EDWYN
The first the world heard of Edwyn Collins was in February 1980 with the release of ‘Falling And Laughing’, the debut single by his band, Orange Juice.
It would be another two decades before Edwyn and his band’s endeavours would be belatedly recognised as a key foundation stone for indie music, particularly in Scotland where Primal Scream, Belle And Sebastian and Franz Ferdinand would all follow, and acknowledge, Orange Juice’s trailblazing example.
In the interim, Edwyn took Orange Juice into the Top 10 with 1983’s Rip It Up, perhaps the epitome of their Velvets/Chic punk-funk hybrid, complete with Buzzcocks-homage guitar solo.
Edwyn immediately embarked on a solo career, though it would be ten years before he found himself back on Top Of The Pops with 1995’s iconic ‘A Girl Like You’.
On Sunday, February 20, 2005, Edwyn was admitted to hospital after collapsing at home. He was later diagnosed with having suffered two cerebral hemorrhages and underwent a precarious neurological operation. Six months after his stroke, he was back at home. But more phenomenal still was his determination to overcome the physical after-effects hindering his movement and speech so he could return to the studio and finish the album he’d already begun.
Since the release of Home Again, Edwyn has continued to renew himself, one step at a time. In November 2007, he took to the stage again, having painstakingly relearned the lyrics to his songs.
Home Again was followed by 2010's Losing Sleep and 2013's UNDERSTATED. In May 2009, Edwyn was honoured by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, when he was awarded the Ivor Novello Inspiration Award.
2014 will see the release of ‘The Possibilities Are Endless’, a film conceived and directed by Edward Lovelace and James Hall. Premiering at SXSW Film in March 2014, the film will feature an original score by Edwyn, also to be released as a soundtrack later in the year.
Official website: www.edwyncollins.com
