I only got £50 for appearing in pop video, complains Alasdair Gray

Published on 11/08/2012 02:22

SCOTS artist Alasdair Gray has become the unlikely star of singer Amy Macdonald’s new music video – but complained about not being paid enough.

The celebrated painter and author appears in the film for Macdonald’s latest single, Pride.

The 77-year-old, best known for his novel Lanark, is seen, in between shots of Ms Macdonald singing, posing next to his murals in Glasgow’s Oran Mor bar.

The video features people showing off the things in life that make them most proud and was filmed in Glasgow.

Mr Gray said he was bemused at being asked to appear in the video. He said: “The company who were making the video asked me if I would be filmed next to my murals at Oran Mor. I asked them if I would be paid for it and they said yes.

“I was a little disappointed afterwards to find out that the pay was only £50. I can get £150 for doing an hour and a half’s reading and this job took considerably longer than that but never mind.”

He added: “I have never heard of Amy Macdonald and I don’t know anything about her. I have no idea why they wanted me in it and I’ll probably never see it because I don’t have a television.”

The song was inspired by Ms Macdonald’s pride at singing the national anthem before Scotland matches at Hampden. The 24-year-old, of Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, told of her delight at how the video, which was released online earlier this week, had turned out.

She said: “I’m so glad everyone seems to be enjoying the Pride video. I love all the real people who helped make it. It’s got me singing and loads of people showing us what it is that makes them proud. It’s lovely.

“We filmed the video in Glasgow and it wasn’t raining. A bit of respite from this beautiful Scottish summertime.”

The song is taken from Ms Macdonald’s latest album, Life In A Beautiful Light, which reached number two in the charts.

Mr Gray’s murals adorn the walls and ceilings of Oran Mor, a converted church turned bar, restaurant and music venue in Glasgow’s west end.

He has been painstakingly completing the artworks since 2003 after being asked by owner Colin Beattie to start work in the auditorium.

His murals have won legions of fans, including art impresario Richard Demarco and late singer Amy Winehouse, who described the room as one of the most beautiful she had ever seen.

Earlier this year, Mr Gray revealed he hasn’t finished and plans more additions to the murals in the bar on Byres Road.

He said: “There are elaborate plans for the side walls, and the eastern gable isn’t quite finished. My idea is to have a mural painted view of ten different Scottish towns, but not Glasgow – which is sufficiently represented in the gallery – if we can get a different municipality to each sponsor a portrait of their town into the wall.”