Friday Nite Retro

Thank God it's Friday! (It's been the week from Hell here) On tonight's edition of Friday Nite Retro, we're serving up the "all-American rock and roll dream" - Scottish-style. . .school band sticks together and makes it big! These guys officially formed in 1980 at the Jordanhill College School in west Glasgow, Scotland, and used to practice in one of the school's commons areas during their lunch hours. Lead singer Justin Currie was accused by his English teacher at the school of not paying attention and was told that he would not amount to anything in the world. Currie retorted that he didn't need to pay attention as he was going to be a rock star - Give him props for beleiving in himself!

The name of the band? Del Amitri! The name is often reported as being Greek for "from the womb", but this is not correct. Another story says the name was suggested to Currie by his girlfriend of the time who had a hand bag which had the style name 'Del Amitri'. The most likely explanation comes from Currie himself. At the very end of their 1996 tour diary video release, titled "Let's Go Home", he reads an entry from a children's encyclopedia, which supposedly refers to a false god from Greek mythology called Delama Tree, largest of all false gods, 458 feet tall and made entirely of gold. It was built on sand, and collapsed, killing the entire population of the town that built it. He ends the reading saying, "There you have it: false gods built on stupidity."

Though popular in the local music scene in Glasgow, having been signed by Chysalis in 1985, and playing back-up for The Smiths on tour, Del Amitri was unable to hit the charts. The band were dropped by Chrysalis, but continued to work and play together, touring the USA in 1986 on a tour that was financed partly by themselves and partly by their small but enthusiastic fan base. The time they spent working on new material proved worthwhile as they were eventually signed up again in 1988, this time by A&M Records.

Their new album with A&M, "Waking Hours" finally broke into the charts, hitting #6 in the UK and flirting with the American Top 40. From that breakthrough album:


Kiss This Thing Goodbye


The group's follow-up album, "Change Everything", was released in 1992 and became the band’s biggest ever chart success, reaching No. 2 in the UK, being held off top spot only by "The Best of Lionel Richie". The single "Always the Last to Know" was another Top 20 UK hit, peaking at No. 13, and again provided them with an entry into the Billboard Chart Top 40 in the US. Their increasing success in America led to an appearance on Letterman show and increasingly larger and more loyal audiences at their concerts. This was the first single I had heard from them, and is a personal favorite:


Always the Last to Know


Another great single from "Change Everything":

Be My Downfall


Their popularity in the USA saw them being invited to play at the Woodstock '94 anniversary festival. Soon after that, they released their "Twisted" album featuring our next tune, "Driving With the Brakes On". I was unable to find a complete video by Del Amitri, so first up I have a snippet of Justin Currie performing the beginning, followed by a full cover (not too bad!) by "The Massaccoustics":

Driving With the Brakes On

Driving With the Brakes On (cover)


And finally, from that same album, here's the single that almost all of you will likely recall:

Roll To Me


The current status of the band is something of a mystery. Although there had been no official word of them splitting up, it is believed that Dollimore and Price have left the band. Rumors that the remaining members are working with or under the name of "The Uncle Devil Show" have been strenuously denied on the band's official website. However, the tone of the denial is very much in keeping with the humorous spirit of the whole "Uncle Devil Show" project and even non-fans will be able to recognize the songs and voice of Justin Currie on their first album, "A Terrible Beauty", which was released in 2004 and contains six songs sung written by Currie.

In March 2005 Justin Currie announced on their US website that he was finishing up his solo album and was also 'more than halfway through' a record he had been writing together with Dels guitarist Iain Harvie for the last 18 months. At the end of August of the same year Currie added that his solo album was now finished, had a title (Rebound) and that he was talking to two labels in New York interested in releasing this record.

And that's a wrap on yet another exciting fact-filled edition of Friday Nite Retro - have a GREAT weekend!