee to Glasgow, Deacon Blue were one of the top-selling UK bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Along with Ross, the group consisted of Lorraine McIntosh
, James Prime
, Dougie Vipond
, Ewen Vernal
and Graeme Kelling
.
Ross, a former school teacher originally from Dundee
, was the group's frontman, penning the vast majority of Deacon Blue's songs. He married vocalist Lorraine McIntosh in the later years of the band's career.
In 1986, the band contributed a track ("Take the Saints Away") to a compilation cassette entitled Honey at the Core
, featuring then up-and-coming Glasgow bands, including Wet Wet Wet
and Hue and Cry
.
, produced by Jon Kelly
was released in 1987. It spawned the singles "Dignity
", "Chocolate Girl
" and "Loaded
". The city that the album's title refers to is Glasgow
and the cover art of the album is a photograph (by the Scottish-Italian photographer Oscar Marzaroli
) of the River Clyde
's docks taken from Kelvingrove Park
. It proved a commercial success and has to date sold around a million copies, peaking in the UK album chart at 14 and remaining in the charts for a year and a half.
On 27 February 2006, Raintown was reissued as part of Columbia's Legacy Edition series. The reissue was expanded to 2 CDs. The first CD featured the original 11 track album. The second CD featured alternate cuts of all 11 album tracks, as well as the two original CD bonus tracks "Riches" and "Kings of the Western World". The new edition did not include the varied bonus cuts (remixes and b-sides) that were found on the singles from the album.
, was the band's most commercially successful, reaching No. 1 in the UK album charts and generating five UK top 30 hits, including "Real Gone Kid
", "Wages Day", and "Fergus Sings the Blues
" (all five singles from the album were top 10 hits in Ireland). However, music critics began to criticise the band for pursuing commercial success over artistic integrity, citing the earlier achievements with Raintown.
Ticket sales for shows in Glasgow's SECC
in both May and December 1989 broke the world record at the time for the fastest sell-out. The following year saw the band play in front of an estimated 250,000 fans at the free concert on Glasgow Green
"The Big Day", which was held to celebrate Glasgow being named that year's European City of Culture. The band also played Glastonbury
and the Roskilde
festivals that summer, as well as released Ooh Las Vegas
, a double album of B-sides, extra tracks, film tracks, and sessions which reached No. 3 in the UK album charts.
. The album was met with more critical success and peaked at No. 2 on the UK album charts.
Fellow Hoodlums was followed up by 1993's Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
, a much more experimental album. The album garnered critical praise, but was not as commercially successful as the previous two albums, peaking at No. 4 on the UK album charts. Changing from producer Jon Kelly
to the team of Steve Osborne
and Paul Oakenfold
, this album presented a change in musical style for Deacon Blue. While the band's songwriting remained based in rock
and blues
, many of the tracks moved into alternative rock
territory in their presentation.
. This saw the band return to No. 1 in the UK album charts and was one of the year's top sellers, while "I Was Right and You Were Wrong
" and a re-release of "Dignity
" saw the band re-enter the Top 20 singles chart. The album contains the previous singles from the band, minus "Closing Time
" and "Hang Your Head
". The album also contained three new tracks. "I Was Right and You Were Wrong
", the first single from this album, was a pulsating Alternative rock
track that continued and expanded the musical direction the band had taken with Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
. "Bound to Love" and "Still in the Mood" were pop
songs in the tradition of Deacon Blue's earlier albums. The vinyl LP
version of the album contained a fourth new track, "Beautiful Stranger". "Dignity
" was released, now for the third time, as the second single from the album.
, with the band now working on a part-time basis. The Walking Back Home album combines eight songs that were brand new compositions, previously unreleased tracks, or released only with limited availability, with nine previously released Deacon Blue songs. In this sense, it is not purely a studio album nor a typical compilation album. Because, however, Walking Back Home marked the beginning of a new period of reformation and activity for the group, it is a significant album in their catalog. The band released another album, Homesick
, in 2001.
Though Graeme Kelling died from pancreatic cancer
in 2004, the band has continued in his absence and 2006 saw Deacon Blue returning to the studio to record three new tracks for a Singles
album - including the track "Bigger than Dynamite
".
stadium, as the pre-match entertainment for the Rugby League
Super League
Grand Final on the 14 October 2006, and continued on to a full UK tour in November. They were also due to open Stirling
's New Year party in 2006, but this was cancelled at the last minute due to extreme weather. They did appear at Stirling's Hogmanay in 2008.
Deacon Blue appeared at The Homecoming Live Final Fling Show, at Glasgow's SECC on 28 November 2009, and headlined Glasgow's Hogmanay on 31 December 2009. On Monday, 13 September 2010, the official web site announced that Ross was busy writing brand new Deacon Blue material. The band will perform together as Deacon Blue playing in the Liverpool Echo Arena
, on 29 July 2011.
Ross, who had released a solo album before the formation of Deacon Blue, released two solo albums during the time between Deacon Blue's breakup in 1994 and reformation in 1999. Due to Deacon Blue's part time status after reformation, Ross released additional solo albums in 2002 and 2005 and has written for and with other recording artists.
In 2009 Ricky and Lorraine McIntosh recorded an album together under the name 'McIntosh Ross'.
On July 11, 2011, Deacon Blue performed a free concert at the Tall Ships in Greenock, Scotland.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
formed in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
during 1985. Their name was taken from the title of the Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
song "Deacon Blues
Deacon Blues
"Deacon Blues" is a song by Steely Dan from their 1977 album Aja.The song contains the lines:In a 1994 AOL chat interview with Becker, someone asked him about the inspiration for "Deacon Blues"...
". The band consists of vocalist Ricky Ross
Ricky Ross (musician)
Ricky Ross, born Richard Alexander Ross is a Scottish singer-songwriter and broadcaster, most famously for his work with the rock band, Deacon Blue.-Biography:...
and Lorraine McIntosh
Lorraine McIntosh
Lorraine McIntosh is the female vocalist, with the Scottish pop band, Deacon Blue, and is married to lead singer Ricky Ross. They have three children...
, keyboard player James Prime
James Prime
James "Optimus" Prime is best known as the keyboard player for Deacon Blue. He also lectures at the University of the West of Scotland. Known as a Hammond/piano player, his talents have been sought after by John Martyn, Johnny Hallyday, Phil Cunningham, Eddi Reader and Little Richard...
and drummer Dougie Vipond
Dougie Vipond
Dougie Vipond is a Scottish musician and television personality. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 1985. He was one of the founding members of Scottish soft rock / pop band, Deacon Blue.Dougie Vipond is one of the busiest and most versatile broadcasters in...
.
The band released their debut album, Raintown
Raintown
Raintown is the debut album of Scottish pop band Deacon Blue. The album, written largely by lead singer Ricky Ross, was released in the United Kingdom on May 1, 1987...
on May 1, 1987 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, it was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in February 1988. The album, widely praised as Deacon Blue's finest work, has the overtones of a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
relating to the struggles of getting by in life in the inner city
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
of urban life - the city being unmistakably Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, referenced by the roots of the band and by the famous images on the cover of the album, the view of a rainy day over Glasgow's West End (with the Finnieston Crane
Finnieston Crane
The Finnieston Crane is a crane and landmark in Glasgow, Scotland. It is now disused but is retained as a symbol of the city's engineering heritage.- History :...
featuring prominently) and, on the rear, a long-exposure
Exposure (photography)
In photography, exposure is the total amount of light allowed to fall on the photographic medium during the process of taking a photograph. Exposure is measured in lux seconds, and can be computed from exposure value and scene luminance over a specified area.In photographic jargon, an exposure...
capture of the Kingston Bridge
Kingston Bridge, Glasgow
The Kingston Bridge is a balanced cantilever dual-span ten lane road bridge made of triple-cell segmented prestressed concrete box girders crossing the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. The largest urban bridge in the United Kingdom, it carries the M8 motorway through the city centre...
blasting through the city centre at night.
Their second studio album, When The World Knows Your Name
When the World Knows Your Name
When The World Knows Your Name is the second album from the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It was released in 1989 and attained the number 1 chart position in the United Kingdom....
(1989) topped the UK Album Charts for two weeks, and included "Real Gone Kid
Real Gone Kid
"Real Gone Kid" is a song by the Scottish rock/pop band Deacon Blue. Rleased in 1988, it was the first single to from the band's second album When the World Knows Your Name which was released six months later. The single was the band's first top ten hit, reaching #8 in the UK Singles Chart...
" which became their first UK top ten single.
Deacon Blue released their fourth album , Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
Whatever You Say, Say Nothing is the fourth studio album from Deacon Blue. Changing from producer Jon Kelly to the team of Steve Osborne and Paul Oakenfold, this album presented a change in musical style for Deacon Blue...
in 1993. Following Vipond's decision to quit the group in favour of a career in television, they split up in 1994. Five years later, the band held a reunion gig , and this led on to a new album, Walking Back Home
Walking Back Home
Walking Back Home combines eight songs that were brand new compositions, previously unreleased tracks, or released only with limited availability, with nine previously released Deacon Blue songs. In this sense, it is not purely a studio album nor a typical compilation album...
, with the band now working on a part-time basis. The band released another album, Homesick
Homesick (Deacon Blue album)
Homesick is a studio album from the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue.A promotional CD was made available to readers of The Daily Telegraph via a voucher appearing in the newspaper two weeks before the album release date...
, in 2001. Though Graeme Kelling died from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
in 2004, the band has continued in his absence and 2006 saw Deacon Blue returning to the studio to record three new tracks for a Singles
Singles (Deacon Blue album)
Singles is a singles compilation by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It contains three new tracks, "Bigger than Dynamite", "Haunted", and "The One About Loneliness", that were recorded by the band in March, 2006.-Track listing:...
album - including the track "Bigger than Dynamite
Bigger Than Dynamite
"Bigger than Dynamite" is the only single released from Deacon Blue's compilation album Singles.The B-sides are covers of Woody Guthrie's "Deportee Song" and the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses", performed live.- Track listing :...
". Deacon Blue are confirmed to be recording new material for a 2011 or 2012 release.
1985 - 1987: Formation
Formed in 1985 following Ricky RossRicky Ross (musician)
Ricky Ross, born Richard Alexander Ross is a Scottish singer-songwriter and broadcaster, most famously for his work with the rock band, Deacon Blue.-Biography:...
's move from Dundee to Glasgow, Deacon Blue were one of the top-selling UK bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Along with Ross, the group consisted of Lorraine McIntosh
Lorraine McIntosh
Lorraine McIntosh is the female vocalist, with the Scottish pop band, Deacon Blue, and is married to lead singer Ricky Ross. They have three children...
, James Prime
James Prime
James "Optimus" Prime is best known as the keyboard player for Deacon Blue. He also lectures at the University of the West of Scotland. Known as a Hammond/piano player, his talents have been sought after by John Martyn, Johnny Hallyday, Phil Cunningham, Eddi Reader and Little Richard...
, Dougie Vipond
Dougie Vipond
Dougie Vipond is a Scottish musician and television personality. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 1985. He was one of the founding members of Scottish soft rock / pop band, Deacon Blue.Dougie Vipond is one of the busiest and most versatile broadcasters in...
, Ewen Vernal
Ewen Vernal
Ewen Vernal is a Scottish musician.Born in Glasgow to a musical family, Vernal began taking piano lessons at 8 years old—inspired by a Beatles-singing mother and a choir-leading, saxophone-playing father...
and Graeme Kelling
Graeme Kelling
Graeme Hunter Kelling was a guitarist with the Scottish pop band, Deacon Blue.He was born in Paisley, Scotland, and educated at the High School of Glasgow. He died in 2004 in Glasgow at the age of 47, after a four year battle with pancreatic cancer.-External links:* * *...
.
Ross, a former school teacher originally from Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, was the group's frontman, penning the vast majority of Deacon Blue's songs. He married vocalist Lorraine McIntosh in the later years of the band's career.
In 1986, the band contributed a track ("Take the Saints Away") to a compilation cassette entitled Honey at the Core
Honey at the Core
Honey at the Core was the name given to two compilation cassettes of then up-and-coming Scottish rock artists issued in the 1980s and 1990s.The first cassette - which came together with a fanzine giving further details of the artists - was released in 1986 having been compiled by future Glasgow...
, featuring then up-and-coming Glasgow bands, including Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell...
and Hue and Cry
Hue and Cry
Hue and Cry is a pop duo formed in 1983 in Coatbridge, Scotland by the brothers Pat Kane and Greg Kane . They had a number of modest hits in the UK Singles Chart in the late 1980s, and early 1990s, and have released sixteen albums from 1987 to date.-Career:Their first single "Here Comes...
.
1987 - 1989: Raintown and success
The band's debut album, RaintownRaintown
Raintown is the debut album of Scottish pop band Deacon Blue. The album, written largely by lead singer Ricky Ross, was released in the United Kingdom on May 1, 1987...
, produced by Jon Kelly
Jon Kelly
Jon Kelly is a British music producer who has produced albums and singles for Chris Rea, The Damned, Kate Bush, Pele , The Beautiful South, Prefab Sprout, Deacon Blue, Heather Nova, The Levellers, Fish, Lynsey De Paul and Nolwenn Leroy.-References:...
was released in 1987. It spawned the singles "Dignity
Dignity (Deacon Blue song)
"Dignity" is a song by Deacon Blue, which was the band's first official release. It is one of their most popular songs and is often played as the final song at concerts. "Dignity", particularly the original version, appears on almost every Deacon Blue compilation or greatest hits collection...
", "Chocolate Girl
Chocolate Girl
Chocolate Girl is the fourth song released as a single from the album Raintown by the Scottish group Deacon Blue. The single version differs somewhat from the album version of the song...
" and "Loaded
Loaded (Deacon Blue song)
Loaded is a single released by the Scottish group Deacon Blue in 1987.The main B-side, "Long Distance from Just Across the Road", appears on all versions of the single, which was released on Cassette and on 7" and 12" vinyl...
". The city that the album's title refers to is Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and the cover art of the album is a photograph (by the Scottish-Italian photographer Oscar Marzaroli
Oscar Marzaroli
Oscar Marzaroli was an Italian-born Scottish photographer of post-World War II urban Scotland. He was born in Castiglione in northwest Italy and came to Scotland with his family at the age of two....
) of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
's docks taken from Kelvingrove Park
Kelvingrove Park
Kelvingrove Park is a public park located on the River Kelvin in the West End of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, containing the world-famous Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.-History:...
. It proved a commercial success and has to date sold around a million copies, peaking in the UK album chart at 14 and remaining in the charts for a year and a half.
On 27 February 2006, Raintown was reissued as part of Columbia's Legacy Edition series. The reissue was expanded to 2 CDs. The first CD featured the original 11 track album. The second CD featured alternate cuts of all 11 album tracks, as well as the two original CD bonus tracks "Riches" and "Kings of the Western World". The new edition did not include the varied bonus cuts (remixes and b-sides) that were found on the singles from the album.
1989 - 1991: When The World Knows Your Name and continued popularity
The second album, 1989's When the World Knows Your NameWhen the World Knows Your Name
When The World Knows Your Name is the second album from the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It was released in 1989 and attained the number 1 chart position in the United Kingdom....
, was the band's most commercially successful, reaching No. 1 in the UK album charts and generating five UK top 30 hits, including "Real Gone Kid
Real Gone Kid
"Real Gone Kid" is a song by the Scottish rock/pop band Deacon Blue. Rleased in 1988, it was the first single to from the band's second album When the World Knows Your Name which was released six months later. The single was the band's first top ten hit, reaching #8 in the UK Singles Chart...
", "Wages Day", and "Fergus Sings the Blues
Fergus Sings the Blues
"Fergus Sings the Blues" is the third single from the album When the World Knows Your Name by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue.The main B-side is "Long Window to Love"...
" (all five singles from the album were top 10 hits in Ireland). However, music critics began to criticise the band for pursuing commercial success over artistic integrity, citing the earlier achievements with Raintown.
Ticket sales for shows in Glasgow's SECC
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , located on the north bank of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, is Scotland's largest exhibition centre....
in both May and December 1989 broke the world record at the time for the fastest sell-out. The following year saw the band play in front of an estimated 250,000 fans at the free concert on Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
"The Big Day", which was held to celebrate Glasgow being named that year's European City of Culture. The band also played Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
and the Roskilde
Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the six biggest annual music festivals in Europe . It was created in 1971 by two high school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, and promoter Carl Fischer...
festivals that summer, as well as released Ooh Las Vegas
Ooh Las Vegas
Ooh Las Vegas is a compilation album of songs by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It contains B-sides, unreleased tracks, and songs written for William McIlvanney's television play Dreaming....
, a double album of B-sides, extra tracks, film tracks, and sessions which reached No. 3 in the UK album charts.
1991 - 1993: Fellow Hoodlums and Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
Jon Kelly returned to the producer's chair in 1991 for the album Fellow HoodlumsFellow Hoodlums
Fellow Hoodlums is the third studio album by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue.-Track listing:All songs written by Ricky Ross, except where noted:# "James Joyce Soles" – 3:50# "Fellow Hoodlums" – 3:20# "Your Swaying Arms" – 4:10# "Cover from the Sky" – 3:34...
. The album was met with more critical success and peaked at No. 2 on the UK album charts.
Fellow Hoodlums was followed up by 1993's Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
Whatever You Say, Say Nothing is the fourth studio album from Deacon Blue. Changing from producer Jon Kelly to the team of Steve Osborne and Paul Oakenfold, this album presented a change in musical style for Deacon Blue...
, a much more experimental album. The album garnered critical praise, but was not as commercially successful as the previous two albums, peaking at No. 4 on the UK album charts. Changing from producer Jon Kelly
Jon Kelly
Jon Kelly is a British music producer who has produced albums and singles for Chris Rea, The Damned, Kate Bush, Pele , The Beautiful South, Prefab Sprout, Deacon Blue, Heather Nova, The Levellers, Fish, Lynsey De Paul and Nolwenn Leroy.-References:...
to the team of Steve Osborne
Steve Osborne
Steve Osborne is a multi-platinum selling British record producer. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians, such as New Order, Doves, U2 and KT Tunstall. During the 1990s, Osborne was half of the Perfecto Records team, a production and remix collaboration with Paul Oakenfold; the artists...
and Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold is a British record producer and a trance DJ.-Early Career: 1979–84:Paul Oakenfold's career was set to be a chef, after having hopes of becoming part of a band. He describes his early life as a "bedroom deejay" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew...
, this album presented a change in musical style for Deacon Blue. While the band's songwriting remained based in rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, many of the tracks moved into alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
territory in their presentation.
1994: UK tour and Our Town - The Greatest Hits
The band embarked on another sold out UK tour in 1994, but not before recording new material for their greatest hits compilation Our TownOur Town - The Greatest Hits
Our Town – The Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits compilation for the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue.The album contains the previous singles from the band, minus "Closing Time" and "Hang Your Head". The album also contained three new tracks...
. This saw the band return to No. 1 in the UK album charts and was one of the year's top sellers, while "I Was Right and You Were Wrong
I Was Right and You Were Wrong
"I Was Right and You Were Wrong" is the first single from Deacon Blue's first greatest hits album Our Town - The Greatest Hits. Produced by Steve Osborne, the song is a menacing, shimmery, techno track. It reached number 32 in the UK Singles Chart....
" and a re-release of "Dignity
Dignity (Deacon Blue song)
"Dignity" is a song by Deacon Blue, which was the band's first official release. It is one of their most popular songs and is often played as the final song at concerts. "Dignity", particularly the original version, appears on almost every Deacon Blue compilation or greatest hits collection...
" saw the band re-enter the Top 20 singles chart. The album contains the previous singles from the band, minus "Closing Time
Closing Time (Deacon Blue song)
Closing Time is the third single from the album Fellow Hoodlums by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It peaked at #42 in the UK Singles Chart....
" and "Hang Your Head
Hang Your Head
Hang Your Head is the fourth and final single from Deacon Blue's album Whatever You Say, Say Nothing. The single version of the song is very similar to the album version, except that it has a slightly longer introduction and also has a cold start in place of the album version's fade-in. This was...
". The album also contained three new tracks. "I Was Right and You Were Wrong
I Was Right and You Were Wrong
"I Was Right and You Were Wrong" is the first single from Deacon Blue's first greatest hits album Our Town - The Greatest Hits. Produced by Steve Osborne, the song is a menacing, shimmery, techno track. It reached number 32 in the UK Singles Chart....
", the first single from this album, was a pulsating Alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
track that continued and expanded the musical direction the band had taken with Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
Whatever You Say, Say Nothing is the fourth studio album from Deacon Blue. Changing from producer Jon Kelly to the team of Steve Osborne and Paul Oakenfold, this album presented a change in musical style for Deacon Blue...
. "Bound to Love" and "Still in the Mood" were pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
songs in the tradition of Deacon Blue's earlier albums. The vinyl LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
version of the album contained a fourth new track, "Beautiful Stranger". "Dignity
Dignity (Deacon Blue song)
"Dignity" is a song by Deacon Blue, which was the band's first official release. It is one of their most popular songs and is often played as the final song at concerts. "Dignity", particularly the original version, appears on almost every Deacon Blue compilation or greatest hits collection...
" was released, now for the third time, as the second single from the album.
1995 - 1999: Break-up and solo projects
With Vipond's decision to quit the group in favour of a career in television, Deacon Blue split up in 1994. Five years later, the band held a reunion gig in 1999, and this led on to a new album, Walking Back HomeWalking Back Home
Walking Back Home combines eight songs that were brand new compositions, previously unreleased tracks, or released only with limited availability, with nine previously released Deacon Blue songs. In this sense, it is not purely a studio album nor a typical compilation album...
, with the band now working on a part-time basis. The Walking Back Home album combines eight songs that were brand new compositions, previously unreleased tracks, or released only with limited availability, with nine previously released Deacon Blue songs. In this sense, it is not purely a studio album nor a typical compilation album. Because, however, Walking Back Home marked the beginning of a new period of reformation and activity for the group, it is a significant album in their catalog. The band released another album, Homesick
Homesick (Deacon Blue album)
Homesick is a studio album from the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue.A promotional CD was made available to readers of The Daily Telegraph via a voucher appearing in the newspaper two weeks before the album release date...
, in 2001.
Though Graeme Kelling died from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
in 2004, the band has continued in his absence and 2006 saw Deacon Blue returning to the studio to record three new tracks for a Singles
Singles (Deacon Blue album)
Singles is a singles compilation by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It contains three new tracks, "Bigger than Dynamite", "Haunted", and "The One About Loneliness", that were recorded by the band in March, 2006.-Track listing:...
album - including the track "Bigger than Dynamite
Bigger Than Dynamite
"Bigger than Dynamite" is the only single released from Deacon Blue's compilation album Singles.The B-sides are covers of Woody Guthrie's "Deportee Song" and the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses", performed live.- Track listing :...
".
2006 - Present: Singles and reunion
The band performed at Manchester United's Old TraffordOld Trafford (football)
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe...
stadium, as the pre-match entertainment for the Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
Grand Final on the 14 October 2006, and continued on to a full UK tour in November. They were also due to open Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
's New Year party in 2006, but this was cancelled at the last minute due to extreme weather. They did appear at Stirling's Hogmanay in 2008.
Deacon Blue appeared at The Homecoming Live Final Fling Show, at Glasgow's SECC on 28 November 2009, and headlined Glasgow's Hogmanay on 31 December 2009. On Monday, 13 September 2010, the official web site announced that Ross was busy writing brand new Deacon Blue material. The band will perform together as Deacon Blue playing in the Liverpool Echo Arena
Liverpool Echo Arena
Echo Arena Liverpool is the arena half of ACC Liverpool located on the former King's Dock in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. The BT Convention Centre forms the other half of the complex...
, on 29 July 2011.
Ross, who had released a solo album before the formation of Deacon Blue, released two solo albums during the time between Deacon Blue's breakup in 1994 and reformation in 1999. Due to Deacon Blue's part time status after reformation, Ross released additional solo albums in 2002 and 2005 and has written for and with other recording artists.
In 2009 Ricky and Lorraine McIntosh recorded an album together under the name 'McIntosh Ross'.
On July 11, 2011, Deacon Blue performed a free concert at the Tall Ships in Greenock, Scotland.
Studio albums
- RaintownRaintownRaintown is the debut album of Scottish pop band Deacon Blue. The album, written largely by lead singer Ricky Ross, was released in the United Kingdom on May 1, 1987...
(1987) - When The World Knows Your NameWhen the World Knows Your NameWhen The World Knows Your Name is the second album from the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It was released in 1989 and attained the number 1 chart position in the United Kingdom....
(1989) - Fellow HoodlumsFellow HoodlumsFellow Hoodlums is the third studio album by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue.-Track listing:All songs written by Ricky Ross, except where noted:# "James Joyce Soles" – 3:50# "Fellow Hoodlums" – 3:20# "Your Swaying Arms" – 4:10# "Cover from the Sky" – 3:34...
(1991) - Whatever You Say, Say NothingWhatever You Say, Say NothingWhatever You Say, Say Nothing is the fourth studio album from Deacon Blue. Changing from producer Jon Kelly to the team of Steve Osborne and Paul Oakenfold, this album presented a change in musical style for Deacon Blue...
(1993) - Walking Back HomeWalking Back HomeWalking Back Home combines eight songs that were brand new compositions, previously unreleased tracks, or released only with limited availability, with nine previously released Deacon Blue songs. In this sense, it is not purely a studio album nor a typical compilation album...
(1999) - HomesickHomesick (Deacon Blue album)Homesick is a studio album from the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue.A promotional CD was made available to readers of The Daily Telegraph via a voucher appearing in the newspaper two weeks before the album release date...
(2001)