Hue and Cry talk 1980s music scene in Glasgow and Scotland

After launching into the spotlight with their hit tune Labour of Love in 1987, Hue and Cry - aka brother duo Greg and Pat Kane - joined the impressive roster of Scots making their mark in the magical era of shoulder pads and Miami Vice suits.  

From Scottish bands like Simple Minds and Deacon Blue, the Kane brothers became part of a brotherhood that they claim still exists today. 

“Looking back on it, there was a lot of support from other Scottish bands, there was such love,” Greg told the Glasgow Times. 

He continued: “We did a show with Simple Minds and Big Country last summer or the one before and there was a lot of love. 

“We play the 80s rewind festivals too and there is still just a lot of camaraderie. 

“I remember seeing Jim Kerr (Simple Minds frontman) at one of the festivals we were doing, and Pat and I were playing The Man with the Child in His Eyes by Kate Bush and when we came off stage Jim said, ‘thank f*** I made it for that song’.

“There just was and still is so much joy.”

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Throughout the last 40 years, the band have graduated from performing on stages at the likes of Fury Murrays and Henry Africa’s to playing at the Summer Nights Bandstand and The Barrowland Ballroom. 

So, what has been the secret keeping the band glued together for the last four decades? 

We can say it has nothing to do with whiskey and everything to do with telepathy.

Greg explained: “I think that there is a lot of unsaid and telepathy amongst brothers. 

“I always know when Pat is bored of something I am playing on the piano. There’s something about his body that changes, and I can feel it in the room, I don’t even need to look at him, I just know. 

“So, I think there are a lot of things that creative partners don’t have that we do.” 

Pat added: “I’m a huge admirer of Gregory as a musician and as a person, so that helps. 

“Also, at an elemental level – He is my brother, so there just is a thing of I have his back and he has mine and that’s incredibly important.

“I was worried at this point that it was going to be me with a bottle of whisky and tears coming down my face imaging all the things I once was.”

“There’s still time for that, Pat,” Greg joked.

In commemoration of the last 40 years, the brothers will be playing two shows at the Pavilion Theatre as part of their 40th Anniversary Tour across the UK. 

The shows will take place on Friday, October 25 and 26, 2024.  

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Greg said: “I’m looking forward to the tour. I’m slightly anxious. 

“We are doing like three days on, and four off and we just don’t do that. Though, we still do about 50 shows a year.

“Of course, we are looking forward to coming back to Glasgow too.

“I don’t know how we will cram 40 years of music into a two-hour show, though.

“I think that’s why Bruce Springsteen plays for about four hours.”

Pat joked, “I ain't playing for four hours that’s for sure.” 

So, what can attendees expect from the shows? 

Pat said: “We’re not one of these bands that don’t play their hits properly. 

“People will not be shortchanged nostalgically, and they will hear a lot of the great covers that we have done over the years too.  

“We will also be playing some special audience songs as well as some of the new songs from the upcoming album. People seem to be loving them so far.

"The album and it is pretty much done, just a bit of tweaking. It is an EDM record, we’re pretty excited. To get that rush of excitement at this late stage in the game is pretty good, that’s rocket fuel.” 

Tickets for the tour can be purchased HERE