From cover band to chart toppers

IN 2005, a group of likeminded, shaggy-haired Dundee teenagers got together to form a band.

The lads, pupils at St John’s RC High School, started off doing covers of tunes by bands like Squeeze and the Sex Pistols.

The View, as they called themselves, soon began working on their own songs and performed them at school talent contests.

Fronted by lead singer and guitarist Kyle Falconer, with guitarist Peter Reilly, bassist Kieren Webster and original drummer Michael Annable, the Dryburgh quartet were hugely popular.

They progressed to play more cover gigs and weddings around Tayside, and after their second concert at Dundee’s Doghouse, they were signed to the city’s independent record label Two Thumbs.

Confidence among band members was soaring and they started to push for bigger gigs that would boost their profile.

When Falconer heard Pete Doherty was doing a gig with his band Babyshambles at Fat Sam’s in late 2005, he saw it as an opportunity to promote The View.

In true brass-necked Falconer style, he turned up and begged to be given a support slot.

Former general manager Colin Rattray gave in to his pleas and handed the band’s demo CD over to Doherty.

He loved it, asked if they were still kicking around, and agreed The View could open the gig for him. That was the beginning of their break into the big time.

In March 2006, the band released The View EP. It was their first official release and was limited to just 2,000 copies.