Episode 61: Ricky Ross, Deacon Blue

Explicit content warning

08/05/22 • 29 min

Seven million record sales, twelve UK top 40 singles, two number one albums; the music of Deacon Blue - and that group’s singer Ricky Ross - defined much of my childhood.
And so it’s a total thrill to speak to the Dundee born songwriter on this episode. Ricky has a new solo album, Short Stories, Vol. 2, out now on Cooking Vinyl, a tour coming late September, and his first memoir, Walking Back Home: Deacon Blue and Me, published by Headline, out now too. And it's the latter which we principally talk about today. I’m writing a book too. I thought it was a good opportunity to push Ricky for some tips. But also – my dad passed away last weekend. He was 81. He'd been sick for ages. It’s very sad, I’m very sad, but I’ve got some peace about it too. But it does come up in the episode because a lot of the conversation is about growing and feeling and all sorts of important life stuff.
It wasn’t just a pleasure to speak to Ricky, but a sort of tonic too – to speak to someone obviously sensitive, obviously wise, and with one of those soft Scottish accents that can alleviate anxiety with a single vowel.
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
The James McMahon Music Podcast is a Spoook media production. Spoook is loads of things - visit the Substack to learn more!

Twitter - @jamesjammcmahon
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Twitter - @jamesjammcmahon
Substack - https://spoook.substack.com
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Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/jamesmcmahonmusicpod/

Previous Episode

Episode 60: Josh Raven, The Faim

If you're a fan of pop rock, you've come to the right place; on this episode I’m speaking to The Faim - specifically singer Josh Raven - and the two of us discuss the Australian band’s recently released second album, the ferociously catchy Talk Talk.
Let me tell you something about interviewing bands. Sometimes it’s easy. You speak to a musician and the truth pours out of their mouths. Sometimes it’s much harder. It’s like digging for diamonds. You have to get right in there and wiggle the shiny bits in the soil until they fall out and you learn something new. This interview was a bit closer to the latter than the former. I think if you stick with us – it’s a slightly tetchy opening, I have to say – then what follows is an honest portrait of the reality – often depressingly so – of being in a band in 2022. But also the total joy of playing live music, that which makes it all worth while.
Not only that, but a portrait of a band who I cannot possibly imagine not being a group who won't at some point fulfil their lofty ambitions...
The James McMahon Music Podcast is a Spoook media production. Spoook is loads of things - visit the Substack to learn more!

Twitter - @jamesjammcmahon
Substack - https://spoook.substack.com
YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Vf_1E1Sza2GUyFNn2zFMA
Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/jamesmcmahonmusicpod/

Next Episode

Episode 62: Danny McNamara, Embrace

Yeah, it's been a while hasn't it. Have you signed up to the Spoook Substack yet though? You haven't? Oh, go do that now. Wonderful things are happening.
So here's the deal. I listened to Danny being interviewed by my friend Katy on her excellent podcast, Sound Effects. She’s interviewed me for it before, too. You should check that out, really. But her interview with Danny McNamara of British indie legends Embrace - a band I've always greatly enjoyed - is really quite extraordinary, and the singer talks in depth about his history with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
I, as you no doubt are aware, have OCD too, so I thought I’d get Danny on the blower for our own conversation – about broken brains and putting them back together again. And, of course, the group's excellent eighth studio album, How to Be a Person Like Other People.
Now that’s a poignant album title if ever I heard one...