They'll know tragic Calum's name all over the world - thanks to the Fratellis

Jun 8 2008 Exclusive by Billy Sloan

THE FRATELLIS never got to meet Calum Macleod - but they will never forget the boy who was their No.1 fan.

The Scots rockers were so moved by the death of the 12-year-old from meningitis they paid tribute to him on their new album.

The credits for Here We Stand, which is released tomorrow, read: "This album is dedicated to Calum Macleod".

The schoolboy, from Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, was a devoted Fratellis fan who learned to play their anthem Chelsea Dagger on his guitar.

When he died last October, Calum was buriedwearing his favourite "Mon the Fratellis" T-shirt.

His parents, Sinclair and Kim, donated his organs, which helped save the lives of two babies and three adults.

The Fratellis - singer Jon, bassist Barry and drummer Mince - heard his heartbreaking story and pledged to support the Meningitis Trust.

The band gifted Jon's trademark Fender guitar - used to write Chelsea Dagger - artwork for the single's sleeve and a signed drumskin to be raffled to raisemoney for the charity.

Kim said: "Calum would have been absolutely blown away by the dedication.

We can't believe it ourselves.

"Everything they've done has been above and beyond the call of duty.

"Family and friends rallied round when Calum died - and God did we need it - but for a group of guys who don't even know us to dedicate their record to our son is so special.

"It's a lovely tribute. People will know about Calumall over the world - his name will live on." Calum first heard The Fratellis at Glasgow's SECC in December 2006.

Sinclair said: "The band play with energy and that appealed to Calum.

He liked their big guitar noise with all its fire and passion."

Last year Calum received a good first year school report from Bishopbriggs Academy.

His parents bought him tickets to see The Fratellis headline the SECC as a reward. Sadly, ill health meant he could not attend the show.

Kim said: "Calum was gutted he couldn't go. I said, 'Don't worry, you can go the next time'. Unfortunately, there wasn't a next time."

On October 10, Calum developed a fever and complained of pain in his neck and muscles. Kim said: "Calum woke up at 3am with a bad headache.

"He was crying with the pain in his head so I took him to Stobhill Hospital."

Doctors suspected meningitis and immediately referred him to Yorkhill Sick Children's Hospital.

Kim added: "I took him in the car but in the space of 20 minutes he'd deteriorated and was violently sick.

"He went downhill very quickly and was on a ventilator by 6am.

"Sinclair was at home with our daughter, Kirsten. The first thing he knew was when I phoned to say, 'We're at Yorkhill. You need to come.

It's really serious.' Calum was unconscious from 6am and never regained consciousness.

"Effectively, Calum died on October 12 but that was only because we agreed to donate his organs.

"It's a comfort to know his organs helped other people. It's what Calum would have wanted. He was a kind, loving wee boy who would have done anything for anybody.

"We wanted to give other parents hope when we knew we didn't have hope any longer.

"Calum saved five lives - a three-month-old baby, a 21-month-old baby and three adults.

"It is some comfort...but you would want your son back."

Calum was buried in his Fratellis T- shirt and Chelsea Dagger was played at the funeral.

To celebrate his life Calum's school friends helped organise a sponsored games event, which raised s9000.

Kim contacted The Fratellis and visited them at their Glasgow studio.

She said: "I needed them to understand what they had done for him.

"I took Calum's photograph to show them. The group were so down-to-earth and wanted to know all about him. I told them Calum was such a fantastic little boy. He always had a smile on his face like in the photograph.

"That's what everybody remembers most about him."

Jon, Barry and Mince then gifted their guitar, artwork and drumskin.

Kim said: "The guys helped me carry the stuff out to my car but I'd parked on a bus stop and traffic wardens had towed it away.

"That's when I really lost it. I'd held it together until that point but I was in floods of tears.

"Jon was sitting with his arm around me while Barry was on the phone organising a chauffeur-driven car to take me home."

The Fratellis later invited Calum's sister Kirsten, eight, and some of his classmates to visit them at their studio.

Kim said: "It really gave the kids a boost. They were still a bit lost because they had lost Calum - who was ringleader of their gang - and had not come to terms with it.

"They ended up playing guitars and drums with them on Chelsea Dagger.

"I looked around the studio and Calum's photograph was up in the window. I had a real lump in my throat.

"It had been there since my first visit - they had never taken it down."

Jon Fratelli said: "We were all totally stunned something like this could happen to this poor boy, literally overnight.

"It's heartbreaking. We decided there and then to give a signed guitar for the raffle but also wanted something that would last so we dedicated the album to Calum.

"Our music made a connection with him. It hit home hard to know that just a few weeks before he'd been learning to play our songs on his guitar. It completely floored us."

b.sloan@sundaymail.co.uk