Kevin McDermott: Musician struck with lump of concrete in attack

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Concrete blockImage source, Kevin McDermott
Image caption,

The scene of Monday's attack on the Kelvin Walkway

A musician has told of being struck on the head with a lump of concrete in an attack by a group of youths at a Glasgow underpass.

Singer-songwriter Kevin McDermott, who was riding an electric scooter, said the helmet he was wearing saved him from serious injury.

He was attacked on Monday afternoon when he stopped after finding the path blocked by branches.

Police Scotland, external said it was investigating the incident.

Mr McDermott, 60, said the attack came while he was taking "a little putter" along the Kelvin Walkway in the Maryhill area of the city.

He said it was fortunate he had chosen to wear his helmet.

Image source, Kevin McDermott
Image caption,

Mr McDermott said his helmet saved him from serious injury

Mr McDermott told BBC Radio's Drivetime programme: "I came to an arch under a disused railway line and there were branches thrown across it (the path).

"I got off the scooter and then a person threw a breeze block on my head, which knocked me skew-whiff.

"The helmet took the blow."

Mr McDermott said four youths appeared and he managed to scare them off. He said: "I was absolutely furious".

The musician told police he did not believe he was injured, but later went to hospital to get checked and was told he had injuries similar to whiplash.

Image source, Getty Images

Police Scotland said: "Officers were called around 15:30 on Monday to Kelvin Walkway in the Maryhill area of Glasgow, following reports of a man being assaulted by a group of youths.

"The 60-year-old wasn't injured and inquiries into the incident are ongoing."

Mr McDermott was a member of The Suede Crocodiles in the early 1980s, and also released a solo acoustic album before founding the Kevin McDermott Orchestra in 1986.

The band was signed to Island Records, where they released their debut album, and supported acts like INXS, Simple Minds and Rod Stewart on stadium tours in the early 1990s.

The Kevin McDermott Orchestra released its subsequent albums on independent labels, and he has continued to perform and record as a solo artist.

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