The Hour

Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, two of the founding members of Deacon Blue, have decided to move away from the sound they are renowned for toward a new kind of music with album The Great Lakes.

“It is something that we have talked about doing,” Ricky, Deacon Blue’s front-man, who penned the majority of their songs, said.

“We got a bunch of songs that we thought were the kind of songs we liked and maybe other people in the band wouldn’t necessarily get. The songs are ones we believe in and we love the simplicity in them.”

Lorraine McIntosh adds: “It is a different sound but it is more in keeping with the kind of music we would listen to now that maybe we weren’t listening to 10-15 years ago.”

The duo recorded their latest album The Great Lakes in LA, with the hope of getting a fresh approach to songs and ideas.

“We wanted to go somewhere where we would be a bit surprised by people,” Ricky said.

“Sometimes musician, because they know what we have done in the past, try and please you and play what they think you will want. These guys didn’t know anything about that so they just played what they thought was right for the song.”

McIntoshRoss are getting ready to tour Scotland, with the pair choosing to perform the songs from their new album in more intimate venues.

“We are taken out a whole band of very good musicians but it is smaller places,” Lorraine said. “It is going to be quite intimate and it is going to be exciting.”

Despite the formation of McIntoshRoss, this new group doesn’t spell the end for Deacon Blue with the band still performing together.

 “I enjoy playing now with Deacon Blue gigs more than I ever did back in the day,” Ricky said. “I’m not a great lover of playing live, it is something I could take or leave. But now I love going out with the guys and playing the songs now.”

For more information on tour dates, visit www.mcintoshross.com