When I asked a friend who was supporting Idlewild he told me it was ‘the band who did a song about that dead bloke’.

I was left baffled as to their identity. After completing some research, I discovered it was Glasgow’s fresh-faced Sons and Daughters. The song about the dead bloke turned out to be their debut single called ‘Johnny Cash’. I decided to go for a chat when the tour came to Brighton…

Stephen Thompson – So, do you like our seafront?

Scott Paterson (guitars and vocals) – Yeah, I love it, it’s just a great, fun, sunny town.

ST – Are you at all nervous playing with a band like Idlewild?

SP – No not really, we toured so much last year, we really got used to it. We played with Franz for two tours, Clinic and the Delgadoes, so it’s just nice.

ST – What would you put the recent success of Scottish bands down to?

SP – Scottish music has always been great. The reason you hear about more Scottish bands forming at the moment is due to peaks and waves in the music press. Its up to them who they feature. They decide on a whim if they are going to start talking about Glasgow or Liverpool or wherever. It’s all down to the whims of the London music industry.

ST – Have you got any favourite Scottish bands?

David Gow (Drums) – Teenage Fanclub , The Vaselines.

SP - Jesus and Mary Chain. There are loads of cracking new Scottish bands who have not got record deals yet, but they are absolutely cracking - better than stuff you hear about in music papers. For example, a band called Uncle John and Whitlock, they are awesome.

ST – Any plans for the festivals in the summer?

DG – Hopefully. We are playing the Prima Vera festival in Barcelona.

SP – We have more European festivals booked at the moment than UK ones but that will change. I would love to do Glastonbury.

ST – The first song I heard of yours was ‘Johnny Cash’. Are you a fan?

DG – Definitely. Not more so than other singers though.

ST – Where did you get your band name?

SP – That was Adele’s idea. She had a dream about Bob Dylan playing in her back garden. The band name comes from his lyrics to ‘The times they are a-changing’. She woke up, and that was it.

ST – Have you ever got drunk before playing a set?

SP – Not in this band. I don’t really drink that much. Maybe one beer. It is really hard to play if you are drunk. Some people do a great gig pissed. It certainly suits some people.

DG – Jazz players get stoned out of their box before going on. I don’t think I could do it.

SP – Some bands toy with heroin before gigs. If it works for them that’s fine, but its really not for us.

ST – Have the days of rock and roll and drugs gone?

SP – I hope so. It’s the oldest cliché in the book. You still get bands who are into drugs and chicks and all that s**t. Mainly Nu Metal bands really.

DG – Some bands think they have to drink, take loads of drugs and sleep around. It isn’t even funny to read about any more. It isn’t seen as cool like it used to be.

SP – 99% of bands nowadays are totally professional. They can still have a drink, but there are limits.

DG – If you had a desk job you wouldn’t go steaming drunk into your office.

ST – Do you go out after doing a gig?

SP – It depends. It would be stupid to go out and get completely c**ted on the first night of a tour; you have to pace yourself. I will have a few beers and go chat to Idlewild after tonight.

ST – What do you ask for in your rider?

SP – Wine and beer, food, nothing wild. It makes the difference clear between the good promoters and the bad promoters. We sometimes ask for a copy of the promoter’s favourite movie on DVD.

ST – What kind of films do you like??

SP – Blue Velvet, Wizard of Oz, most David Lynch stuff. Its really f**ked up I know.

ST – What do you listen to before going on stage?

SP – The Nick Cave B-sides box set.

ST – Favourite album?

DG – ‘Lust for Life’ by Iggy Pop or the Ramones’ first album.

They went on to play a brilliant set, and I am sure won scores of new fans. Before this gig many may have only known them as ‘the band who did a song about that dead bloke’, but after tonight’s enthusiastic performance, I believe that Sons and Daughters will stay in people’s memories for a long time to come.

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