To Be Here Someday : Book release

A new book about Scottish band Deacon Blue has been written by a Kilmacolm-raised writer.

Journalist Paul English, who grew up in the village and attended Kilmacolm Primary and St Stephen’s in Port Glasgow in the 80s & 90s, collaborated with the multi-million selling act on their first authorised book.

Entitled To Be Here Someday, after the lyric from their best-known song Dignity, the book is a chronological history of the band, originally formed in Glasgow in 1986.

Paul, a freelance newspaper journalist and broadcaster, conducted extensive interviews with band members past and present, charting their early days, their rise to become an arena act in the 1990s, their split and eventual reformation.

The book also contains entries from hundreds of fans, including well-known names like Hollywood actor Alan Cumming, American chat show host Craig Ferguson and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Paul said: “It was a really big deal to be given the opportunity, because Deacon Blue are one of the bands whose music has stayed with me since I was a teenager. They’ve a really loyal fan base, and some of the stories the fans shared about what their music has meant to them are quite moving.”

Deacon Blue, fronted by lead singer Ricky Ross and wife Lorraine McIntosh, have sold seven million albums worldwide in a 30 year career, with hits including Real Gone Kid, Fergus Sings The Blues and Chocolate Girl. Their drummer, TV presenter Dougie Vipond, comes from Inchinnan.

Paul said: “It was fascinating to have access to the band’s own collection of photos and other archive bits and bobs from down through the years. They were really generous with their time, and quite frank with their stories, too.”

The book, published by This Day In Music, is being released next month in standard issue hardback, with a special limited edition box set featuring a new 7” single with two unreleased versions of Dignity also available to fans.

Paul said: “Hopefully fans of the band will learn a few things they didn’t know, as well as just how much this band’s music means to people.”

To Be Here Someday is available for pre-order from thisdayinmusicbooks.com.

images: © Carlo Paloni / BAFTA Scotland