John Douglas

The Trashcan Sinatras posted yesterday that John Douglas died on August 3rd, after a short illness. He was 63. The notice is signed by Stephen, Davy, Paul and Frank, and it says he went peacefully in the early hours, with people who loved him around him and his own songs playing in the room.

He was from Irvine, Scotland, joined the band in 1986, and played on all seven of their records. Guitar and vocals, and most of the songs written by him and Frank between them across those forty years. He made a solo album in 2023. He’d been playing with his wife, Eddi Reader, sister of Trashcans lead vocalist Frank.

Ever The Optimist came out on the 31st. He died on the 3rd.

I’ve published two essays in the past week with this band sitting inside them, which has made for an odd few days, and neither one is why I’m writing this.

I met John once, before a show. He gave us a good chunk of his time, and then during the set he carried the conversation on from the stage, to my wife and me out in the room. We’ll miss him.