James Grant interview – 'Our label spent millions on us. When we left we were £7 million in debt'

In the mid-80s, the London-based music industry was, says Love and Money’s James Grant, this week’s special guest, “awash with cash”. As bands such as Orange Juice, Simple Minds and Altered Images racked up Top 10 hits, much of it flowed north to Glasgow. One of the “jangletastic” acts perfectly placed to capitalise on the A&R stampede to the city were James’ first band Friends Again, fronted by Chris Thomson, now of The Bathers. This week’s episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of the most underrated songwriters in the UK today, and a man who - by his own admission - has never had a “proper job”. He also has the inside story to one of Scotland’s greatest indie-pop tales and in this episode we find out what really happened when he walked out of Friends Again to form Love and Money. “When you’re 20 you don’t really care about hurting people”, gives you a flavour of what you’re about to hear. In this episode James also opens up about: The “buzz” of being a teenager in a Glasgow band in the mid-80s as London’s A&R mob decamped to the city. The two sides of working with legendary A&R boss at Phonogram Dave Bates – “the enemy and the facilitator”. How the label's demand for hits affected Love and Money – and the the label's effect on Stuart Adamson of Big Country. Recording with acclaimed producer Gary Katz – and Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor. The growing struggles in Love and Money in the late 80s as the record label started to demand “hits”. The solo years and the joy of working with Donald Shaw and Karen Matheson from Capercaillie. The “excitement and nerves” that kicked in just before Friends Again’s reunion concert at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow earlier this year – and what comes next for the band. How touring and recording with Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake and ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler allows him to “take a break” from himself. And so much more …