Latest news with #Ged
The Courier
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Ged Grimes on life with Simple Minds: From Dundee and St Andrews busking to rocking USA
It's been quite a journey from busking on Dundee's Murraygate to gearing up for a 10,000-capacity show in Portland, Oregon – but Ged Grimes wouldn't have it any other way. Speaking exclusively to The Courier via WhatsApp from Los Angeles – where the weather, he laughs, is 'not quite taps aff' – the Dundee born and bred Simple Minds bass player is in the thick of the band's biggest North American tour in four decades. The iconic Scottish band, led by original members Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, have just come off a rapturous run through South America, and the US and Canada leg is beginning in earnest. It's a packed 24-date schedule, taking in coast-to-coast cities and a mix of iconic outdoor 'sheds' and atmospheric indoor theatres. But as Ged reflects on his 15 years as Simple Minds' longest serving bassist, his 50 years as a musician and looks forward to Simple Minds playing to a 35,000 strong home crowd at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow on June 27 which will be opened up by St Andrews singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, the passionate Dundonian takes none of it for granted. 'It's quite fascinating to be back in a hotel directly opposite where Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard used to be,' he says, looking out of his hotel window towards the former site of the music mecca he first stepped into as part of Dundee's Danny Wilson in the late 1980s. 'I have vivid memories of being there in 1987 when the first Danny Wilson album was on the outside of Tower Records. We were signed from '85 to '91 so that's a six year period that we were making records. 'But it's quite something when you think that I've now been with Simple Minds for 15 years. 'When you look at it like that, I'm a proud of every single thing I've done, and every single twist and turn in the road. To be doing this now at this stage and age is a privilege.' Ged's musical journey started as a school boy back home in Dundee. He met fellow musician Gary Clark at St Saviour's High School – the two were introduced through their shared guitar teacher, Paul Fitzpatrick. 'I was already playing with my family in The Grimes Folk Four – yes really!' says Ged. 'Around the age of 12, 13, we were doing the Five Ways Club, the Civil Service Club… it was this kind of variety concert party. There was a magician, country dancers, and us doing folk songs. God, it sounds like it's from another era!' he laughs. Soon enough, Ged and Gary were playing together and immersed in Dundee's thriving live scene – learning from local legends like Michael Marra and the Mafia band. 'They used to let us jump up at their gigs. That was our way in – and it really made us feel part of something,' he smiles. The duo would head to local studios in the evenings to record whatever they could, experimenting with sounds long before they were signed. In fact, before Danny Wilson became Danny Wilson, they were busking in Dundee's Murraygate – and further afield. 'We used to head to St Andrews and play for the American tourists – we called ourselves the Scots Porridge Notes,' Ged chuckles. 'We had a tea chest bass, accordion, guitar – doing Sinatra covers. Then we'd come back and spend the lot in the Tayside Bar!' That hustle paid off. After a tough stint in London – 'living in a terrible squat' – and after being inspired by Simple Minds' 1982 album New Gold Dream, Ged and Gary returned to Dundee, regrouped with Gary's brother Kit, and got signed shortly after. Simple Minds' album, New Gold Dream, wasn't just a Scottish success – it was a musical wake-up call. 'We were floundering a bit, then this incredible album came out – it sounded expansive, aspirational. It made me believe that Scottish bands didn't have to leave Scotland to succeed. And it was a huge influence on us heading back to Dundee.' Signed in 1985, and touring with Simply Red in 1987, Danny Wilson had their own success in the States – with hits like Mary's Prayer. 'The live band were from Dundee as well,' recalls Ged. 'So you can imagine eight Dundee guys in America for the first time. It was an absolute hoot!' Even now, US fans remember. 'People wait outside (Simple Minds) venues here in the US with Danny Wilson memorabilia. It's honestly touching.' Danny Wilson weren't primarily a live band – 'it was more a studio thing'. Never say never, but that's why realistically he doesn't think Danny Wilson would hit the road today. The entourage required would be sizeable. But the live experience changed drastically when Ged joined Simple Minds in 2010. Ged had crossed paths with Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill a few times when Danny Wilson were on Virgin. But it wasn't until 2008 when he was with Deacon Blue that he reconnected. Deacon Blue supported Simple Minds in 2008 on their 30th anniversary tour, and when Jim asked him to get involved with his solo record, the offer to join the band came from there. Fifteen years on, Simple Minds 'just feels like home'. 'They've always been known for the live show, and we wear that on our sleeve,' he says, describing the band's current line up as 'tighter than ever' and 'dynamite'. 'It's full-on, night after night, giving it everything. 'You don't just play the records – you give people an experience.' After the break-up of Danny Wilson, and before joining Simple Minds, Ged spent most of his time writing and producing music for computer games. The new venture started in Dundee through his friend Chris van der Kuyl. Eventually that led to material being produced in America and Japan. It's a venture he's still involved with today. 'I'm just finished a game for Microsoft I've managed to work in between the Simple Minds tours,' he says. 'There's a game called Clockwork Revolution, a big role playing game that's coming out later in the year. That keeps me on my toes, because I had to find opera singers I had to find string quartets. It's the antithesis of working in Simple Minds. But I'm lucky. I get to do both.' The music industry has changed – and so has Dundee. Ged is especially excited about LiveHouse, the city's new state-of-the-art venue promising to transform the local live scene. 'Dundee's often missed out on big tours,' he says. 'We'd see Glasgow, Edinburgh, maybe Aberdeen – but not here. A lot of that was down to a lack of suitable venues. Now, that's changed.' He's been in touch with LiveHouse director Gus Robb to help attract major acts. 'See the next time Simple Minds are planning a tour that involves Dundee, I'm sure Live House would be an amazing, Barrowlands style, classic venue for us to play. 'It's going to take time that is going to take time to build a reputation. But I'm sure it'll happen.'
Daily Record
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Historian believes Dumfries and Galloway is home of world's oldest known football pitch
The Stewartry may be the home of the world's oldest known football pitch. Football historian Ged O'Brien has uncovered evidence that suggests the beautiful game was played on farmland near Gatehouse more than 400 years ago. And he believes this will lead other experts to 'rewrite everything they think they know'. Ged's discovery was unveiled in the final episode in the current series of BBC Scotland's A View From The Terrace, which will be shown tonight. The founder of the Scottish Football Museum has discovered a letter written by Rev Samuel Rutherford, who was minister at Anwoth Old Kirk in the 17th century. It shows that when he arrived at the parish he found 'a piece of ground on Mossrobin farm where on Sabbath afternoon the people used to play at foot-ball'. Ged – a former president of the Association of Sports Historians – believes this sentence backs up his argument that football was being played in Scotland hundreds of years before it was invented in England. He said: 'This is one of the most important sentences I have ever read in football history, because it specifically identifies the exact place the football pitch was.' Rev Rutherford was furious his parishioners were playing football on a Sunday and ordered some of his flock to put stones on the pitch to stop the games. The film for A View From The Terrace shows Ged and a team of archaeologists discovered a line of 14 large rocks across a flat area at the former Mossrobin farm, with tests indicating they were put there around the time Rutherford was minister. Archaeologist Phil Richardson from Archaeology Scotland, who conducted the tests, said: 'This backs up the story that a barrier was put across an open space. It's not about stock control, it's not about agriculture or land boundaries and ownership. This is not a wall, it's a temporary barrier to stop a particular event happening – in this case football.' Ged added: 'There are serious implications for historians because they are going to have to rewrite everything they think they know. In the history books, football is mob-football. 'It was chaos, people drunk, it's anarchy. The traditional view of modern football is that it started in 1863 with a group of ex-public schoolboys from places like Eton and Harrow.' O'Brien argues this narrative is 'entirely and utterly mistaken', pointing out that for centuries, Scots have been playing a more organised form of football in places like Anwoth, where his discovery was made. Standing on the site of the ancient pitch, he added: 'This is one of my great days ever, because we're stood on the proof that we need to show that Scotland invented modern world football.' Anwoth Old Kirk is perhaps better known as one of the filming locations of The Wicker Man. Now it may have another claim to fame. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. Ged said: 'Anwoth is going to be one of the cornerstones of the new world history of football. 'This is a place that the locals specifically chose as a football pitch and I've got the evidence. It's the start of the narrative that runs through to today because the game they played is the game everybody plays everywhere in the world.' 'You can be up the side of a mountain in the Himalayas, watching a football game, and the ghosts of Anwoth will be watching,' he added. The episode of A View From The Terrace is available on iPlayer and will be shown on the BBC Scotland channel tonight at 10.30pm.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Football club plans emotional tribute to stalwart Ged
Carlisle City will pay an emotional tribute tonight to club stalwart Ged Archibald. Mr Archibald passed away at the weekend shortly after City's 4-1 victory at West Auckland Town. He was a legendary figure at the Cumbrian non-league club, having served City in a number of roles for many years. And tonight's Northern League Division One home game against Tow Law Town will be dedicated to his memory. City hope as many people as possible will attend the game to remember Mr Archibald. Announcing the sad news of his passing, City announced on Sunday: "Our club today is in mourning following the very sudden death of Ged Archibald. "Since the formation of Carlisle City in 1975, Ged has probably carried out every single role needed - sky blue really did run through his veins. "Amongst his many roles, Ged had a stint as manager of the senior side during the 1980s. "Always the life and soul of any party, Ged relished his John Smiths or a little brandy to follow. He was a keen supporter of both the Ex-Servicemens Club and the Denton Holme club. "We did know that Ged's health had not been too good over the last few months and he had been forced to miss a number of games. It is of some comfort to us all that he made the trip yesterday to West Auckland and witnessed one of City's best results of the season. "It is hard to write a proper tribute after such a sudden loss and we offer our heartfelt condolences to Ged's daughters, family and his many friends . "God bless Ged and rest in peace." Kick-off tonight is 7.45pm as Dan Kirkup's 17th-placed City take on bottom side Tow Law. Entry is £6 for adults and £4 concessions, with hot food and drinks from Eagle Snacks.
BBC News
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Las Vegas is 'trip of a lifetime' for rugby fans set to marry
A couple who were forced to cancel their Las Vegas wedding plans five years ago due to the coronavirus pandemic will finally tie the knot this weekend thanks to a Rugby Super League Wolves fans Ged Upton and his partner Jean, both 65, said they were three weeks away from their dream wedding in 2020 "when the world stopped"."We just didn't know what was going to happen, so we spent the money on a new kitchen instead," Ged couple, from Runcorn, said they put it out of their mind and had decided to marry in a registry office in the UK - until the Wigan v Warrington fixture in Las Vegas was announced. "That was the catalyst," Ged said."That was the thing that swung us to say 'let's resurrect the Vegas trip'."We aren't getting any younger, let's do it."The couple, who flew out on Friday will watch the game on Saturday before their big day on Sunday."It's very exciting," Jean said. "We've never been to Vegas before so we are really looking forward to it."The couple will be joined by Jean's daughter Katy, her sister Joanne, and her brother-in-law Matt. They will also be joined by fellow season ticket holders Steve and Julie who became friends after 15 years sitting together in the stands at The Halliwell Jones the wedding, the new Mr and Mrs Upton will embark on a ten day road trip along the California coast and take in sights of Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Francisco."It will be the holiday of a lifetime," Ged said."It's all been a bit of whirlwind planning it all after we decided to just do it," Jean said. "We can't wait".Wigan Warriors will play their home Super League game against Warrington Wolves at the Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, as part of Rugby League Las Vegas, an event organised by Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) to showcase the is at 21:30 GMT and commentary will be live on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds from 21:15 GMT. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
