It is with a heavy heart that I make this post, that Alan has sadly passed away. He was a well loved man and my deepest condolence's are with his family and friends, which I was honoured to count myself among. He has left us with his musical legacy and many fond memories of our time spent with him over the years. Strength & Honour xx Mark James Alan Gourley was an electro-acoustic guitarist / singer / songwriter / poet based in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Guitarist and songwriter for many years with popular Glasgow based hard rock band Liars Edge Alan (one of those awkward people who prefers to be called by their middle name!) has spent the last year or two re-familiarising himself with the acoustic guitar and experimenting with a wide variety of alternative tunings having, for the time being at least, hung up his electric to concentrate on a solo acoustic career. Having just recently recorded his first solo album "Ten Miles Out Of Midnight" Alan is currently in negotiation with several local labels, publishers and distributors with regard to release of his album and has already attracted significant interest from other artists, listeners, podcasters and music-industry personnel on Facebook, Myspace and other websites. As of May 2018 Alan launched his own web site jamesalangourley.com. This site includes Ten Miles Out Of Midnight for full or individual track download, a bootleg live support gig at Glasgow Cathouse of his rock band Liars Edge and a small selection of poems from various time periods. Future additions will include previews of new material, live interviews and performances, crowdsourcing projects, more poetry, a Q and A section, regular blogs, collaboration opportunities, more images and lots more. Having developed a highly original style of guitar fingerpicking - an eclectic mix of rock, folk, classical and celtic influences - "Ten Miles Out Of Midnight" is a stripped down, no frills recording featuring only electroacoustic guitar and vocals. Containing seven songs and four instrumentals the album is a very personal one - confessional even - reflecting many of Alan's opinions on life and its trials and tribulations. From the intense and haunting opening instrumental "The Things In The Attic" to the hearfelt and emotion laden cynicism of the albums' closing track "A Place In The Sun" Alan takes the listener on a musical and lyrical journey through many emotions including sadness, hope, despair, love and anger. His instrumentals speak to the listener of both beauty and pain in a dreamy and ethereal way with no need for words. Alan is currently playing a series of gigs in and around Glasgow with plans to tour further afield in the new year and then record his second album. Although currently playing solo he is looking at recruiting a cellist, pianist and possibly a double bass player for some larger shows. Alan is also hoping to publish a book of poetry/lyrics at some point in 2019 and will post some of this material on subsequent blogs on this site. When he's not writing songs, lyrics or poetry Alan enjoys sleeping, beer, online gaming and travel. Did I mention he is left handed? That explains a lot....... Influences? The wind in the long green grass, the stars on a clear night, The sound and smell of the sea... Love, life, sex and death, relationships, cosmology, wonder, fear, beauty, pain, joy, depression... Nick Drake, The Ramones, Bob Dylan, Black Sabbath, The Wildhearts, Neil Young, Sarah McClachlan, System Of A Down, Segovia, Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell, AC/DC, Neil Young, Willy Nelson, Enya, Joan Baez, Leonard Cohen and lots, lots more.... Ghandi, Leonardo Da Vinci, Carl Sagan, Winston Smith, Winston Churchill, William Wallace, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Plato, Richard Dawkins, Benjamin Franklin, Stephen Hawking, Nelson Mandela, Che Guevara, Buckminster-Fuller, Charles Bukowski to name but a few heroes... Favorite places? Taormina - Sicily, Florence, Naples, Athens, Glasgow Equipment used: Yamaha acoustic guitars customised to electro-acoustic, Behringer guitar effects, Martin guitar strings. Laney and Marshall amplification. Anything else...? Looking for film and television commissions and in 2019 will be accepting songwriting commisions from other artists. Alan is also currently seeking major investors with regard to licensing, selling / publishing rights to his music. Serious enquiries only please. Sponsorship enquiries and private donations also welcomed.
Music is the main thing in my life.
To give other people pleasure. To give other people inspiration. To make people think.
Listen to the music it's all in there.
The Carnival Is Over by The Seekers.
The Ramones. Black Sabbath. Mike Oldfield. Nick Drake. The Wildhearts. Bob Dylan. Neil Young.
Depression. Nature. Human Relationships. Psychology. Injustice. Love. Hate. Fear. Anger.
The writings of the wise is the only thing this species cannot squander.
Nervous. Satisfaction. Euphoria.
Every musician has their own reality, impossible to generalise.
Very good platform for musicians.
The fact that some people with no real talent can end up selling millions while some talented people never get the exposure they deserve.
Yes, by attending gigs, buying albums and merch.
Talent. Integrity. Honesty. Ability. Patience.
The Wildhearts. Therapy?. Mike Oldfield.