“There’s a slight doom and gloom element to Scottish music,” guitarist Gregor Philp says with a smile. Nearly 40 years on, their 10th album, 2025’s The Great Western Road, marked a return to the U.K. charts behind the single Late ’88, which Philp co-wrote with singer Ricky Ross. “I always aim to play what makes sense for the song,” Philp says, “and it hardly ever makes sense to do a lot of virtuoso stuff.” Not that he can’t do the virtuoso stuff. The son of musician parents, Philp started playing at age 10, inspired by everything from the Beatles to Genesis to AC/DC. Deacon Blue - The Great Western Road (Official Video) - YouTube Watch OnThat prepared him for years of working as a composer in film, TV and commercials.