Frightened Rabbit's Billy Kennedy to honour Scott Hutchison with stage return
- Published
Scott Hutchison and Billy Kennedy shared a stage for more than a decade as part of Frightened Rabbit
Frightened Rabbit guitarist Billy Kennedy is to finally step back on stage almost five years after the death of his friend and bandmate Scott Hutchison.
And the 38-year-old is confident his friend from their schooldays in Selkirk would have approved.
His new project Haiver will play their first gig next week.
Billy said: "I think Scott would be pleased for me - a lot of my new music is down to him."
Billy Kennedy will return to the stage with Haiver
Scott Hutchison took his own life in May 2018 after a long battle with depression.
His death left a gaping hole in the Scottish music scene as well as the lives of his family, friends and bandmates.
Scott had led Frightened Rabbit from small venues in Glasgow to become one of the country's most respected and successful bands.
While all of the other members have remained in the music industry, Billy has retrained as a wellbeing practitioner.
He has also suffered with his own mental health issues during the five-year hiatus from performing.
But he is now ready to take to the stage once again with his new project, Haiver.
Scott Hutchison took his own life in May 2018
He said: "It took me a long time to get over the death of Scott.
"There has been a lot to deal with over the five years - grief, my own depression, starting a family, and I was also trying to figure out what I wanted to do.
"Despite everything I continued writing songs, and now I feel I'm confident enough to start sharing them with everyone.
"I'm extremely nervous as the only people I've ever shared my songs with in the past was the Frightened Rabbit boys, and even then I was terrified they wouldn't like it."
Over the past few months Billy has been joined by Brett McCann from Community Swimming Pool and Australian producer Jono Steer to polish and make ready a handful of his Haiver songs.
Plans for the release of a full album later this year are also taking shape.
Billy Kennedy is set for a return to performing after almost five years
While he expects his new project will appeal to most Frightened Rabbit fans, he hopes Haiver will be judged on its own merit.
He said: "I'm not Frightened Rabbit, I'm not Scott Hutchison - it's a completely different project - but I know my music will sound familiar.
"I took a lot from Scott - I looked up to him for more than 12 years.
"Being in a band with Scott, as well as Grant, Andy, Simon and Gordon - they were all talented musicians - means I will have taken a lot from them all.
"Scott always said I could write a good pop song and he liked my songs - a lot of what I've done on my own is based on him."
The forthcoming Haiver performance at the MacArts in Galashiels is part of a benefit gig for the Harris Trust.
'Rooting for me'
The charity, which was founded in memory of Harris Macdonell, who also took his own life, provides music and sporting opportunities for young people with their own difficulties.
Billy has been working with the charity by mentoring music students at Selkirk High School.
And Haiver will be supported at their first gig by many of the pupils.
He added: "The Harris Trust is very close to me.
"I see the kids every other week and it's a huge thing for me and for them.
"When the trust asked me to play at the fundraising event I couldn't say no.
"Haiver is a big shout out to Scott and I know he'll be rooting for me when I take to the stage."
If you or someone you know has been affected by mental health problems, these organisations may be able to help you.
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