Born in Falkirk in 1950 he was a founder and central member of the Battlefield Band right up until he left in 1989. He did a few albums while still touring with the Batties. 'Monksgate' and 'Sidetracks' are unfortunately no longer available.
As if being one of the top fiddlers, an all-round super-star multi-instrumentalist, tunesmith, songwriter and musical director were not enough he is also a published author!
Back in 1991, after parting with the Battlefield Band and embarking on a solo career, BRIAN McNEILL recorded his first album - "BACK O' THE NORTH WIND" (CDTRAX 047). The theme of that album was "tales of Scots in America" and in the sleeve note Eric Bogle described Brian as -
"A fiddler and guitarist of the master-class category and a songwriter of cracking authenticity".
The critics loved the album - Alastair dark of The Scotsman said,
"It surely puts Brian McNeill at the top of the league"
and Folk Roots Magazine described it as a "Cracker".
Now Brian has recorded a new solo album - "NO GODS" - which he says is about "Heroes, with a few villains thrown in for good measure". The title of the album and the opening song ("No Gods And Precious Few Heroes") comes from Hamish Henderson's 'Elegy For The Dead in Cyrenaica', one of Scotland's finest post-war collections of poetry and we thank Hamish for allowing us to use the line.
Again Brian has enlisted the help of Scotland's most talented musicians (both from the traditional and jazz scenes) - Tony McManus (guitars and bouzouki), Dougie Pincock (pipes and whistle), Gary Coupland (accordion and keyboards), Mike Travis (drums and percussion), Brian Shiels (double bass and bass guitar), lan Johnstone (horn and tuba), Steve Ketley (tenor and baritone saxes), Simon Van Der Walt (trumpet and trombone), Patsy Seddon (electric harp and vocals) and Davy Steele (backing vocals). In addition to taking lead vocal, Brian plays fiddle, concertina, guitar, bass guitar, mandocello, bouzouki and keyboards.
If you like a 'big sound' try "No Gods and Precious Few Heroes" or "Bring Back The Wolf" but if want something with a simpler arrangement you need look no further than "Trains And My Grandfather", one of my personal favourites on the album, and of course there are several very exciting instrumentals to choose from. This is an inspired collection of songs and tunes. The enthusiasm for this project, of both Brian and Peter Haigh, Pier House Studios, (whose efforts were 'above and beyond the call') left ordinary mortals breathless! |
