Tom Russell

Born in Kirkintilloch in August 1948, Tom Russell is Scotland's most celebrated rock broadcaster — the Godfather of Rock and The Beard of Doom. He fell in love with music at age 14 at a Beatles concert, served in the Parachute Regiment, then opened Tom Russell's Record Shop in Bishopbriggs before beginning his broadcasting career at Radio Clyde in 1981. For over 20 years he hosted the legendary Friday Night Rock Show, interviewing Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Iron Maiden and virtually every rock great of the era. He moved to Rock Radio 96.3, Rocksport Radio and Real Radio XS before joining ROCK.SCOT. In 2012 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scottish New Music Awards. His 2016 autobiography The Godfather of Rock documents almost half century at the heart of Scottish rock broadcasting. He also hosts the Access All Areas podcast featuring rediscovered interviews with rock legends.