CLARE GROGAN in conversation with Daryl Easlea

To say we're delighted to host CLARE GROGAN in conversation would be the understatement of #Louder2025! Join Clare for this special event featuring musical treats plus Q&A.

CLARE GROGAN has worked extensively in Music, Film, Television, Theatre and Radio for 40+ years. The summer she left school her band ALTERED IMAGES were signed to EPIC Records and CLARE appeared in the BAFTA winning comedy GREGORY’S GIRL directed by BILL FORSYTH.

ALTERED IMAGES quickly had worldwide success, selling millions of records, which topped the charts in several countries. They recorded 3 Top10 Albums and had 6 UK TOP 40 hits – working with legendary producers MARTIN RUSHENT, MIKE CHAPMAN and TONY VISCONTI. They were voted BEST NEW GROUP at the NME awards the same year they were invited to play at THE ROYAL COMMAND PERFORMANCE.

CLARE and the band worked closely with Scottish painter DAVID BAND creating original pieces of artwork that were released as special edition prints along with the singles. CLARE recently received the LIVING LEGEND AWARD at the SCOTTISH MUSIC AWARDS. She made her debut at the ROYAL ALBERT HALL where she joined TEXAS on stage and also teamed up with SHARLEEN on a track on their album HI.

ALTERED IMAGES songs have always had an established audience and in recent years a brand new one as well. CLARE couldn’t be happier about the opportunity to breathe new life into past songs she wrote and loves, as well as performing new tracks from her album MASCARA STREAKZ in front of enthusiastic crowds.

She has had roles in dozens of TV and Radio Dramas, including some of theUK’s best-loved TV shows. SKINS – which she also wrote songs for. WATERLOO ROAD, EASTENDERS, DOCTORS, RED DWARF, FATHER TED, TAGGART, BLOTT ON THE LANDSCAPE< SEA OF SOULS, FORGIVEN, STILL GAME, THE MONUCLED MUTINEER , MEET THE RICHARDSONS, GONE FISHING. Her film credits include, GREGORY’S GIRL, COMFORT AND JOY, JILTING JO, WEDDING BELLES, SMALLEST GAME IN TOWN, LOYAL, EMO, THE PENALTY KING, BAFTA winning drama THE WEE MAN, DELIRIUM, LOST AT CHRISTMAS and recently BAFTA winning MY OLD SCHOOL alongside ALAN CUMMINGS and LULU.

CLARE has presented film, travel and music shows for TV and radio including the BBC’s THE ONE SHOW, STV’s SCOTAND’S REAL HEREOS, ITV’s DREAM TICKET, VH1, BBC SCOTLAND'S CORNER SHOP COOK OFF. She has presented for 6MUSIC, BBC RADIO SCOTLAND ABSOLUTE 80’S and Virgin 80's plus. Radio 4 comedy and dramas include ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE alongside Josie Long, RUMBUNCH with Mel Giedroyc and the serialisation of MODESTY BLAISE.

Her debut novel – TALLULAH AND THE TEENSTARS reached No 2 in the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Chart – Book 2 – TALLULAH ON TOUR is available for download on Amazon.

In the Spring of 2020 she performed in her first play in 7 years BAREFOOT IN THE PARK at THE PITLOCHRY FESTIVAL THEATRE and THE ROYAL LYCEUM EDINBURGH.

CLARE has opened for THE HUMAN LEAGUE in their Arena tour, performed at the EDINBURGH HOGMANAY CELEBRATIONS in Princess Gardens as well as EDINBURGH CASTLE. She has completed successive sold out ALTERED IMAGES headline tours and this summer

ALTERED IMAGES will continue entertaining people in a string of FESTIVALS. She signed a two-album record deal with COOKING VINYL and her first album in 37 years was released in August 2022 to some great reviews which saw ALTERED IMAGES back in the charts! She also released on vinyl CLARA LIBRE - her Cuban-inspired versions of some of ALTERED IMAGES biggest hits.

CLARE has started writing for her next album which she hopes to record later in the year. She is also planning on performing their album BITE again, visiting the towns they missed last time round. Dates to be announced.

About the host:

Louder stalwart Daryl Easlea’s books explore some of his great musical loves; pop eccentrics, glam, populist African American music and prog rock. His first, Everybody Dance: Chic & The Politics Of Disco was published by Helter Skelter in 2004 (and updated in 2020). His second was an extended essay to accompany the Supremes exhibition at the V&A. Talent Is an Asset: the Story of Sparks followed in April 2010, while Without Frontiers: The Life And Music Of Peter Gabriel was published in October 2013, with an updated edition following in March 2018. Whatever Happened To Slade?? – a Sunday Times Book Of The Year – was published in October 2023. His work can be found in Record Collector, Prog, Mojo, and in other places, too. He can regularly be seen talking on Channel 5 about pop.

He also compiles and annotates LPs and CDs, DJs, broadcasts, consults with record companies and was born to dance. He curated Decca's 90th Anniversary celebrations and edited the book Decca: The Supreme Record Company with Darren Henley. His talks on popular music, Fast Forward, have been performed at festivals, the British Library and the V&A. In 2022, he returned to Record Collector as editor of The Rare Record Price Guide and has edited Genesis, The Fall, Paul McCartney and John and Yoko stand-alone magazines. His first Rare Record Price Guide was published in 2024. He is currently working with Slade’s enigmatic Jim Lea writing his autobiography, due for publication 2025.

Daryl's headshot: Big Wave PR