Edwyn Collins Ready For Scots Homecoming Gigs

Feb 24 2008 Billy Sloan

ROCK star Edwyn Collins is coming home to play his first gigs in Scotland since suffering a devastating brain haemorrhage.

The ex-Orange Juice singer hasn't performed here since collapsing in 2005.

But I can exclusively reveal Edwyn has confirmed shows at Edinburgh Queen's Hall on April 21 and Glasgow's Oran Mor the following night.

The singer said: "It will be very emotional in Glasgow because that's where Orange Juice recorded their first record Falling And Laughing.

"But Edinburgh will be good too as it's my home town.

"It's been a long time."

The singer will perform tracks from new album Home Again, plus Orange Juice songs and his 1995 solo hit A Girl Like You.

His wife and manager Grace revealed he had to re-learn the lyrics after his illness.

She said: "He dipped his toe in the water again with gigs in London last year.

"The shows were great but left him exposed to the world.

Some reviewers cut him some slack in the circumstances... but that wasn't needed."

Remarkably Edwyn finds it easier to sing than to speak.

Grace said: "He suffers from aphesia, an umbrella term for people with speech and language problems."

"No two people have the same symptoms. In his case he's been blessed with being able to sing.

"Doctors reckon his memory for songs comes from a different bit of his brain which initiates speech.

"He can't yet play guitar - his right arm still doesn't work properly - but for Edwyn it's a huge achievement to sing.

"He's practised every day for the last year to get the flow of the words and memorise them again. He's managed to nail 15 songs."

Both Edwyn and Grace can't wait for the Scottish gigs.

She said: "Edwyn's really looking forward to it. When people ask where he is from he says, 'All over Scotland'.

"His family are from the Highlands, he was born in Edinburgh then moved to Dundee and his formative years were in Glasgow where he formed Orange Juice.

"It's wonderful to think he's coming home with his band to Scotland where he's had such fantastic support."

Tickets for the Scots gigs are on sale now priced £17.50.