Hipsway in concert this morning – recorded for John Peel – BBC Radio 1 on June 7, 1986.
The band was formed in Glasgow in 1984 by ex-Altered Images guitarist Johnny McElhone on bass, and featuring Grahame Skinner (vocals), Pim Jones (guitar) and Harry Travers (drums). Skinner and Travers had been members of the band Kites with Paul McGrath and Ian McGreevy before Hipsway formed. Their music was characterized by Skinner’s deep vocals and Jones’ rhythmic guitar style. They were quickly signed up by Mercury Records and by 1985 had released their first, eponymously titled album. The album was a moderate success on the UK Albums Chart; while the single “The Honeythief”, made number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, and also reached the top 20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Another song from the album, “Tinder”, became well known in Scotland as the soundtrack to a McEwan’s Lager commercial.
However the band failed to build on its success; McElhone founded Texas, and by the time the second album Scratch the Surface was recorded, Travers had also left (to be replaced by Stephen Ferrera). Released in 1989, the album was not as critically or commercially successful as its predecessor, and the band split up shortly afterwards.
In November 2016, Hipsway reformed, playing at Summerhall, Edinburgh then two dates at Glasgow O2 ABC, in support of the 30th anniversary deluxe reissue of their first album. As a result of the positive reception to the re-issue and the 2016 shows, the band played a limited number of gigs in 2017 and 2018, including sell-out shows at the reopened Glasgow Kelvingrove Bandstand and the Barrowland Ballroom.
Hipsway’s first album for almost 30 years, Smoke & Dreams, was released in late 2018.
Post-reformation touring/recording band members have included Jim McDermott (drums), Gary Houston (bass), Stevie Christie (keyboards), Andy May (keyboards), Andy Gillespie (keyboards), David Robertson (percussion) and Louise Murphy (vocals).
If you’re new to Hipsway, press play and make a discovery – if you’re a seasoned veteran, press play and enjoy the reminder.
