Jim Glennie
Encyclopedia
Jim Glennie is the bassist for and namesake of English rock band, James
. Glennie is the band's longest-serving member, having been there from the first line-up, through to the present.
Glennie never really had an interest in music in his youth, but his childhood best friend Paul Gilbertson
managed to change his mind after convincing him to buy a bass guitar. Two weeks later they played their first concert at Eccles
Royal British Legion club, in which their singer did not show up. Glennie offered himself up to sing instead, and the club manager pulled the plug halfway through their second song, demanding they stopped playing.
Glennie and Gilbertson's ritual, in the very early years, was to get very drunk before they went onstage to calm their nerves – this partly explains why they were almost unlistenable when the band first started – coupled with their own admittance that they could not really play their instruments
at the time either.
After Gilbertson's sacking Glennie was quite badly affected initially, having lost a very close friend and musical companion. Glennie stuck it out, however, and remained true to the James cause. He and the band's singer Tim Booth
often had many conflicts, due to Glennie feeling Booth was not doing what was best for the band. Saul Davies admitted in the 2006 Q
article that Glennie and Booth "didn't always see eye to eye".
Glennie often looks back fondly at the early years of the band, having no money and a bloody minded ignorance to the traditional forms of modern studio recording.
He is also the only remaining original member of James, having been through:-
1. The early years of he and Gilbertson
2. The financial struggles of both the Stutter and Stripmine album
3. Sudden success of the band making it big in 1991 with "Sit Down" and changing to a 7-piece
4. Working with Brian Eno
on Laid
5. Nearly breaking America
, and turning down huge record label
deals
6. The band's near demise in 1995
7. Their 1997 comeback with She's A Star, the success of their Best Of and Millionaires, to Pleased To Meet Yous underrated release
8. The band's farewell tour, in 2001
9. The reformation of the band in 2007 and subsequent comeback with the Hey Ma
album.
Glennie's style of playing is very much punk
influenced as he mostly uses a plectrum to play the bass; but often plays in a more melodic way as a part of the rhythm section
.
He has made it onto all James' 11 studio albums and been on all their tours, and served his time from 1982 onwards. Glennie has also witnessed the departures of most of James' members, including Paul Gilbertson, Gavan Whelan, Larry Gott, Andy Diagram, Tim Booth, and Saul Davies.
In the period that James was inactive, Glennie seemingly disappeared from the musical radar screen, and was rumoured to have co-produced work for the UK band, British Sea Power
.
In an open letter to James' fans
in January 2007, Glennie outlined the band's plans to record a new album and tour the UK.
On 17 April 2010, Glennie appeared on Soccer AM
and is a fan of Manchester City.
James (band)
James are a British rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down", and "She's a Star" as well as their American College Radio hit "Laid"...
. Glennie is the band's longest-serving member, having been there from the first line-up, through to the present.
Glennie never really had an interest in music in his youth, but his childhood best friend Paul Gilbertson
Paul Gilbertson
Paul Gilbertson was the first guitarist of the British band James. He formed the original band and began its chaotic songwriting method of jamming. He advocated improvisation during live performances and during group recording sessions. Gilbertson was replaced in the band by Larry Gott...
managed to change his mind after convincing him to buy a bass guitar. Two weeks later they played their first concert at Eccles
Eccles, Greater Manchester
Eccles is a town in the City of Salford, a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England, west of Salford and west of Manchester city centre...
Royal British Legion club, in which their singer did not show up. Glennie offered himself up to sing instead, and the club manager pulled the plug halfway through their second song, demanding they stopped playing.
Glennie and Gilbertson's ritual, in the very early years, was to get very drunk before they went onstage to calm their nerves – this partly explains why they were almost unlistenable when the band first started – coupled with their own admittance that they could not really play their instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
at the time either.
After Gilbertson's sacking Glennie was quite badly affected initially, having lost a very close friend and musical companion. Glennie stuck it out, however, and remained true to the James cause. He and the band's singer Tim Booth
Tim Booth
Timothy John Booth is an English singer, dancer, and actor best known as the lead singer from the band James.-1980s:Booth was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England and attended Shrewsbury School...
often had many conflicts, due to Glennie feeling Booth was not doing what was best for the band. Saul Davies admitted in the 2006 Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
article that Glennie and Booth "didn't always see eye to eye".
Glennie often looks back fondly at the early years of the band, having no money and a bloody minded ignorance to the traditional forms of modern studio recording.
He is also the only remaining original member of James, having been through:-
1. The early years of he and Gilbertson
2. The financial struggles of both the Stutter and Stripmine album
3. Sudden success of the band making it big in 1991 with "Sit Down" and changing to a 7-piece
4. Working with Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
on Laid
5. Nearly breaking America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and turning down huge record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
deals
6. The band's near demise in 1995
7. Their 1997 comeback with She's A Star, the success of their Best Of and Millionaires, to Pleased To Meet Yous underrated release
8. The band's farewell tour, in 2001
9. The reformation of the band in 2007 and subsequent comeback with the Hey Ma
Hey Ma
Hey Ma is the tenth studio album by British alternative rock band James. It was released on April 7, 2008.- Recording and production :...
album.
Glennie's style of playing is very much punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
influenced as he mostly uses a plectrum to play the bass; but often plays in a more melodic way as a part of the rhythm section
Rhythm section
A rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...
.
He has made it onto all James' 11 studio albums and been on all their tours, and served his time from 1982 onwards. Glennie has also witnessed the departures of most of James' members, including Paul Gilbertson, Gavan Whelan, Larry Gott, Andy Diagram, Tim Booth, and Saul Davies.
In the period that James was inactive, Glennie seemingly disappeared from the musical radar screen, and was rumoured to have co-produced work for the UK band, British Sea Power
British Sea Power
British Sea Power are an indie rock band based in Brighton, England, although three of the band members originally come from Kendal in Cumbria. Critics have likened their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure and Joy Division to the Pixies and Arcade Fire. The band are famed for their live...
.
In an open letter to James' fans
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
in January 2007, Glennie outlined the band's plans to record a new album and tour the UK.
On 17 April 2010, Glennie appeared on Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
and is a fan of Manchester City.