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1982
Ricky Ross, a former youth club leader and teacher joins Woza, a local band in Glasgow providing keyboards and vocals, while continuing to work part time as a teacher for children with behavioural difficulties in the Maryhill district. The band remain together for a year supporting bands like "Friends Again" and the "Waterboys" throughout the region.
Now solo Ricky concentrates on his writing and records his efforts under the
title "So Long Ago". The album was to feature eventual Deacon Blue bass player
Ewen Vernal and also Ricky's first and then wife Zara. The album was recorded on a small local independent label "Sticky Music" and around 800 cassettes were produced. Ricky sent a copy of "So Long Ago" to London based publishers, only to be told he should form a band. Forming a band was not central to Ricky's idea's at this stage, he firstly wanted to be a house songwriter allowing other artists to records his songs. But he later agreed that he should showcase his own material.
Forming a band suddenly became a focal point for Ricky and 1985 saw the first incarnation of Deacon Blue who took their name from a song on the Steely Dan album "Aja". There were several line up changes during this period but a stable five piece unit was eventually formed with Douglas Vipond on drums, James Prime on keyboards, Graeme Kelling on guitar and Ewen Vernal returning to Ricky''s side on bass. They experimented with backing vocals during their live sets and soon felt that a female vocal added a new perspective to the overall sound of the band. Carol Moore was replaced by Lorraine McIntosh who's amazing vocal talents and frenetic stage presence lit up their entire set.
Deacon Blue embark on a whole succession of local gigs, honing their material and stage presentation. After rejection from every other record label they finally had interest from Gordon Charlton of CBS records. He was in Glasgow to see another band, and during his time there he heard a demo tape which the band had made. He was immediately impressed, particularly by the song "Dignity". Charlton persuades Muff Winwood CBS head of A&R to see the band at a showcase in Glasgow. August The band sign to CBS and, by the autumn are supporting "Sandie Shaw" and " Lone Justice" on a series of University gigs in the north of England and Scotland. December The band started recording their debut LP at AIR studios in London. Jon Kelly was recruited to produce the record.
February Recording is completed and the band prepare for an extensive tour of British clubs and colleges. March Their debut single "Dignity" is released amid constant UK touring. Sadly it fails to chart April The band make their first Television appearance on TV-am's "Wide Awake" programme.
May Saw the release of their debut album "Raintown".
The album deservedly meets with favourable reviews. The album is released with a
"No Risk!" policy where fans may return the album if unsatisfied. A few discs
were returned but on the whole, response was good.
The band play a further 11 dates, part of a plan to build a committed live audience. By the end of 1987 Deacon Blue will have played 90 shows. June "Loaded" the bands second single is released, And again fails to chart. The band continue their live schedule with support gigs with "Bruce Hornsby" at the Hammersmith Odeon and "Ben E King" at the Birmingham hippodrome and Manchester Palace. On the 29th the band play their first European show in Dan Haag Holland followed by a live TV show in Munich. August The bands third single "When Will You Make My Telephone Ring" is released. Constant live work establishes a base audience and the single makes the lower reaches of the UK chart.
September The band begin their first
European tour with dates in Germany and Holland. On arrival back home the band
immediately embark on another British tour.
November "Dignity" is re-recorded with
American producer Bob Clearmountain. They resume their live work with further
dates in Scotland.
January The new version of "Dignity" is released, it eventually reaches number 31.At the end of the month the band return to Europe for shows in Italy and Spain. February "Raintown" is re-released this time packaged as a double album featuring "Riches" an 11 track compilation of B-sides and live tracks. Something of a smack in the face for the fans who had already bought the album last may, but nevertheless the album limited to 20,000 copies sells out immediately. Thus placing the album at number 14 in the UK chart. March "When Will You Make My Telephone Ring" is also re-released finally reaching number 34.The band then embark on yet another UK tour. April The band play two nights at the Glasgow Barrowlands 2nd/3rd ,the first night is recorded for radio broadcast. They also begin work on their second album. May Michael Brauer remixes "Chocolate Girl" "The Very Thing" and "Love's Great Fears" one of which is to be picked as the bands sixth single release. July "Chocolate Girl" is chosen to be released and reaches number 43.
August The band play festival dates in
Inverness, Lorient and Reading. The latter being one of their worst gigs as
hostility from the Reading crowd results in the band leaving the stage after
just one song. They also play the Meadowbank CND Festival in Edinburgh (6th)
campaigning for a Nuclear free Scotland.
October "Real Gone Kid" is released as a
prelude to the new album.
November The band return to the Studio to complete work on their new album.
February "Wages Day" is released as a new single it reaches number 18 in the UK. "Real Gone Kid" is nominated for a Brit award for best British single but is beaten by a past Deacon Blue support group "Fairground Attraction" with their single "Perfect".
April "When The
World Knows Your Name" is released the album enters the UK chart at
number 1,knocking Madonna's "Like A Prayer" off the top spot. The band play an
anti poll tax show at the Usher Hall Edinburgh on April 1st May 1989 "Fergus Sings The Blues" is released it reaches number 14 in the UK chart. The band also start a major UK tour, the 22 date tour completely sells out.
June Deacon Blue begin their first
Australian tour in Perth on July 4th. It continues with shows in Fremantle,
Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane a total of 14 concerts.
August From Australia the band fly to
San Francisco to make their American debut. The north American schedule includes
dates through to the autumn, with shows in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York,
Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle and Toronto.
September "Love And Regret" is released and despite being denied a place on the BBC Radio 1 play list the single reaches number 28 in the UK chart. The video is shot in Los Angeles by Andrew Catlin December The band return to the UK for a 13 date tour which includes two further nights at the Glasgow S.E.C.C. on the 9th and 10th.Both shows are recorded for release as a long form video the following autumn. They also play a show at the Birmingham N.E.C. (16th) followed by two nights at the Wembley Arena (17th/18th).The tour ends with two shows at Glasgow Barrowlands (22nd/23rd).The first gig was a charity gig for the Glasgow "Cash for kids" campaign. Ticket sales are phenomenal the S.E.C.C. shows are the venue's fastest selling event with 20,000 tickets sold in one day. "Queen Of The New Year" is released on the 27th, finally reaching number 21 early the following year.
April The band play five European dates in Italy, France and Spain.
May Deacon Blue play "Imagine" the John
Lennon tribute at pier head Liverpool on the 5th.The show is televised to a
worldwide audience as the band perform "A Hard Days Night" Ricky and Lorraine get married on May 12th at a register office near Glasgow before a luxury reception at the Loch Lomond Castle Hotel which overlooks the famous loch.
June The band headline "The Big Day" on
June 3rd,The biggest free concert in Britain held on Glasgow green in front of
an estimated 250,000 people. The show is filmed for broadcast on Channel 4.The
show was to celebrate Glasgow being awarded the title of "City Of Culture
1990".During the show a highly charged Ricky Ross made a angry attack at the
British government, as he dedicated "Orphans" to the unemployed miners. The band play the Glastonbury festival on the 24th,and the Roskilde festival In Denmark. July The band play "A Day For Scotland" a day long festival directly beneath Stirling Castle on July 14th August Deacon Blue release "Four Bacharach And David songs" a collection of 4 covers. The band decided to do this just for fun, and even though they never promoted the single it rocketed to number 2 in the UK charts. Their biggest hit single was kept off the number one spot by a children's TV presenter Timmy Mallet with his group "Bomballarena" and their cover of "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny" September "Ooh Las Vegas" is released, the 23 track double album of b-sides and sessions keeps fans happy as the album reaches number 3 in the UK.However the press saw this as a blatant attempt to cash in on the bands rising popularity. In a later interview Ricky said that he felt the release of the album was the bands biggest mistake. He wanted the album to just be released quietly, "but with a major record company like CBS behind you it's not that simple". The bands first and only video is released,"The Big Picture" a 90 minute video of their two gigs from the Glasgow S.E.C.C. December 9th/10th '89 The band embark on British and European tour playing large arenas in the UK.With shows at the Aberdeen AEC 4th/5th,Birmingham NEC 7th/8th/14th and the Wembley Arena 10th/11th/13th.For this tour the band are augmented by a brass section called 'The Kick Horns' aka , Tim Sanders , Simon Clarke and Roddy Lorimer. October The band play the final dates of the year with shows in Holland, Germany and Spain. November The band return to Glasgow after a tour that they had began to loathe. The intimacy of their set was being lost in the large arena's. The band decided that their next major tour would be in smaller theatre venues, allowing for better band/audience communication and of course superior sound production.
January The band contribute a song "Christmas And Glasgow" to a compilation album called "The Tree And The Bird And The Fish And The Bell" proceeds from the album go to the Oscar Marzaroli trust. Marzaroli was a Scottish Italian photographer whose work formed a personal record of post war Scotland. His work was used by the band and he also shot the band. Ricky Ross is a trustee of the organisation created to preserve Oscars work. The album of Glasgow artists also features "Hue & Cry" "Texas" and "Lloyd Cole" Ricky also a produced the track "The Glasgow Barrowlands" performed by Eddi Reader.
The band reunite with producer Jon Kelly to record
their third studio album "Fellow Hoodlums". The sessions are at the Guillaume
Tell studios in Paris. Ross and Prime return to Glasgow to play at the Launch of
"The Tree And The Bird And The Fish And The Bell" at the Renfrew Ferry Gallery
on January 21st.
March The band appear as themselves in
William McIlvanney's BBC TV play "Dreaming". The play focuses on the life of a
young Glasgow boy who dreams of being a rock star and perfoming with Deacon
Blue. The band perform four songs written by McIlvanney and Ross. The tracks are
featured on "Ooh Las Vegas"
Michael Bauer begins mixing "Fellow Hoodlums in New York.
May "Your Swaying Arms" is released as
the first single from "Fellow Hoodlums" the single reaches number 21 in the UK
chart. The album is released with a party in Glasgow on May 30th,the band play
an impromptu set featuring songs from" Fellow Hoodlums"
June "Fellow Hoodlums" is released on
the 3rd, the following week it enters the chart at number 2. August The band visit Poland for the first time, part of summer long tour of Europe which includes dates in Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Iceland and Scandinavia.
September "Closing Time" is released as
a single it reaches number 42 in the UK chart
November The band prepare for their sell-out UK tour which see's the band return to more intimate theatres. After a gig in Dublin the tour opens in Belfast before returning to the mainland for two night at the Edinburgh Playhouse. For the Fellow Hoodlums tour the band enlisted the help of violinist Anne Wood who played with them throughout the tour. December "Cover From The Sky" is released as the final single from "Fellow Hoodlums". It reaches number 31 in the UK chart. The tour continues with shows in Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, Bristol and three nights at London's Hammersmith Odeon. After a break for Christmas the tour ends with four nights at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The fourth and final night on new years eve is broadcast on BBC Radio 1.
February Preparations begin for recording the bands fourth studio album, to be produced by the "Perfecto" team of Steve Osbourne and Paul Oakenfold. March Recording begins at Air studios in central London.
April
Deacon Blue break from recording to play the Drumbeat concert, a benefit show at
Glasgow's Royal Concert hall on April 3rd.The concert is the brainchild of Ricky
Ross, its objective is to raise funds to build and equip a recording and
rehearsal studio in Glasgow's Drumchapel, an area of high youth unemployment
with few community facilities. Deacon Blue augmented by the Kickhorns (Brass
section) play house band to guest vocalists such as Pat Cane, Michael Marra and
Lulu. Both Ricky and Lorraine had solo sets in the show while adding backing
vocals for the other artists. May Recording continues at the Manor Studios in Oxfordshire. In Glasgow meanwhile, the prestigious Kelvingrove art gallery mounts an exhibition called "Fellow Travellers" from the visual elements of the "Fellow Hoodlums" campaign. June The final album tracks are recorded at the Outside studios in Berkshire. August Osbourne and Oakenfold begin mixing tracks at Eden studios in London. October The 12" dance mix of "Your Town" (the perfecto mix) is distributed to club DJ's and specialist retail outlets. It immediately enters the dance chart. Paul Oakenfold uses the track to open his set at the Ministry Of Sound London. November "Your Town" is released, it enters the chart at number 14.The highest new entry in the bands career.
February
"Will We Be Lovers" is released as a prelude to the new album and tour. It
reaches number 21
March The new album "Whatever You Say, Say Nothing" is released it reaches number 4 in the UK chart.
April
Deacon Blue launch their "In Your Town Tour". The
new single "Only Tender Love" is released on the 13th.
May The tour continues with the band playing their first dates in Japan. These shows are followed by European dates in Spain,France,Germany and Holland.
July "Hang Your
Head" the fourth and final single from the album is released, it reaches number
21.
September The band start writing and demoing new songs in Glasgow for inclusion on their forthcoming greatest hits album. October The first of three new songs is recorded in London with producer Steve Osbourne.The track is called "I Was Right And You Were Wrong" December Back to the studio, this time with producer Chris Kimsey, well known for his work with the Rolling Stones. They record "Bound To Love" and "In The Mood" "Bound To Love is then remixed by Dave Bascombe.
January Their Greatest Hits Tour is announced, the 20 date tour kicks off on April 19th at the Belfast Usher Hall
March "I Was Right And You Were Wrong"
is released on March 21st it reaches number 32 in the UK chart. April "Our Town The Greatest Hits" is released, it debuts at number 2 but later takes the top spot. The band make the shock announcement that they will disband at the end of their current tour. The tour ends in Dundee on the 18th but the band play two emotional nights at the Glasgow Barrowlands to end their career in front of their home crowd. May The tour ends in
Dundee on the 18th but the band play two emotional nights at the Glasgow
Barrowlands (19th / 20th) to end their career in front of their home
crowd. Dignity is re-released by Columbia
April Ricky flies to Los Angeles to begin work on his first post Deacon Blue solo album. Ricky is now signed to Sony's American company EPIC among such illustrious company as Michael Jackson. Ricky works with the Robb brothers whose past credits include Steely Dan, Buffalo Tom and The Lemonheads. October Recording is completed and the record is ready for mixing. December The Dundee Reportary Theatre stages a new play "On The Line". The play told the story of the long running and bitter dispute at the Timex factory in Dundee. Ricky Ross wrote the songs and music from the play and later released a version of the title track on his second solo album "New Recording".
January Sean Slade and Paul Q Kolderie begin mixing Ricky's new album at Fort Apache studios in Massachusetts.
April Ricky's first single "Radio On" is
released as a prelude to the forthcoming album "What You Are" .It charts in the
U.K. at number 35.
June Ricky plays 3 shows at King Tuts in Glasgow on the 4th,5th and 6th the latter being on the release day of "What You Are". Ricky also plays the Fleadh festival in London's Finsbury Park on the 8th plus a date at the Mean Fiddler London on the 11th. July Ricky plays the Tarlair music festival in Aberdeenshire on the 6th plus major support slots with Bryan Adams at Wembley stadium London and Ibrox stadium Glasgow. Plus one show with Bon Jovi at Manchester City's Maine Road.
Ricky's second single "Good Evening Philadelphia" is released on the 29th
peaking at number 58.Dates are announced for his forthcoming UK tour due to
commence on October 3rd.
October Fans are left disappointed when Ricky's 12 date UK tour is cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
January Ricky is alleged to be returning to the studio to record a new song for a possible re release of "What You Are" after poor sales from the initial release. February Ricky parts company with Sony after ten years on fairly amicable terms. Sony/EPIC are disappointed with the sales of "What You Are" and the two singles from the album. A new Deacon Blue compilation is released shortly after. "Riches And More" a 14 track compilation of the "Riches" album originally released as a limited edition bonus album with "Raintown" in 1988.Plus the 4 tracks from the "Four Bacharach And David Songs" EP from 1990.The band had no input for the project and the album was generally seen as a money spinner for Sony by fans and critics alike. May Ricky has began work on his latest solo project and showcased some of his new material at two solo acoustic gigs at the Glasgow Tramway 19th and 20th . June Another solo gig this time at Stirling Castle on the 5th. August Ricky plays two more shows, East Kilbride Arts Centre 16th and Edinburgh Palladium 20th September Ricky plays support for "Wet Wet Wet" at Celtic Park on the 7th October Ricky's second solo album is released on the 6th ."New Recording" released on Ricky's own label "Internazionale" was written, recorded and produced by Ricky with assistance from Paul Mcgeechan. The album is of a quiet introspective nature with all the songs being acoustic guitar or piano based with sampled effects for accompaniment. The album is greeted with mixed reviews with Mojo magazine claiming that "New Recording showcases his most engaging portfolio of songs since Raintown" A seven date tour commences to promote the release of "New Recording". The tour includes shows in London, Manchester, Belfast and Dublin. December Ricky concludes 1997 with four dates in Scotland in Irvine, Paisley, Aberdeen and his home town Dundee.
March Ricky begins a 19 date solo tour with Jim Prime and Lorraine McIntosh joining Ricky for shows in Ayr and London. "Undeveloped Heart" is released as a single, though its availability is restricted to gigs and specialist retailers. April The tour ends with a show at the Kings Lynn Corn Exchange on the 4th. August Ricky plays 3 shows at the Calders Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh on the 11th,18th and 25th the shows are part of the Edinburgh festival. He also plays the Greenbelt festival on the 29th. September Ricky plays at the Royal Festival Hall in London (6th) as part of the Victor Jara Benefit. As well as a show a show in Dublin on the 13th. Rumours are rife that a Deacon Blue reunion is on the way, the rumours proves to be untrue but not totally unfounded as Jim, Dougie, Lorraine and Ricky were indeed playing together again. The reunion was for a charity event at the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr to raise money for SMART a new school of music and recording technology to be based in Ayr. The band play one show on the 19th with guest musicians filling in for absentee's Ewen Vernal and Graeme Kelling.
November Lorraine makes her movie debut
in the Ken Loach film
"My Name Is Joe"
Ricky plays his first European dates since the demise of Deacon Blue with two
Spanish shows in Valencia 6th and Madrid 7th. Ricky is joined by Lorraine and
guitarist Mick Slaven for both shows.
January Ricky plays two gigs billed as "Ricky Ross and Friends" the friends are Lorraine McIntosh, Jim Prime and Mick Slaven. The shows are at the Edinburgh Assembly Rooms (16th) and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (30th) March Ricky Ross announces a 17 date solo tour this time with guitarist Mick Slaven joining him for every show. The news that everybody wanted to hear finally came out, Deacon Blue were to reunite for their first gig in 5 years. The gig at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in May was to be a charity event in aid of the Braendam Family House. Tickets sales were phenomenal with the event selling out in less than 90 minutes. The demand was too great and by the end of March a further two gigs had been arranged for the 1st & 2nd June at the Clyde Auditorium. April Wednesday 14th, the band are together in the same room for the first time in nearly five years to begin rehearsals for the forthcoming reunion gigs. Ricky's solo tour commences at the South Shields Custom House (23rd).
May Ricky plays his last solo show of
the tour at the Bar Cuba Macclesfield (11th). Lorraine plays her first ever gig
with her new band "Cub" at King Tuts in Glasgow on the 14th. A second gig
followed on the 30th as part of BBC's Music Live Festival. The band reunite for their first reunion gig at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on the 27th.The gig is a charity event with several acts including a solo set by Ricky Ross before the main event. The gig was recorded by BBC Radio 2 and the highlights were broadcast on Saturday the 5th June. Ricky, Jim, Lorraine and Mick Slaven play at the "Scotland For Kosova" concert at the Glasgow S.E.C.C. (31st).The event was organised to raise money for the Kosova crisis and featured many stars such as Simple Minds and Midge Ure. The event was also broadcast on BBC Radio. June The band play two more sell out shows at the Clyde Auditorium (1st & 2nd). Mick Slaven joins Deacon Blue for all three of the reunion gigs.
July Deacon Blue announce a 12 date tour
entitled "Walking Back Home" which kicks off on October 7th at the Portsmouth
Guildhall. Ticket sales are very good and within a couple of weeks the 12 date
tour is extended to 17 dates. The new dates including a second night at the
Royal Albert Hall, and dates in Ireland and Scotland.
August Plans are announced for a new Deacon Blue compilation album "Walking Back Home" to be released in October to coincide with the UK tour. October A warm up gig for the 'Walking Back Home' tour is staged at the 500 capacity Ayr Gaiety Theatre (1st) before the tour kicks off at the Portsmouth Guildhall (7th). The new album "Walking Back Home" is released (11th) peaking at number 39.
November The band record a special 'Evening With' show at the
BBC, recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in London (11th) it saw 5 members of
Deacon Blue perform a stripped down acoustic set between telling stories and
taking questions from the 300 capacity crowd who won tickets given away on BBC
Radio 2.The gig was later broadcast on December 18th on Radio 2. December The new Deacon Blue single is cancelled after 'Walking Back Home' slips out of the charts after just three weeks. The band play their final dates of 1999 with shows in Stirling (18th) and Aberdeen (19th).
March Ricky plays four dates with a new
line up, billed as 'Ricky Ross and his band' the band included the familiar
faces of Ewen Vernal and Mick Slaven. And introduced 'Pearlfishers' drummer
James Gash to the fold. The dates were Liverpool (2nd) London (3rd) Macclesfield
(4th) and Coventry (5th)
The Sunday Times publishes the saddening story that Deacon
Blue guitarist Graeme Kelling is fighting cancer. Despite his condition, Graeme
continues to record the new Deacon Blue album 'Homesick'.
January Recording on the new Deacon Blue
album is complete and Ricky heads off to London to mix the album as well as
putting the final touches to his own forthcoming solo album. July The band headline the Northampton town festival (20th) August The band play three more town festivals with shows at Cardiff City Hall (5th) Perth City Hall (17th) and Crathes Castle Aberdeen (18th) . Deacon Blue announce that they will tour the UK again before the year is out, an 18 date tour of the UK is planned for October / November with the band returning to towns not played for many years such as Newport and Sunderland. The tour will coincide with the release of a new 'Very Best Of' album released by Sony on November 5th. October The
Homesick II tour commences with the opening night in Liverpool (26th)
Ricky Ross announces his 17 date solo tour for April / May 2002, in support of his forthcoming solo album 'This Is The Life' . A Midsummer Nights Dream opens at the Glasgow Citizens Theatre (27th), Ricky Ross writes the soundtrack for the production. November Sony release a new Deacon Blue hits package 'The Very Best Of Deacon Blue' (5th) the 36 track double CD comprises all the bands hits, favourite album tracks and B sides. Fans had the chance to have their say on track selection via the bands official website. December The Homesick II tour concludes with two Scottish dates Edinburgh (1st) and Glasgow (3rd). Deacon Blue now disband to concentrate on solo projects, there are no firm plans to work together again, but the door is left open to do so. Ricky headlines the bill for a benefit gig at 'TheVillage' (Pollok, Glasgow 14th).
January Lorraine takes to the stage appearing in a play entitled "Mums The Word" the play, described as "Six women, six stories, one common thread...A hilarious and intimate look at motherhood" opens on January 30 at the Dundee Rep, and runs through to March, stopping at the Ayr Gaiety and Glasgow Kings theatres. February Ricky's first official website is launched (1st) www.rickyross.com March Deacon Blue announce dates for later in the year, including a special event at Ascot racecourse and their first foreign dates since their reformation with 2 nights in Dubai. April Ricky Ross finally releases his long awaited 3rd solo album This Is The Life (8th). Recorded back in August 2000, the album that features Davie Scott, Mick Slaven, James Gash and Scott Fraser amongst other guest musicians is Ricky's best work for many years and receives favourable reviews. Ricky sets out on a 19 date UK tour beginning at the Ayr Gaiety theatre (13th) and concluding with a festival date at the Maydaze event on Glasgow Green (5th May). This time around he is joined on stage by Davie Scott and Mick Slaven. May Deacon Blue play their first gigs of the year playing 2 nights in Dubai, Abu Dhabi (9th) and Irish Village (10th) Ricky continues to travel, this time returning to Japan, the first time since 1993, to play three special gigs (19th, 20th, 21st) with Boo Hewerdine (The Bible) and Gary Clark (Danny Wilson) each night taking it in turns to headline at the Star Pines Cafe in Tokyo. June June begins with Ricky and his full band playing a short set for the BBC Music Live Festival at Callander Park Falkirk (3rd). The event is televised on BBC Scotland. Deacon Blue continue to play sporadic live dates with dates in Guernsey (14th), Jersey (15th) and Ascot Racecourse (29th). August Ricky plays 3 more festival dates Richmond Live (3rd) Spin 2002 Paisley (10th) and Greenbelt, Cheltenham (24th) before finishing August with a triumphant homecoming gig at Glasgow's King Tuts Wah Wah Hut (30th). Deacon Blue play the Earth Music Festival in Derry (17th) playing support for Van Morrison and the Waterboys. Welsh singer songwriter
Martyn Joseph releases a charity EP 'Till The End'. The EP is in aid of
MST the Brazilian movement to help the landless. Ricky Ross visited Brazil
and observed the work of MST in 1998 and donated a new track to the EP 'I
Just Want To Be Loved'. The EP is released by Pipe Records and launched at
the Greenbelt Festival (24th). October Ricky plays 2 more gigs Wolverhampton (9th) and a return to the London Jazz Cafe (10th) November Ricky plays a charity gig for the STUC Centre in Glasgow, the event is in aid of the people of Palestine. (30th) December Ricky continues to write and record while ITV broadcast 'The Lucky Ones' a screenplay by Jonathan Harvey that Ricky was commissioned to write the music for. Lorraine also continues her acting career with a one off appearance in 'Taggart' and landing a large role in a new Scottish soap opera on BBC Scotland 'River City'.
January Ricky plays a one off concert at Glasgow Cathedral (24th). Throughout 2003 Lorraine concentrates on acting, continuing her role as 'Alice Henderson' in the BBC Scotland soap 'River City'. While landing other small TV parts and appearing in her 2nd movie 'Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself' due for release in 2004. March Deacon Blue are asked to open a new concert venue in Glasgow, the Carling Glasgow Academy. The show sees Deacon Blue play a special set, playing the whole Raintown album from start to finish for the very first time. May Deacon Blue headline the 'Fresh Ayr' Festival (10th) as part of the Burns night celebrations. August Ricky plays support for Runrig at Stirling Castle (23rd), the concert is to celebrate Runrigs 30th anniversary. September Ricky plays a special concert at St Georges West Church in Edinburgh (27th). He is joined on stage by former bishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway for an evening of song and conversation. October This Is The Life (7th) is released in the USA by Instinct records. November Ricky Ross is given the prestigious honour of singing the Scottish anthem 'Flower Of Scotland' at Hampden Park before kick off of the Euro 2004 Championship play off between Scotland and Holland. The game with a full 70,000+ attendance is also screened worldwide. December Ricky Ross joins in on the Radio Scotland 25th anniversary celebrations by playing live at a special show broadcast live from Marryat Hall in Dundee (12th). The show also includes performances from the likes of Eddi Reader and Geoff Martyn. Deacon Blue end the year by playing 3 live dates at Aberdeen Music Hall (29th) Glasgow Academy (30th) and headlining the Hogmanay celebrations at Stirling Castle (31st).
February Ricky plays at Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline (29th) as part of a charity gig for the parents of tragic Alistair Grimason who was killed while on holiday with his mother in Turkey in 2003. Alistair, who was only two years old, was shot through the heart by a stray bullet as he slept in his pram at a Café in Foca. March Ricky begins work on his next solo record. Once again he is joined by Mick Slaven, Scott Fraser, James Gash with Davie Scott playing and producing the sessions. May Deacon Blue headline the day long "Big In Falkirk" festival (1st) at Callender Park. Deacon Blue perform again, this time at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (27th) to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Scottish based charity Enable. Ricky Ross completes recording his next album June On the 10th June 2004 Deacon Blue fans worldwide were in mourning for the loss of Graeme Kelling. As one of the founding members of Deacon Blue Graeme was a vital part of what Deacon Blue were and key to their success. After a four year battle with pancreatic cancer Graeme finally succumbed to his illness. He died at the Marie Curie Hospice in Glasgow with his family at his bedside. Despite his illness Graeme continued to work and toured with the band for as long as he could. Too ill to continue touring he made his final appearance with Deacon Blue on the 26th March 2003 at the Glasgow Academy when he bravely took to the stage to play "Loves Great Fears" and bring to a close a career with Deacon Blue spanning 18 years. A book of remembrance was opened
by Deacon Blue on their official website and friends and fans from all
over the world united to pay tribute to this much loved and much admired
quiet man of rock. October Deacon Blue return to Dubai to play 3 more sell out shows, Ambassadors Residence Muscat, Oman (6th) Dilmun Club, Bahrain (7th) Nad Al Sheba, UAE (8th) December Deacon Blue round off the year by returning to the Glasgow Carling Academy. This time around the band play a special set comprising of all the bands singles including a rare performance of I Was Right And You Were Wrong. As well as the singles Deacon Blue played one special new song. Entitled "In The End" the track was dedicated to the late Graeme Kelling. £8000 was raised on the night and donated to the tsunami relief effort. Ricky's collaboration with young up and coming singer songwriter James Blunt proves fruitful as James ends 2005 with the best selling album of the year. His debut Back To Bedlam sells over 2.5 million copies.
January Ricky donates a previously unreleased track and exclusive concert recording to the Glasgow Skyline Tsunami Relief Fund. The fund ran for 3 months and raised over £5000 for the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster. Ricky plays his first gig of the year, a special show at Glasgow Cathedral (29th). Ricky is joined on stage by Mick Slaven, Davie Scott and guest vocalist Tricia Mcteague. A young singer Ricky has been writing with over the past year. February Deacon Blue join the bill for the Scottish tsunami relief concert "Tsunami Relief Scotland" (19th). The special show at the Glasgow SECC raised thousands for the relief effort and featured acts such as Idlewild, Texas, Franz Ferdinand, Travis and Eddi Reader. Ricky plays a one off show at the troubadour in London showcasing some of the new tracks that will feature on his forthcoming album "Pale Rider". March Ricky along with Davie Scott play two small warm up gigs at the Bein Inn, Perthshire (30th & 31st) May Pale Rider the new album from Ricky Ross is released (2nd). The album one of Ricky's finest collections of songs yet, is met with positive reviews from fans and critics alike. Ricky embarks on an extensive 24 date tour across the UK, opening in Irvine (9th) and ending with five nights in Ireland on June 19th. July Deacon Blue play their first show of the year headlining the Kings Lynn Festival (23rd) August Ricky plays a short set at Oram Mor (2nd) in benefit of the Scottish Association for Mental Heath. Three more festival dates follow with Ricky Ross playing the Tartan Heart Festival in Invernesshire (13th) and once again returning to Greenbelt (28th) whilst Deacon Blue headline the Mull Of Kintyre Festival (20th). December Deacon Blue end the year with their almost annual hogmanay gig, this time they join the bill for the Glasgow St Georges square celebrations alongside fellow Scots Hue & Cry and headliners Athlete (31st).
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