Belle and Sebastian's Stevie Jackson

What motivated you to get into the music industry?

The chance to make a record, because it's only the music industry if you're making records and dealing with record labels. Prior to that you're just making music.

Did you have to sign on yourself at any time?

Oh yes. For years and years, five or six years. Most of the time I was on courses, like Instant Muscle Scotland, which I was on with my old band The Moondials. It involved not having to sign on, which was useful when we went to Europe for three weeks.

How many dodgy bands were you in before your most successful one?

About three I think.

Did you ever feel like giving up and getting a real job?

All the time. Even at the time of Belle & Sebastian's second album I had no money and I took a proper job at a hospital. I did it for a year, before I became solvent with the band.

Did you have any really horrendous experiences early on?

Not really. Being on the dole wasn't a picnic, but I never felt like my life was in danger. I went hungry in Prague once for a couple of days, really wanting to eat. That was the only time I've really had to go without food.


When did things start to come right?

Joining this group. It was a major leap musically from anything I'd done before. So that was great and eventually I started making a living. You can really draw a line in my life from the point when I joined Belle & Sebastian. I'd kind of retired from bands, aged 26, just before B&S came up.

How did that feel?

Fantastic. It wiped out six years of getting nowhere. I hadn't been concentrating on making it, but suddenly being part of such a good group, and contributing towards that made up for all the years of struggle.

Did friends and family support you or try to talk you out of your ambition?

That's another good thing. My Mum and Dad always supported me, which made it doubly worthwhile and vindicated them, when things started to go right. I was always worried that they were embarrassed, if their friends asked what I was doing, that they'd be like, "Oh pissing about in bands, getting nowhere."

How are things with you now?

Pretty good. I think at this stage the group has to make another leap and do something different again. When we made our first album, "Tigermilk", we didn't know we were capable of making such a good record. I think we've got to surprise ourselves again.

Any words of wisdom or sage advice for those just getting started in the business?

Ignore trends, ignore what everybody else is doing. Don't try and second guess what's going to be a hit. Try and be good at what you do, whatever your thing is, as an instrumentalist, a singer or songwriter. Do your thing, and let the world catch up with you.