Scottish band reveal how Dolly Parton became the key to their success ahead of Glastonbury gig
'We really do have Dolly to thank for us being there at all."
SAVED US FROM A 9-5 Scottish band reveal how Dolly Parton became the key to their success ahead of Glastonbury gig
THE Bluebells will play Glastonbury for the first time this summer — and insist it's all down to Dolly Parton.
Lead singer Bobby Bluebell — real name Robert Hodgens — and the McCluskey brothers will take to the festival's Acoustic Stage at the end of next month.
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The Bluebells thank Dolly Parton for their success
However, Bobby reveals their incredible resurgence wouldn't have been possible if the country and western legend Dolly hadn't priced herself out of doing a TV car advert in the 90's.
Her original version of I Will Always Love You was first choice to be used in a Volkswagen commercial.
However, after Whitney Houston's cover from the Bodyguard movie topped charts around the world it was deemed too expensive to use.
So the Scots indie band's 80s track Young At Heart was chosen instead - before giving the trio their first-ever No1 when the song topped the charts for four weeks in 1993.
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Bobby explains: 'Clare Grogan's sister Kate was working at this advertising agency in London at the time.
'They had already made the Volkswagen advert with Dolly Parton singing her version of I Will Always Love You.
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'But in 1992 it became this huge hit for Whitney Houston, so the money for the use of Dolly's song suddenly went through the roof.
'The agency was scrambling around as they were just about to launch and they needed a replacement and fast.
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'Kate then says, 'I think Young At Heart will fit the bill' as it had the same vibe as Dolly's song.
"So because Dolly became too expensive and I had known Kate from school before her sister was in Altered Images, The Bluebells got their first No1.'
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Govan-born Bobby had written a piece about Ken and David McCluskey's teenage band for his music fanzine, then joined it in 1981.
He recalls: 'I was finding groups to write about and at that time there were only about 10 bands in Glasgow — so they were going to get written about at some point.
'David was probably 14 at the time and I just thought he was an incredible drummer — he was like Keith Moon.'
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But Bobby soon moved to London to live with girlfriend Siobhan Fahey from the trio Bananarama.
He says: 'I had a duffle coat and NHS specs, but fortunately for me at that point the geeky look was coming in.'
Together Bobby and Siobhan co-wrote Young At Heart as a Bananarama album track.
But The Bluebells then reached the top 10 themselves with the track in 1984 before the band split two years later.
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Dolly Parton attends "Dolly: An Original Musical" fireside chat and press conference at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
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Bobby went on to be a club DJ, David worked a music tutor with additional-needs adults for charity SenseScotland, while Ken became a college lecturer.
However, they were all thrown back together again when Dolly said no and Volkswagen called.
Their longevity and continued popularity will now see their debut album Sisters re-released on June 27 — the day before they take to the Glasto stage.
But it's not all been a bed of roses for the track that keeps them ticking.
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Dolly Parton attends the opening of Country Music Hall of Fame (Photo by)
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Session musician Bobby Valentino — who gave the jaunty violin performance on the track — sued for £100,000 worth of royalties in 2002 after only being paid £75 to play on the song.
The US musician even gave a violin solo in court to help convince the judge to rule in his favour.
Bobby recalls: 'I had a drink in the pub with Valentino afterwards and he said to me, 'I'm sorry Robert, I needed the money and was just chancing my arm really'.'
The track has followed them all around the world, even when they played behind the Iron Curtain in the mid-80s.
Dad-of-two Bobby says: 'We were travelling to East Berlin and stopped at a service station.
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"Although you can hardly call it a service station. It had about one sandwich and bowls of gruel.
'Suddenly Young At Heart started playing over the sound system and even to this day I'm convinced that it was too much of a coincidence.
'What I actually think happened was that the Stasi were following us and they had put it on, just to remind us that we were being watched by the East German Secret Police.'
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Bobby Bluebell shared how Dolly Parton helped the band
He adds: 'I used to find it strange to hear it played at funerals. But I'm kind of getting used to that now.
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'I never thought of it as being a funeral song but yeah, I think it does fit quite well.'
Dolly herself played the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2014 and now The Bluebells will get to follow in her footsteps at Worthy Farm in Somerset.
But for someone who is now more likely to be found in a golf clubhouse than in a nightclub, Bobby is just glad that their Glasto slot is an early one.
The 65-year-old, who used to play golf with a 12 handicap, says: 'My favourite festival is actually Fringe by the Sea in North Berwick, because it's surrounded by all those lovely golf courses.
'I have been to Glastonbury before with Texas when they were on the main stage and they were brilliant.
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'But it's not the sort of thing I would normally do. Standing in a field for four days queuing for an autobank or the toilet isn't really my thing.
"So I was delighted when I was told we would be on stage at half five.
'That means we can get out of there and be in a hotel by 10pm — perfect.'
He adds: 'We really do have Dolly to thank for us being there at all.
'But life is full of all these little Sliding Doors moments that can take you to some incredible places.'
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