Football and Music - Part 2


A few weeks ago I was talking about the Zidane album by Mogwai. This time it's George Best by The Wedding Present.

Never has a band and a footballer been so paradoxical.

Best burst onto the football scene after being discovered by Manchester United's legendary scout, Bob Bishop, who said the club had to 'sign him at all costs'. He was born in 1946 and made his debut in1963. He is generally regarded as one of the best footballers of all time and won the league in 1965 and 1967 and the European Cup in 1968, where he performed excellently. However due to alcoholism and his other vices his career was over by 1975. He also played for several American clubs, Bournemouth, Fulham and Hibs.

The Wedding Present ironically haven't been so 'rock and roll' in this respect. They were formed in 1985, made their first Peel Session in 1986 and released George Best in 1987. Rather than being glamorous they have been steadily successful and have produced some good albums. There is even a Ukrainian link as they produced some Ukrainian Folk Tunes for John Peel in 1988. We won't split hairs about some of the songs being Russian, as it was a brave move for an indie rock band associated with the C86 movement. They are still going today and will produce their 21st album this year (if you include Peel Sessions and Compliations) and will appear at the Indie Tracks Festival in Derbyshire in July.

The Wedding Present were the first band I saw live and their live performances continue to be energetic affairs. At that gig support was provided by a noise-rock band called The Boo Radleys, who later came on to be kings of the Britpop scene and The Real People, who should have done.

Here's a link for the album, if there are any objections I'll take it down quicker than George Best could turn lager into piss

http://rapidshare.com/files/87270486/wb-gb.rar.html

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