The Colonel: The Steve Cropper Story

By 1983, many of Scotland’s post-punk bands had broken up or moved south to chase the major labels in London. That vacuum was filled by an influx of young musicians who were determined to remake the scene in their own image.

In this compelling and dynamic oral history, Grant McPhee chronicles the radical transformation of Scotland’s independent music scene from 1983-1995. Including archival photos and drawing from over 100 interviews with the key players of the time, Grant McPhee allows them to set the scene in their own words; including the Cocteau Twins, Shop Assistants, Teenage Fanclub, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream and many more.

Postcards from Scotland is the definitive story of the radicals, misfits and experimentalists who made independent music what it is today.

Steve Cropper is a guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the house guitarist at Stax Records and a member of both Booker T & The MGs and The Blues Brothers, among other bands. He still tours as part of The Original Blues Brothers, The Animals and Friends with Steve Cropper, and Peter Frampton’s Guitar Circus, and is active within the Stax Music Academy. Mike Read is a broadcaster and author, best known as having been a Radio 1 DJ for 13 years. He has written several music books, crime novels, and collections of poetry. He is the breakfast show host on Downforce Radio UK and an Ambassador of The Buddy Holly Foundation.