The Tenementals: A Rock Band Chronicles Glasgow’s Radical History Through Music

A new initiative is revitalizing Glasgow’s past, from suffragettes to Spanish Civil War combatants, through the medium of a rock band. The Tenementals, a collective of nine academics and musicians, aim to narrate the city’s “radical history” with their songs. They have now launched their debut album, Glasgow: A History (Vol. I of VI), with plans for five additional volumes. David Archibald, the band’s singer and a professor of political cinemas at the University of Glasgow, sees the group as a means to convey history while engaging audiences on the dancefloor. He explains, “We create these songs that are political and philosophical but we want people to dance at the same time and have fun.” Archibald adds, “We want people to dance to radical history. We don’t see a barrier between having a good time and thinking about the world at the same time.” The band’s own background draws inspiration from artists like Marc Bolan and David Bowie. Archibald was previously involved in the Glasgow Glam Rock Dialogues, an onstage debate where he and others, dressed as glam rock stars, discussed serious global issues. After this unconventional concept gained popularity through several performances, featuring guest appearances from Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos and Bob Hardy, Archibald decided to merge his passions for music and history in a new way. Archibald explains the band’s inception: “We decided to explore what if a rock band tried to tell the history of a city – what would it sound like?” He adds that his physical presence, particularly walking through the city, inspires many songs: “My feet are at the heart of the songs, or at least my body is. A lot of them come from walking around the city and just encountering things.” He further notes the group’s dual foundation: “We have one foot in higher education, and one foot in Glasgow’s vibrant music scene. It’s the rock band that drives it though – the music determines where the band has got to go.” The group’s narratives span the city’s entire spectrum, encompassing both positive and negative elements. David Archibald emphasizes his desire for the band to avoid a sentimental “I belong to Glasgow” portrayal, instead aiming for songs that reflect every facet of the “Dear Green Place.” For instance, the track A Passion Flower’s Lament addresses Scots who participated in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. Archibald elaborates, “One of them was a young Glasgow University chemistry student who fought in Spain and was killed in quite murky circumstances.” He continues, “Civil wars are dirty, difficult things and it talks about the complexity of that, but also asks if we should we even worry about that when fascists are coming back.” Other compositions explore individuals executed or deported for their involvement in the 1820 Radical Wars uprising, while The Owl of Minerva depicts an aerial journey over the city from the perspective of an owl departing Finnieston Crane. Archibald summarizes their approach to the city’s past: “There are things that have scarred this city and affected it negatively, there are positive things, there are things that are both at the same time. “We want to understand the complexities of this city and grapple with it.” This approach has garnered them recognition both domestically and internationally. In 2024, they opened for veteran indie-pop band Belle & Sebastian during their homecoming concerts in Glasgow. Furthermore, their rendition of the German protest song ‘Die Moorsoldaten/Peat Bog Soldiers’ was archived in a concentration camp where the song was historically performed. Actress Maxine Peake also invited the group to perform at the Working Class Movement Library in Salford. David Archibald observes, “I think there’s a massive thirst for people who have ideas about things.” He clarifies, “You don’t have to agree with what we’re saying in order to engage with it.” He emphasizes the quality of their music, stating, “If the songs weren’t good then the project would fall on its rear end, but there’s an interest there.” Archibald recounts his own experience: “When I was a kid I was politicalised by music like the Jam and the Clash and the Specials.” He recalls, “When the Specials were on Top of the Pops we’d be at rallies yelling ‘black and white unite’ to fight against fascism.” He concludes by noting, “There is scope for more political acts – you’re seeing that now in Ireland with bands like Kneecap.” Following the launch of their debut album with a performance at Glasgow’s Oran Mor venue in November, the band is already planning to work on a subsequent release in 2025. Despite their focus on historical themes, David Archibald expresses less interest in nostalgia, instead prioritizing the future. Archibald elaborates on this perspective: “We’re interested in radicals, because they change history – they look at things and say ‘no’. That maybe there is a different way of doing things.” He specifies, “Whether that’s suffragettes, the Spanish Civil War, the workers who occupied the shipyards in 1971 – we’re interested in those moments because they need to be looked after and nurtured.” He concludes by stating, “But we also want to be taking these moments and blasting them into the future. “We’re concerned with radical futures rather than radical pasts.”