Edwyn has left the building…Edwyn Collin’s last ever tour – Royal Festival Hall, 4th October 2025
- JO'B
- Oct 5
- 5 min read
A quick multiple choice question for you. Edwyn Collins is:
a) A legend
b) An inspiration
c) A musician
d) A singer / crooner
e) A producer
f) The inventor of indie music
g) A record label owner
h) An Ivor Novello winner
i) A survivor
The answer, of course, is all of them.
I was too young for Orange Juice, though I was aware of them, especially Rip It Up. It was Gorgeous George that brought me to him, and I went back and found his earlier solo stuff and the Orange Juice albums. I saw him a couple of times and loved him.
In 2005, Edwyn suffered double cerebral haemorrhage, which left his right side severely weakened, with aphasia impacting his ability to use words. At one point all he could say was “yes”, “no”, “Grace Maxwell” and “the possibilities are endless”. It must have felt like the end of a great career. I went to a gig at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in either 2006 or 2007. I cannot for the life of me remember who it was. But I popped out to the merch stand near the end and saw a man being carried down the stairs before the crowds came out. It was Edwyn. He looked like a broken bird, and I wanted to cry.
But then I heard he was back. My first wife and I saw him in Edinburgh during the festival. We had low expectations (sorry, terrible pun – if you know, you know). But it was magnificent. He was charming, funny, engaging, smiling and best of all, he could sing, he could really sing. It was amazing, our minds were blown.
I’ve seen him several times since and each gig has been life affirming, joyous. He’s overcome obstacles I don’t think I would have the strength to, making five albums, a soundtrack, a documentary and film, a book, produced artists and more. He has been more productive that so many musicians who have had no health issues.
So, tonight is special. Edwyn announced that this Testimonial Tour was to be his last. This isn’t some Status Quo nonsense, when every tour is the last tour. But there is always another (well, until death gets in the way and even then Francis Rossi has kept going).
This really is the end of an amazing career. And what a way to go. This year’s Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation is another cracking album. The tour is sold out and I have nabbed seats in the middle of the third row from the front of the stage (I spent an extra £80 buying membership of the Southbank Centre to get early access – totally worth it).
We get there early and I splurge on some vinyl – four albums I did not have on vinyl and all reasonably priced £20 per record – no ripping off the fans here. I also pick up an album by support band The Hanging Stars (sorry first support, Bayview, we didn’t get in in time for you).
Maureen, my Glaswegian friend, is here – she is dosed up, but has muscled up, loaded up on Beachams, and is here. I am so pleased she has made it. The Hanging Stars are great – somewhere between Ocean Colour Scene, Big Star and The Byrds. It’s all 70s west coast harmonies, a real cosmic vibe. We like them a lot. New single Sister Of The Sun swells and soars, well worth checking out.
And then it’s the main act – a back drop mimicking the old Elvis ’68 comeback backdrop, and Edwyn shuffles on the stage, dapper in a black suit, white t-shirt and white loafers. He takes a seat, and we are off. 90 minutes of brilliance, split evenly between Orange Juice songs and solo numbers. The band include Patrick from The Hanging Stars, who plays some blistering guitar through the set and the marvellous Carwyn Ellis on bass, plus Sean Read on keys/sax and Andy Hackett playing rhythm and lead, along side Patrick.
Falling And Laughing may be one of Keir Starmer’s desert island discs, but don’t let that put you off, it’s still brilliant and it sets the show off in rollicking style. Guitars jangle, bass lines slick and slither and Edwyn flicks the lyric book along nonchalantly, hitting the lyrics like the old pro he is. His words get a bit jumbled at times as he introduces songs, but he is self-deprecating and mocks his health challenges. No one in the audience cares – there is so much love in the room it’s palpable.
The set misses so many great songs, including one of the only three Top 40 hits Edwyn ever secured (The Magic Piper Of Love). I’d have loved Keep On Burning, Out Of This World, 50 Shades of Blue, but the set is perfect as it is. And the show ends with Don’t Shilly Shally and Rip It Up – absolute joy in 8 minutes!
Guests come and go – Dennis Bovell joins for The Wheels Of Love, Sex Pistol Paul Cook joins on drums for A Girl Like You, along with Vic Goddard from Subway Sect on backing vocals. Some are just here to take in the show, like Oasis’ Gem Archer and Bernard Butler, shame they don’t make it on stage too.
The encore is wonderful and Low Expectations in particular is sublime. Then James Kirk and Steven Daly join for the final two songs, Felicity and Blue Boy – three quarters of the original Orange Juice back together on stage. Guitar problems don’t stop James Kirk from striking poses and leaping around, he is having a ball.
But everyone knows this is Edwyn’s show and he waves a salutary walking stick in the air. The standing ovation is lovely and the guests all assemble as Edwyn walks off stage. I feel very emotional and on the way home feel humbled – any challenges I have in my life pale in insignificance to what Edwyn has overcome.
If you get a chance to see the last couple of shows, don’t miss out. Or just check out his amazing back catalogue. So many great songs.
Finally, I realise afterwards that the nice woman who sold me the albums was in fact Grace, Edwyn’s wife. I wished I had known, her book and the love and support she has shown Edwyn are as inspirational as his own efforts to recover. I hope they get a long and happy life away from touring and making records, some well-earned peace.
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