Scotland’s influence on one of world’s biggest bands explored in new book

Bands including Teenage Fanclub, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Soup Dragons and Cocteau Twins achieved varying degrees of success.

However, the impact of a generation of Scottish bands covered thousands of miles and went on to play a role in the rise of Nirvana.

Grant McPhee has charted that influence in Postcards from Scotland, which will now be released in America.

Author Grant McPhee, pictured alongside daughter Francoise, has documented an important period of Scottish music’s history (Image: Contributed)

The Haddington resident said: “I’m a huge fan of music and all aspects of it.

“I think, for me, there is probably a lot of projecting going on here in that I would have liked to have been in a band and hanging around with musicians.

“This is probably my way of being involved in music but, for me, it is an incredibly inspiring story.

“A lot of these bands basically started off in a bedroom.

“The music they made, put out themselves on small, tiny independent labels, reached the ears of people like [Nirvana frontman] Kurt Cobain in the USA.

“He covered three songs by The Vaselines and I think that is an extraordinary thing to have achieved.

“To me, I think it is that ‘punk DIY attitude’ that does genuinely inspire me and part of the storytelling is to inspire others.

“You can do these things yourself that have the ability to travel and give enjoyment and inspire people.”

Grant, 48, was at the heart of music documentaries Big Gold Dream and Teenage Superstars.

READ MORE: Grant McPhee’s Teenage Superstars documentary proves a hit

He told the Courier that the documentaries, which he produced and directed, provided plenty of material.

Two years ago, he co-wrote Hungry Beat with Douglas McIntyre and Postcards from Scotland was “a natural progression”.

READ MORE: Documentary producer brings out new book on Scotland’s post-punk scene

The latest book, published by Omnibus Press, focuses on 1983 to 1995, with more than 100 people interviewed to bring the story together.

Postcards from Scotland has proven such a success that there are more books in the pipeline.

Grant, who has also worked on a wealth of television programmes and films, including Outlander, Churchill, T2 Trainspotting and World War Z, confirmed that it would also be released in the US later this year.

He also highlighted how piecing the stories together for the number of musicians had brought about other stories.

He said: “A large amount of the people who we interviewed are still making music and probably some of the best music of their lives.

“Sean Dickson, from The Soup Dragons, has released a wonderful new album – one of the best things he has done.

“The BMX Bandits are still putting stuff together.

“Other people did get a 9am to 5pm job but it has been really interesting.”

Postcards from Scotland can be purchased on Amazon.