It’s only rock’n’roll, Labour, but you should like it - Kevin McKenna

There is a newspaper Xanadu where some of the Observer’s greatest journalistic triumphs reside. These include one of the greatest scoops in the history of UK print journalism when, in 1812, reporter Vincent George Dowling was on hand to witness the assassination of the prime minister, Spencer Perceval, before stepping in to apprehend the killer.

A century or so later, in 1919, JL Garvin penned his famous and prescient editorial on the Treaty of Versailles: “The Treaty left the Germans no real hope except in revenge.” The paper’s legacy of seeing what others refused to see and uttering what others feared to utter was evident once more in 1956 during the Suez crisis. The Observer took a principled stand of the government’s conduct on the issue. “We had not realised that our Government was capable of such folly and such crookedness,” our leader writer then wrote.

I also feel the Observer’s spirit of fearlessness digging at the coalface of truth inspired our campaign to restore authentic rock music to the airwaves of Scotland. In April 2014, I was shocked to learn that Scotland’s only proper rock radio station had been replaced by something vapid and inane called X-FM. I wrote then: “Heavy rock is important to society as it portrays and recalls our industrial heritage and celebrates hard work, honesty and integrity. If there was ever a proper revolution in this country it would provide the soundtrack to the social upheaval; not Franz Ferdinand or the Smiths or Blur.”

It seems our campaign has paid off. For it was announced last month that Ofcom had awarded Rock Radio Glasgow the FM commercial radio licence in the west central Scotland area. It was the culmination of a campaign that, I think, stands within the finest traditions of the Observer’s brave and counterintuitive reporting.

Donald MacLeod, who owns the Cathouse and Garage nightclubs, is chair of Rock Radio. He is a chap not unknown to the Observer in Scotland as he has often offered us sanctuary in one of his meaty establishments when many others had previously refused. MacLeod was effusive in his appreciation of the Observer for its support. “If it hadn’t been for the unstinting support of the Observer, I’m not sure we would have got over the finishing line. As Jimmy Page and Robert Plant once wrote: ‘And it’s whispered that soon, if we all call the tune, then the piper will lead us to reason’.”

Scotland has been buffeted recently by fell forces that still threaten its economic and social wellbeing. The independence referendum was lost in a welter of falsehoods and half-truths whereby Labour in Scotland and their allies in the Tory party conned the frail and the elderly into maintaining the status quo. Since then we’ve had Brexit, the rise of the hard right, ultra-austerity, racial aggravation and the bitter knowledge that Donald Trump is Scottish.

Yet there are signs that the nation is experiencing a degree of solace in a rock’n’roll renaissance. The news that Rock Radio now possesses the new FM licence in the west of Scotland doesn’t just mean a return to Led Zep, Deep Purple, Van Halen, Mountain and Judas Priest and an escape from Adele, Justin Bieber and Rhianna. It will also provide training and support for indigenous bands who acknowledge that God has indeed given rock’n’roll to us, to paraphrase those great lyricists Simmons and Stanley.

This year also marked the 10th annual Bonfest in Kirriemuir, held to celebrate the life and career of Bon Scott, celebrated frontman of AC/DC, who was raised in this douce little Angus town. Previously, Kirriemuir was known only as the birthplace of JM Barrie. Now, thanks to Bonfest, it’s been revealed that for the first time more people were inspired to visit Kirriemuir because of its Bon Scott connection than its JM Barrie one. And let’s face it, what would you rather your town was renowned for: fairies or rock’n’roll damnation?

Next year’s Bonfest will be held in April and, while Scotland has far too many arts and cultural festivals, this one shouldn’t be missed. The majority of festivals are principally for a wandering troupe of second-rate authors, singers and artists who can’t make money on their own but can live off the fees guaranteed by gullible local councils that think they’re funding something cultural and essential.

Inexplicably, Glasgow, which has a rich rock’n’roll heritage, has opted to turn up its nose at the chance to market itself as one of the world’s top destinations for the head-banging oeuvre. Although Bon Scott was the braggartly leader of AC/DC, the band were founded by the Glaswegian brothers Angus and Malcolm Young, who were born within sight of the water tower at Cranhill in the East End of Glasgow. Yet, despite the efforts of councillor Frank Docherty, the ruling Labour group decided against awarding these two the freedom of the city. The party was probably too busy doing what it does best: making twinning arrangements with enough cities to keep its councillors in jollies for a lifetime.

If Labour wants to have a chance of holding off the SNP’s assault on its local authority powerbase in Glasgow, it needs to get with the rock’n’roll picture. If the SNP get in they’ll probably ban all rock’n’roll because the lyrics are not sufficiently diverse and fail to deliver the appropriate pattern of deliverable outcomes on gender issues and responsible attitudes towards alcohol and relationships.

So here’s my plan to help Labour stave off the threat of the Nationalist roundheads. They need to announce a Rockfest week along the lines of Kirriemuir’s Bonfest. This would celebrate the genius of the Young brothers and others such as Brian Robertson, the great Thin Lizzy lead guitarist, Alex Harvey, Jimmy Barnes, Bobby Gillespie and Jim Kerr.

In their seminal work, Sin City, a thoughtful étude on loss and redemption in an urban setting, Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott included these lines:

So spin that wheel, cut that pack

And roll those loaded dice

Bring on the dancing girls

And put the champagne on ice

I’m goin’ in

To Sin City