Brian McGee

* born: 8th of March 1959 in Glasgow / Scotland

 

Biography: 

P-Fan: What is your birthday ? :

BMG: 8th of March 1959 

 

P-Fan: Where were you born ?

BMG: Glasgow Scotland

P-Fan: Whats your job after you leave school ? :

BMG: I had always worked in family businesses from the age of about ten and when I left school I was
working with my father in one of his pubs.

 

P-Fan: Have you had musical education ?  

BMG: When I was at school aged about eight I was taught how to play the cello and I learned how to read music,
apart from that I never had any other musical education, everything else is self-taught. 

 

P-Fan: Which instruments do you play?:

BMG: I play drums and percussion and a bit of keyboards but not too much to boast about. 

P-Fan: Whats your hobbies ?

BMG: I love computers,sports I still play football, keep fit .I actually don’t have much spare time for hobbies.

 

P-Fan:  Whats your favourite food ?

BMG:  I love Italian first then Chinese and probably Japanese third.

 

P-Fan:  Which record is your first you`ve bought ?

BMG:  I think it was „Call me number one“ by the Tremeloes

 

P-Fan: Your last ??

BMG: Peter Gabriels  UP album 

 

P-Fan: Whats your favourite film ?

BMG: The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass 


P-Fan: Whats your favourite actor ?

BMG: Daniel Day Lewis  



P-Fan: How old are your children ?

BMG: My son Daryl was born in 1983 and is 20 this year, my daughter Charlene is 17 born in 1986
and my baby“ Lisa is 12 born in 1991.



P-Fan: Any notes from you for your biography, please write it down below: 

BMG: I have never written one myself but here is some info: 
I was an original member of Simple Minds from 1977 to 1981 starting straight from school.
I recorded five albums with them during this period.
I then joned a Glasgow group called Endgames from 1982 to 1984 recording two albums.
I joined Propaganda in 1985 originally as a session musician along with Derek Forbes and
eventually joined the group shortly afterwards.
I was with Propaganda for five years and recorded one album 1234.
I left Propaganda and went into studio production and now have my own production company
recording and writing dance music and RnB.I also have two recording studios based in Glasgow
I live in Glasgow with my wife Shirley and children  Daryl , Charlene and Lisa
I have been married for 22 years. 
 

 

Brian 2000

 

Interview:

P-Fan: What`s the names of the bands you worked before Propaganda ? :

BMG: Simple Minds and Endgames



P-Fan: How have you entered Propaganda in 1985 and how was this contract made (to support p: on their tour) ?
 

BMGDerek Forbes had just left Simple Minds and a guy called Keith Bourton, who we both knew
from working at Virgin Records with Simple Minds was the manager of Propaganda.
Keith called Derek immediately he heard he had left the Minds and asked him if he would like
to join  Propaganda, Derek said yes.They were also looking for a drummer and Derek
suggested that I would be ideal for the job,he called me up and asked me if I too would
like to join Propaganda, I jumped at the chance as I had heard the first album and was a
big fan already and felt it would an honour to be in such a fantastic group and the rest is history as they say.

 

P-Fan: Did you knew on how many concerts you played with Propaganda ?

BMG: Haven’t got a clue.



P-Fan: Have you a list of the concerts and dates you played with Propaganda ?  ( i have only the UK and German dates)

BMG: I have some tour itineries in boxes somewhere at home but not a lot.


P-Fan: How have you experienced the battle on court from Propaganda ?

BMG: I was already in the band before it began and was still in the band when we signed for
Virgin records  very frustrating period for everyone concerned.


P-Fan: What was your expectation of the sound of the band for the album 1234??

BMGI personally wanted  that album to have a lot more of the Propaganda of the first album in it
and I don’t think that was acheived, apart from that I think it an excellent record and was very pro
ud
 to be part of it, even though it took so long to record.It was a great period in time for me.
 

P-Fan: I think „1234“ is underrated, because everyone waits for a second „a secret wish“ album
and  nobody wants to see and feel the love and the soul in this album. What do you think
about „1234“ and what was your expectations on this album ??

BMGI think it was very underated at the time as well but I think it was probably too far away
from the original sound of the band and took a bit longer to understand and enjoy.



P-Fan: What are you favourite song(s) of 1234 ?  ( Mine is „Wound in my heart“ )

BMG: mine is „how much love“


P-Fan:  In 1990 i was very disappointed, because the tour was cancelled, what was the reason for this ??

BMG: Mainly it was because of the amount of money that had to be spent to actually do the tour


P-Fan:  When and why did you leave the band and what was the reason for the split ?

BMG: I left along with Derek Forbes in 1990 whilst working and living in Dusseldorf.
We were preparing for some live dates and we both realised that our time with the band
had ended.The band had taken so long to record the 1234 album and as well as that it cost
an absolute fortune and the record company were starting to lose faith in  the band.
We called Michael and said we were going to call it a day and we both returned to Glasgow.
We are still good friends to this day and am always keen to hear any news on the band.


P-Fan:  Have you been involved in some musical productions after you leave Propaganda ?

BMG: Yes I have a production company based in Glasgow and two recording studios,unfortunately
 I don’t have much time for playing the drums.


P-Fan:  What did you do now in the music biz???

BMG: I am involved in Music production now.


P-Fan:  Have you heard the new song „No return“ and the „Duel Y2kmix“from Propaganda, did you like them ???

BMG: No I have not heard them.

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND GOOD LUCK FOR ALL THE FURTHER THINGS YOU DO IN YOUR LIFE



 
All contents of this Interview Copyright © 2003 Karl Hirschberger, All Rights Reserved.
In particular it is not allowed - also in parts - to reprint, publish in the Internet and copying to Data Storages like
Audio CD, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM etc. only with previous written agreement of the author.
© 2003, Karl Hirschberg
er