By Claire McCormack

A DRUMMER with an all female Dundee band who suffered a head injury in a serious accident on Christmas Eve more than a decade ago has penned a song about her love for the city.

Prior to joining Adam812, Shona Macleod was in band called Ad-Lib who won the National TSB RockSchool Awards. She also won a drum kit presented to her from Big Country.

The band was very well known in Dundee, the Central belt, and the Highlands in the early 1990s.

The founder member was Maggi Fenwick (keyboard player) who teamed up with Carol Air (guitar), and sisters Ailsa McInroy (bass) and Mary McInroy (lead vocals), along with Shona on drums.

During their five years together the band supported many artists such as Fish, The Average White Band and Nazareth.

They had lots of local support and also played live performances in London.

Sadly, Shona, who is originally from Golspie, Sutherland, was involved in a terrible car accident on Christmas Eve, 1993, on her way up north to visit her parents, which left her badly injured and in a coma for a year.

Since then, she has soldiered on with fighting spirit in her recovery from a head injury. She remained in the Highland region, near her parents, but always longed to return to Dundee.

Maggi said, “Now, after 13 years, she has returned to live in the Dundee area and she is so happy to be back, she wanted to express herself in a way that she knows best—through her music—and she has written a song called Dundee Is Where I Love. The song is essentially about travelling around Dundee.

“Although Shona is unable to speak, she communicates brilliantly using an alphabet board.”

“The song took nine weeks to complete.

“As Shona dictated each word via her alphabet board, her friend Wayne Hutton wrote them down and Maggi simultaneously composed the music on guitar.

“It is a remarkable achievement for her and the first song that Shona has ever written.

“From there, Shona decided that she wanted to be musical director and she has directed the whole project—from choosing the recording artists and studio, to directing the song arrangement and structure, to designing the CD cover and photographs.”

The recording artists she chose for her track are all Dundonians—Maggie Ferrie (lead vocals and guitar), Mike Ferrie (vocals and guitar), Paula Fenwick (vocals and guitar), Ailsa McInroy (bass), Tony Sellars (saxophone), Jason Sellars (trumpet), Duncan Fenwick (harmonica) and Shona herself on drums.

Since returning to Dundee, Shona has bravely got back behind the drum kit and is back to practising every week again.

The project has received sponsorship and enormous support from Stu Milne, manager of Stage 2000, plus his crew, who have all given up their time for this cause.

Stu Milne, being a drummer himself, has recognised the great potential Shona has in getting back to her drums and music, and it is proposed that proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to buying Shona a personalised, fully-adapted drum kit.

There will be three versions of the song on the CD, plus an Adam812 track.

The CD is available from music stores in the Dundee area and from her website at www.shonamacleod.co.uk.