Tune Up - Music Touring Across Scotland

Edwyn Collins

The first the world heard of Edwyn Collins was in February 1980 with the release of Falling And Laughing. The debut single by his band, Orange Juice, it was also the first offering from Postcard Records, the independent label Edwyn co-founded with Alan Horne.

After three more Orange Juice singles, Postcard closed its sock drawer in late 1981. It would be another two decades before Edwyn and Horne's endeavours would be belatedly recognised as a key foundation stone for indie music, which would follow, and acknowledge, Orange Juice's trailblazing example.

In the interim, Edwyn took Orange Juice into the Top 10 with 1983's Rip It Up, perhaps the epitome of their Velvets/Chic punk-funk hybrid, complete with Buzzcocks-homage guitar solo..

1984 saw the end of Orange Juice and Edwyn embarked on a solo career, though it would be ten years before he found himself back on Top Of The Pops with 1995's A Girl Like You. Better still, the song's northern soul groove and Isley Brothers guitar frills rewarded Edwyn with a genuine "worldwide smash" and enough royalties to fill a thousand sock drawers.

Fast forward another decade to February 2005, when Edwyn had just finished recording songs for his sixth solo album. Among the rough mixes in the can was a track called One Is A Lonely Number. "If life breaks your heart, you needn't fall apart." Little could he have realised how profoundly prophetic these words would become in the months that followed.

On Sunday, February 20, 2005, Edwyn was admitted to hospital after collapsing at home. He was later diagnosed with having suffered two cerebral haemorrhages and underwent a precarious neurological operation. Incredibly, through a combination of surgical brilliance, the heroic support of his family and his own seemingly invincible will power, Edwyn pulled through. Six months after his stroke, he was back at home. But more phenomenal still was his determination to overcome the physical after-effects hindering his movement and speech so he could return to the studio and finish the album he'd already begun.

The result was Home Again, a testament not only to Edwyn Collins the songwriter, but Edwyn the man and his resolute spirit. "This is hard for me," admits Edwyn. "I'm learning to live again after my stroke. But I am happy and contented also. I'm pleased with the album. I'm getting there and I feel grateful at last."

Since the release of Home Again, Edwyn has continued to renew himself, one step at a time. In November 2007, he took to the stage again, having painstakingly relearned the lyrics to his songs.

In October 2008, he quite suddenly reconnected with the songwriter inside him, and has since recorded six new songs for an album due out in 2010.

In May 2009, Edwyn was honoured by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, when he was awarded the Ivor Novello Inspiration Award.

In July 2009, Grace Maxwell's book, Falling and Laughing, the story of their life together and of Edwyn's restoration to health and to his life in music, was a summer bookshop hit. "I'm interesting, you see," is Edwyn's explanation. "Oh, and Grace is a good writer.."

Part one of the BBC 2 Documentary, Home Again:

Orange Juice perform "Rip It Up" on Top Of The Pops in 1983:

Amusing interview with Edwyn and Franz Ferdinand at 2009's T In The Park festival: