# Deacon Blue Scottish pop-rock band formed in Glasgow in 1985. One of the biggest UK acts of the late 80s/early 90s, built around Ricky Ross's soulful, socially-conscious songwriting and a big, radio-friendly rock-pop sound. Best known for "Dignity" and "Real Gone Kid," though their album sales (around 7 million) and run of hits go well beyond those two songs. ## Formation Formed in the summer of 1985 when Ricky Ross (born Richard Alexander Ross, 22 December 1957, Dundee) moved to Glasgow. The name comes from the 1977 Steely Dan song "Deacon Blues." Played their first gig at the Fixx pub on Miller Street on 5 December 1985. Original lineup: Ross (vocals), Lorraine McIntosh (vocals), Dougie Vipond (drums), James Prime (keyboards), Graeme Kelling (guitar). Ross and McIntosh married in 1990 and remain the band's core alongside Vipond. ## Breakthrough Debut album *Raintown* (1987) — its title a direct reference to Glasgow — produced their best-known song, "Dignity," which has become something of a Scottish anthem in its own right (including adoption by Dundee United football fans). Follow-up *When the World Knows Your Name* (1989) was their commercial peak, reaching UK No. 1 and spawning "Real Gone Kid," their first top-10 hit (UK No. 8) — Ross wrote it after seeing a performance by Lone Justice's Maria McKee while the two bands were touring together. ## Later career Continued releasing albums through the 90s (*Fellow Hoodlums*, 1991; *Whatever You Say, Say Nothing*, 1993) before splitting in 1994, then reformed in 1999 and have continued on and off since, with steady studio output into the 2020s. As of recent counts, the band has notched twelve UK Top 40 singles and two UK No. 1 albums across a career now spanning roughly 40 years. ## Discography (selected studio albums) - *Raintown* (1987) - *When the World Knows Your Name* (1989) - *Fellow Hoodlums* (1991) - *Whatever You Say, Say Nothing* (1993) - *Walking Back Home* (2001) - *The Hipsters* (2012) - *A New House* (2020) ## Notes to self - "Dignity" and "Real Gone Kid" are the two I actually know — *Raintown* as a full album is worth a proper listen given how tied it is to Glasgow specifically. - Natural cross-reference to [[Misc./Music/The Blue Nile|The Blue Nile]] — another Glasgow band of the same 80s vintage, though stylistically almost opposite (Deacon Blue big and anthemic, Blue Nile hushed and minimal).