ROCK star Davey Pattison has played to an audience bigger than the entire population of Paisley.
In 1982, he wowed a crowd of more than 80,000 fans during a gig at the Oakland Coliseum, in California, as lead singer with legendary guitarist Ronnie Montrose's band Gamma.
Now Pattison is back in his adopted hometown of Paisley for a gig at The Bungalow in Shuttle Street on Friday, May 19.
He also has shows lined up at The Cathouse in Glasgow on May 27; Dreadnought Rock Nightclub in Bathgate on June 9; Belladrum music festival, Inverness on July 27 and Ivory Blacks in Glasgow, on October 27.
Pattison said: "Although I was born in Glasgow's Tradeston district, Paisley sort of became my adopted hometown, as I married and settled there with a Paisley girl.
"We had a room and kitchen flat in Blythswood Drive overlooking the Fountain Gardens.
"It's great to be back to where I call home and although I’d been living in America for 40 years, I never thought of myself as American. I’m a Scottish guy and an honorary Paisley Buddie to boot!"
One particular memory of a get-together that Pattison had in his tiny room and kitchen home stands out.
He recalled: "We had a party in our flat at Blythswood Drive and a lot of music people were there including Gerry Rafferty and Maggie Bell, from Stone the Crows.
"The drink was flowing and the music was playing, but Gerry spent most of the time in the kitchen talking to my daughter Nicola, who slept in a bed next to the oven.
"Nicola was only about six at the time, but Gerry seemed to enjoy himself more by talking to my daughter all night."
Pattison first sang in public when he was about five-years-old. He was in the school choir and they were to sing in a Methodist Church, in Paisley Road West, in Glasgow.
He realised rock n' roll would be his life when, at the age of 14, he went to a Little Richard concert at the Odeon, in Glasgow.
"I was mesmerised," admits Pattison. "I didn't know exactly what it was he was doing up on that stage, but I knew right away that’s what I wanted to do as well."
Pattison fondly recalled his time with Paisley-based band Findo Gask and how the band helped launch his amazing career as a rock singer.
He said: "Singing with Findo Gask was the first time I got noticed and realised I could do something in the music business.
"When we were at our peak with Findo Gask we could have been playing seven nights a week along with gigs on a Saturday morning and a Sunday afternoon.
"We also had a record deal with EMI and were being produced by Gerry Rafferty’s producer, Hugh Murphy, who was the man behind the mixing desk for the iconic City to City album and the Baker Street single."
He added: "I can't wait to get on stage at The Bungalow. I’ve got a great backing band and anyone coming along will be blown away with blues, soul and of course, some good old rock n' roll!"
To get tickets, visit eventbrite.co.uk/e/davey-pattison-blues-band-tickets-492520511107
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