Glasvegas

April 2010

ZANI – Bye Caroline McKay

You know few bands have touched my very soul in the way Glasvegas do.  So it was with great sadness that I learnt earlier in the week that drummer Caroline McKay was leaving the band.  Despite the fact that she had never played drums before, Caroline was every bit an integral part of the band.  Providing the distinctive rhythmic backbone to the Glasvegas sound, a reluctant star, I know she suffered terribly from stage fright.  The bands meteoric rise must of been a particularly daunting roller coaster for the shy shop girl from Glasgow.
 
Having met Caroline on a few occasions not only is she a great drummer but an all round fantastic friendly human being.  One wonders what sort of support mechanism is in place by major labels such as Sony/Columbia when bands are suddenly thrust into the limelight.  We can all speculate on the reasons for the departure one thing is for sure the band will be gutted to lose her.  The camaraderie and friendship within Glasvegas and the management team is part of what makes them special.  Sure James takes the spotlight the man is a modern day lyrical genius, the bond between them all though shines through in a live setting. I spent a fantastic evening with them in Cambridge at the now defunct Barfly on the eve of the record deal and was amazed when a few months later Caroline knew both myself and my wife by name at a festival. Writing is well on the way for the second album in Los Angeles although recording has yet to start It remains to be seen how the band will replace her.  This quote from James seemed to sum up the somber mood;  "We are really sad Caroline has decided to leave as she is one of the coolest drummers around, but we respect her decision and say goodbye with all our love and luck."
 
There is one thing that can never be taken away from Caroline the fact that she played her part in the recording of the greatest album of the 21st Century and I would like to thank you for that and wish you all the best for the future, Mon The Vegas

© Words – Mark Thorpe/ ZANI Ltd
 
The video is one I shot that night in Cambridge from the side of the stage

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