Clare Grogan’s Enduring Youth and Upcoming Tour
Clare Grogan, the 63-year-old Scottish singer from the 1980s New Wave band Altered Images, maintains a remarkably youthful appearance as she gears up for a UK tour celebrating the 45th anniversary of their hit single “Happy Birthday.” The track reached No. 2 on the UK charts in 1981, propelling the band to fame before they disbanded two years later.
Despite achieving six UK top 40 singles and three top 30 albums, Grogan reveals the band remained financially strained during their peak. “I hadn’t made any money, despite three successful albums,” she states. “Ask any band from the 80s and they’ll tell you that somebody made some money, but it’s very rarely the band. Even when I was at the top of the charts, I was earning £75 a week.”
Challenges in the Music Industry
Grogan attributes the financial woes to the opaque nature of the music business. “The music business is notoriously messy and we were at an age where we desperately wanted to be part of it, so we didn’t ask questions,” she explains. “Also, there seemed something vulgar in talking about money.” She now views not inquiring further as a major error, noting that the band placed too much trust in industry figures.
The original lineup featured Grogan alongside Gerard McInulty, Michael Anderson, and Tony McDaid, later joined by Stephen Lironi, whom she married in 1994. After enduring six miscarriages and four unsuccessful IVF attempts, the couple adopted their daughter Ellie in 2005.
From Music to Acting and Beyond
Beyond music, Grogan has built a successful acting career, most notably as Susan in the 1981 comedy Gregory’s Girl, a film that captures the awkwardness of teenage romance and remains a classic. The movie, set in a Scottish secondary school, features Grogan’s character winning the heart of the protagonist, played by Gordon Sinclair. It ranks among the top high school films ever, alongside Grease and Fame, and has admirers like director Martin Scorsese.
“It’s a really lovely thing to have in my life,” Grogan reflects on the film’s lasting impact. “I think the reason Gregory’s Girl still resonates with people after all this time is because it’s a story everyone can relate to… fancying someone who doesn’t fancy you back.”
Grogan’s acting resume also includes roles in EastEnders and Red Dwarf, and she has authored children’s novels. She continues to perform, having toured European festivals last summer with her bandmates, who describe her as still charismatic and energetic.
Financial Reflections and Early Opportunities
Even today, Grogan experiences anxiety about her financial stability, stemming from her early career struggles. When Altered Images signed a £50,000 record deal in the early 1980s, it felt like a fortune, but international hits in places like Australia and Japan yielded little profit. “We had hits as far away as Australia and Japan, but did we make any money? Not really,” she says. “At the height of our success I was only being paid £75 a week.” This amount exceeded her earnings from tips in her initial job as a waitress during sixth-form college by just £15.
Her role in Gregory’s Girl nearly didn’t happen. Director Bill Forsyth, a regular at the Glasgow restaurant where Grogan worked after school, asked for her contact details, but she initially refused, wary of strangers. “I had no idea who he was or what he did,” she recalls. “I’d been told by my mother never to give my number to strange men. I was 17 and in my head I was thinking, ‘It’s a guy in his pants with a camcorder, so I think I will just say no to that one.'”
Fortunately, Forsyth persisted through the restaurant manager, who vouched for him. “But it was all very legitimate and he persevered – my goodness, thank God he did,” Grogan adds. “He contacted the manager of the restaurant and she said ‘he’s a really nice man, Clare, and he is really going to make this film and I think you should meet him.’”
Looking ahead, Grogan expresses surprise at her continued performances. Speaking about the anniversary tour, she admits, “I’d have been mortified if you’d told me I’d still be singing Happy Birthday in my 60s!” The tour promises to bring her iconic sound back to UK audiences.
