Glasgow Guardian Music Editor Evelyn Hylands sits down with Jim Glennie from James.
Formed in Manchester in 1982, James have spent over four decades carving a unique path through British music. Founding members Jim Glennie (bass), Paul Gilbertson (guitar), and later joined by Tim Booth (vocals), Larry Gott (guitar) and Saul Davies (guitar/violin), the band emerged from the post-punk and indie scene. With massive hits like Sit Down and Laid, the band are one of the most iconic members of British music culture in the modern day.
James has stood the test of time, survived splits, changing line-ups, and shifts in the music industry, all while keeping their ethos intact. Their shows, particularly in cities like Glasgow, showcase a band that balances nostalgia with the energy of new material, proving that they are just as entertaining now as they were decades ago.
Glasgow Guardian’s music editor Evelyn Hylands sat down with Jim Glennie, co-founder and bassist, to talk about Glasgow, band life, and what keeps James moving forward.
EH: Glasgow crowds have a reputation for being rowdy. Do you feel that difference onstage?
JG: Absolutely. You feel it the second you walk out. There’s no pretense here. People are with you, or they aren’t and if they’re not, you know it immediately. But we love it, you’d ratchet have a crowd like that. I love Scotland so much that I have moved here, it truly is a very special place up here!
EH: You’ve played Glasgow at very different points in the band’s history. What is different in Glasgow?
JG: Energy, definitely. There’s history here, the city loves music. I think it pushes us to give more thought to the gig, I am always wanting to impress the Glasgow crowd.
EH: James is a band that seems to have transcended generational gaps that other bands haven’t done so well. Why do you think this is?
JG: Probably people’s parents forcing them to listen to us! Haha! No, I think we have been lucky that we have a strong and very loyal fanbase who have passed on our music to their children, we are very lucky in that sense.
EH: And that resilience has clearly carried into writing new music. How do you keep songs fresh after all these years?
JG: We jam a lot, record everything, and don’t edit too early. Let the songs breathe. The trick is to let them go wrong sometimes — that’s when they surprise you.
EH: Your live shows feel more like conversations than concerts. How conscious is that?
JG: Very. You’re asking something of the audience and responding in real time. Glasgow, especially, reacts instantly. You can feel when it clicks — it’s exhilarating.
EH: And yet, you live part of your life in the Scottish Highlands. How does that contrast affect your music?
JG: It’s essential. After the noise and chaos of touring, being somewhere quiet resets you. It gives you perspective. You can’t survive just on adrenaline; you need the opposite too. It is nice to be out of the city, I love being able to step outside and its beautiful and quiet, but the midges up here are killer in the summer.
EH: Some bands from your era lean on nostalgia. James doesn’t. Why?
JG: Nostalgia can be dangerous. It’s comforting but constraining. We love the old songs and so do our audiences. The sound is bound to change us and our creative process, it is important to know when it is time to stop relying on the past
EH: What keeps the band together after all these years?
JG: Choice. We have obviously had our ups and downs especially when we were younger. We respect each other and that is the most important thing. Creative differences can be hard, but we know how to deal with them now
EH: Does that mix change the energy in the room?
JG: Completely. It is great to see so many people coming with their family to our gigs and seeing people of all ages enjoying the show, to be honest it makes me realise that we have been around so long!
EH: When a show ends, what signifies a successful show for you
JG: You feel it in yourself, and how the audience responds. It is hard to describe, but you can feel it, especially in a city that has an energy like Glasgow.
As James continues their 2026 UK tour, Glasgow is set to be a big night. Jim is as enthusiastic about the road ahead as he is about the pitch. In Glasgow, fans young and old are expected to be singing along to hits such as “sit down” and “Laid” and celebrate yet another year of James.
Image Credit: BBC
