THE LIST
had a job interpreting their lascination to his stall who reckon that contemporary art is is not torthem. ‘Whatl can't understand is how people can leel so strongly against modern art. They just don't like it'. Onlythe white Fluted Wave by Sibylle von llalem which rocks on the marble concourse in lront ot Plattorm 14 has been given the general OK. The others are Granite and Steel by Lyndsay Nowieson which as Mr Barclay pointed out takes your eye up tothe detailed Corinthian column heads above the station. Orkney Time by Frances Pelly neatly matching old values with new as it stands next to the Cashline Machine in the main hall. a plant-like beast by Fiona Dean which when Mr Barclay took me round was covered up by workmen who seemed to think that it had more use as a lean-to than as sculpture, the cosy nests ol Valerie Pragnell and linally Tableland by Alison Keith. the one I glimpsed that lirst day. Like a table landscape it is indeed. a strangerto those parts.
Has art survived this hostile territory? Mr Barclay sweeps aside adverse opinion and is convinced oi the sculpture's enhancing quality to such a special station. ‘Edinburgh Waverley is Scotland’s highest revenue earner and has a history at its own. It's a good setting tor sculpture.‘
Despite the question mark chalked on one and a lew lootprints on others the sculptures did indeed seem to be a locus ol interest. Some were being used as alternative seating while others raised eyebrows and
comment (one man loudly asked what that rusting iron was doing on Platlorm 1). MrBarclay likes his exhibition and wants more. The invitation to use Waverley plattorms orthe ticket hall as exhibition space is open. Artists and organiserstake note.
Art on the station seemsa very good idea all round. Not least that it takes the artists out at ‘sate‘ houses like galleries and intothe hub ol the city. In a station. which belongsto all its users (unlike the more intimidating public sites like oltice blocks or banks). sculpture can be truly tested. And at course there is always something to keep your mind all the lateness ol trains. ‘I didn‘t agreeto speakabout that' said George partjovial. part serious. But the subject tempted him out olhis silence. Art is awelcome addition to his station. but judging by the relish with which he discussed his Sprinterservice to Glasgow (the E and G route may run every 15 minutes next year!). it was obvious where his deepest atlections and enthusiasms lay. (Alice Bain)
THE PROCLAIMERS
This tortnight sees the return at The Proclaimersto central Scotland stages when they play two sold-out dates at Edinburgh‘s Playhouse Theatre on Thursday 15 and Glasgow's Barrowland the tollowing night. Recent months have seen them touring Scandinavia. as well as the Highlands and Islands at this country. It‘s been time well spent tightening up the country-and-western- slanted band which has rendered the two-man tormat at Craig and Charlie Reid alone a thing otthe past.
Their most gratitying reception came in Spain. when they travelled to Madrid tor a TV show. “I've a good teeling about Spain.‘
GUEST LIST _
says Charlie. sitting in a cate nextto their management‘s oitice. ‘We sold about 10.000 albums in Sweden. but I think Spain will be really good torus. The Housemartins did really well overthere. interestingly enough. I like everywhere we've been. 'cause it‘s all new. America will be the best. though. I'm sure otthat.’
The Proclaimers set all lorthe land at their dreams inthe middle at February. to spend live orsix weeks there. Even belore his lirst visitto the USA. Charlie is planning to go backthere loranothertortnightonce the tour is over.
‘l’m looking lorward to it. It‘s a litetime's ambition. We've got our provisional tour schedules. and instead at Bristol. or Stoke-on~Trent. or Wolverhampton it's St Louis. Detroit. three dates in New York. . .What always kills me is groups who have two Number Ones in Britain and thinkthey‘ve made it. Then they goto America and no one knows who they are. but we expect that. We expectthatto be the case lora numberol years. In some ways it‘s betterdoing thatthan having three records at the top ol the charts. How do you see America like that? We'll be able to seethe country. ratherthan going there as superstars and having armed guards around us.‘ (Mab)
The Proclaimers are in Edinburgh on 15 Dec & Glasgow on 16 Dec. See Rock Listings.
RICHARD BRANSON
Do you know him? OI course
you do. Richard Branson.
rocktycoon and the man with his linger in more pies than he has lingers. was in Glasgow lastweekto announcethe opening ola brand new Virgin Megastore. Located in what used to be the Lewis's Building. the new store will be Scotland‘s largest record
retailing space: twelve thousand square leet (twice the size at the existing Glasgow branch) stocking over 30.000 titles in each at the three lormats. with an emphasis very deliniter on compactdisc and major chart releases.
The lasttime Richard set tool on Scottish soil. he had just ejected himselltroma hot-airballon atseveral hundred teet. Thistime round. he yomped a phalanx ol journalistand cameramenthroughthe early morning drizzle and onto the haltcompleted Megastore. his legendary get-up-and-go still very much in evidence.
Ignoringthe sundry insultsthrowntowardsthe greatman by various workmen. I asked Richard why he had chosen Glasgow lora second Megastore: ‘Well. our ligures showthat Glasgow buysthreetimes as many records as any othercity in Britain. so obviously the market is very healthy up here. Ontopol that. about25% otthe Virgin Records' roster comeslrom this part otthe world—Simple Minds. Blue Nile and so on —which meansthatwe have avery strong commitmenttothe city.‘
The market maybe healthy. Richard. butyou‘re notexactly strappedtor cash. Hasn'tthe idea at making vast sums otmoney rather lost its appeal lor you? ‘lt didn't havethal greatan appeal anyway.l don‘tthink. I've always been more interested in the challenge otdoing something well. Like with the airline company. We wantedto providethe cheapest Transatlantictare available. and we did. The prolit margin is incidental. I leel.‘
The prolit margins on 30.000 Dire Straits CDs are perhaps less incidental. Talking ol which. what exactly does a rock tycoon listen to when he gets home atnight? Gong? Iron Butterlly. perchance? ‘No.' laughs Richard 'I listen to my children mainly. ldon't really Iistento musicthese days. I gave up a couple ot years ago. lsupposel listened to whoeverwas on the label- PeterGabriell
liked — Genesis. that sort ol stult. But not so much now.‘ Rah! Given up progressive rockandthethrillsol tree-tall ballooning— obviously going a bit soil in yourold age. Rick? ‘Notat all. It‘s just a ditterentsort olchallenge now. I‘d liketo opena megastore inltaly and'perhaps one in Spain. Those are lairlyrisky ventures inthemselves—it takes a lot at courageto bring them all. . .‘(Allan Brown)
vrcron AND BARRY (WELL, vrcron MOSTLYI)
VICTOR AND BARRY (WELL. VICTOR MOSTLY) ‘We were sent a one way ticket by a tan.‘ says Victor. accounting tor Victor and Barry's prospective tour to Australia. “She said something about wanting us a long wayoit. . .' Victorand Barry. however. leading lights at the Kelvinside Young People‘s Dramatic Society. see it as just one small step in their ever-burgeoning World Fame. Sadly. the tour to Australia will prevent Glasgow's answerto Noel Coward lrom continuing their soaring pantomime success in this country: attera guest spotin “Sleeping Beauty‘ atthe Tron Theatre two years ago. V & B. went on to star inthe main roles at ‘Babes inthe Wood’ last year (though this did necessitate an undignitied descent into wearing jim-jams)- butthis lestive season they will only be able to consolidatetheir tradition and placate their tans with a briel guest appearance. on 'live‘ satellite lrom Down Under. This will naturally be distressinglorVictorand Barry laithluls. but the stars are considerately also leavingtheir likeness behind them in the shape ol theirtirst album. a snappy little disc cut recently and modestly titled ‘SEE VICTOR AND BARRY AND FAINT'. ‘It's just a lew songs and some chat.‘ explains Victor (who spends daytime hours in the more mundane persona otactor Forbes Masson. lest he be mobbed when shopping). lie reassures anxious parents that there will be none olthatlunny-sounding controversial 'Acid House' music on the album. though admits ‘There are some Ant-acid tracks—what's known as Bisodol music.‘ The album. recorded in the dazzling twosome's des res in Kelvinside. will be unveiled to the world next week at a press launch at tea and scones inthe Willow Tea Rooms. Barry (who. in the more mundane persona olAlan Cumming is currently wowing theatre-goers in London in ‘Conquest olthe South Pole’) is llying up specially. How are Barry'srelined sensibilities coping with the rough and tumble ot the big city? ‘People are a bit ruder.’ contesses Victor. “And I think he‘s a bit upset that Scotland is aboutto undergo a revolution and he's nothere. You see.
when Jim Sillars and Margo MacDonald become King and Queen. Victor and Barry intend to becomethe princes. orat least baronets. ol Kelvinside.‘
Naturally. Forthe present. however. Victor and Barry are modestly content to restrict themselvesto taking over Oz-land—though theirtour has been interpreted by some as a dry run torwhen they assume theirregal duties. The tour lastslor three months. lrom January to April (they will otcourse be a yeartoo late lorthe Bicentennial Celebrations. butthen. it is doubtlul that the Fosters-sustained Australian constitution could handle both events in one year). and it takes in all the majorcities. including a gig in Sidney Opera House— the ideal Victor and Barry venue. one would have thought. ‘Well it's actuallya toilet in the opera house.‘ contesses Victor. ‘We‘ve been told we've to clean up aherus!
Still. the legend lives on
overhere. Meanwhile
Barry‘s alter ego. Forbes Masson. is also making briel live appearances in the Tron‘s Christmas Show. inthe guise otthe rather unwholesome Rodney. the Sex Machine. Rodney. who made his debut appearance at Maylest dressed in tetching skin-tight red tlares. structures his world view on ‘The Sun' newspaper and dubious magazines. and thistime will be delivering his doubtless unsavoury pronouncements on Christmas. politics and sex. Rodney will no doubthave his day - but tor the moment he has tailed to win overthe V & B die-hards. ‘My mother doesn't like him.‘ says Forbes. ‘She's more ota Victorand Barry person. really.‘(SarahHemming) '
Victor and Barry make a briel appearance in Christmas Present. The Tron's Christmas Show at review and sketches. See Panto A—Z. ‘llearVictorand Barry And Faint' is release by Jammy Records.
The List 9 -- 32 December 1988 3