This should have been featured last Saturday, but I mistakenly had filed the post away as a draft rather than a completed effort.
The Amphetameanies are something of a legend in Glasgow. Despite this, this is their first specific mention on this or the old blog. I’ll try my best to explain.
The band formed away back in 1997 as ‘an 18-legged ska machine’. Let me pick up the story with this piece from a local paper marking their 10th Anniversary:-
The band originally formed for a one-off gig, a fundraiser for striking Liverpool dockers, at the (old) 13th Note. And it was indeed a bit of fun, some Specials and Damned cover versions in a set played by 8 people from bands such as The Stanleys, Pink Kross and The Karelia. Of course, the few songs they’d written especially for the show went down so well, the rest is history. Sell-out shows at King Tuts, opening T in the Park, touring Europe, and now, 10 years on, a new album, Now That’s What I Call The Amphetameanies.
The article explained that all the members had day jobs of all sorts, including a truck driver, a sales assistant in a lingerie store, and a librarian; it also informed readers that some members were full-time musicians, including members of Belle & Sebastian and bis, while a past member had to give up when Franz Ferdinand found fame and fortune as ‘his other commitments were making him late for our rehearsals’ (a line that should be taken with the same humour as it was delivered).
Over the years, The Amphetameanies have released just three albums. I don’t have any of them. Nor do I have any of their singles. I have seen them live on at least three occasions, way less than the number of shows that their many hundreds of dedicated fans across the city and beyond have got along to. What I do have is one song, courtesy of its inclusion on a compilation CD issued by Bubblegum Records back in 2009 (but which I only picked up a few years ago – and yes, it’s the same CD from which I lifted the track by Asbo Kid a few days ago):-
mp3: The Amphetameanies – Nothing’s OK
This was initially released as the b-side to the 2009 single Good One Go, which came out on Flotsam & Jetsam Records. A video was made for the song:-
The fact I don’t have anything else by the group in the collection isn’t a sign that I don’t like them. I just never found the time or energy to explore in any great depth.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
What. A. Treat. Amphetameanies are one of my favourite Glasgow bands.
Live – unforgettable. It’s like the biggest intimate party you’ve ever been invited to. I didn’t see them quite as often as I would have liked to, but I’m still in the dozens. Work has a way of capping gig commitments.
Although never factually a super-group – if often felt like it for reason noted by JC. Amphetameanies was a band in its own right calling it a day around 2015. I guess personnel logistics was a key issue with so many band members some of whom moved away – some as far as Australia – making those rehearsals a little more troublesome.
Be in no doubt – despite the band’s lineage line-up – this was a ska band. From the opening to closing bars the listener is (thankfully) never able to escape that. It could sometimes be rather humorous watching all of them attempt to balance on a stage the size of postage stamp. Stan (who had previous guest vocals with The Stanleys) and Jane (Pink Kross) on vocal duties – Amphetameanies live was a riot. At home listening to the CDs and 7” singles – it was/it is always a treat. I think it important to note that the Amphetameanies’ wrangler was Gordon – who continues his ska-goodness joining Esperanza (who will support The Selecter, Paisley Town Hall, 30th August, 2024)
Leaving the music aside the band (in its many guises) consisted of some of THE loveliest, funniest and generous people in pop.
I recall a relatively unknown Scottish band who went on to do rather well supporting Amphetameanies. That band’s name, Biffy Clyro. I think it was at The Bedsit (Glasgow Caledonian University)? I wasn’t impressed.
A Saturday morning made all the brighter. Thanks, JC.
Flimflamfan