Wilson’s first book a tribute to Dundee’s pop and rock history

THE most recent former editor of the world’s oldest magazine still being published – The Scots Magazine – is officially launching her first book this evening.

Lorraine Wilson will be appearing at the Dundee branch of Waterstone’s, from 6.30pm, to launch her history of pop and rock music in the city.

‘Take it to the Bridge’ features, among others, The Associates, the Average White Band, Deacon Blue, Danny Wilson, Michael Marra, The View, The Hazey Hanes, Swiss Family Orbison and Snow Patrol.

Published by Edinburgh firm Black and White, the book – says Wilson – is the distillation of almost 200 hours of interviews from around 70 musicians, record shop owners, promoters and music writers.

The Scots Magazine is published by Dundee-headquartered DC Thomson. It was founded in 1739.

She told allmediascotland.com: “The book has been simultaneously the most enjoyable thing and the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. It was one of the reasons I decided to leave The Scots Magazine on Hogmanay last year, even though I felt we were beginning to see the results of the changes made over the year I was in the post. I just felt that if I left the book a few more years, some of the older guys’ memories might not be so clear.

“My most satisfying experience of the book so far was sitting across the table from a guy reading it on a train from Dundee to Glasgow – he didn’t put it down once and got some really good laughs along the way. That was job done as far as I’m concerned. As ever, many of the best stories were unprintable, unless we wanted to spend several years in court …”