Garry Alexander Borland – Heavy Drapes

Garry Alexander Borland

There are many people today trying to come to terms with the news this morning of the sudden death of the inimitable husband, father, brother, son and effervescent arresting front-man of Heavy Drapes, Garry Alexander Borland.

I first met Garry only a few years ago when someone brought Heavy Drapes to my attention. Hooked from the first clip I saw of the band and its alluring front-man. In the short time I’d known him, Garry was a larger than life colourful character and it was a pleasure to have made his acquaintance. And also seen him strut his stuff on stage with Heavy Drapes over the last few years.

Onstage DeLiberate had a personality loved by many while at the same time raising the hackles in others. He managed to get under the skin and always got the reaction he wanted. His onstage introduction of “We’re Heavy Drapes and we’re fucking punk rock” always made me smile.

Despite the swagger and assumed arrogance of DeLiberate, Garry was a lovely, down to earth guy away from the performance. He always had time to stop and chat to people at gigs. He was a great supporter of this blog, taking time to answer my questions and give me his thoughts.

Garry had an unbounded passion for his art. He was a perfectionist and would not be happy with the norm or mediocre. Everything in respect of Heavy Drapes had to be right. Whether that was the songs, the band’s sound, getting the right producer for their album. Or his and the bands public image & the marketing for the band. If it wasn’t perfect it wasn’t happening.

Garry had experience of the industry having had a previous brush with success and controversy in Baby’s Got a Gun releasing an album “Up” and playing the Marquee and Glasgow Barrowland with the likes of Zodiac Mindwarp & The Damned. He knew exactly what he wanted and how we was going to get there.

I was fortunate to see the band many times over the last few years and they never failed to put everything into a performance. It didn’t matter the size of crowd or where they were on the bill. The band got better each time they played and caught the imagination and admiration of many long established acts – The Godfathers, Duncan Reid & the Big Heads, The Boys to name a few.

The rise of Heavy Drapes was continuing in its ascendancy. The band played to a huge crowd at last year’s Rebellion and the ever swelling list of gigs showed how popular they were and in demand by promoters, not just across the UK but into Europe.

I was fortunate to see the band recently in Kilmarnock playing with punk legends The Defects. As ever, the band played a blinder. They continued to play gigs in recent weeks culminating in Rebellion Amsterdam just in the past weekend. The anticipation for the debut album was growing by the day. He will be sorely missed by many in the Scottish punk scene & far beyond.

Much more than that, Garry was a family man. When he wasn’t out gigging or promoting the Drapes, he was spending quality time with his wife Julie and daughter Mischa. He would often post pictures when they were out together and he was obviously immensely proud of his daughter. My heart and thoughts go out to them at this time and the rest of Garry’s family & friends including band-mates Billy, Richie and Jerry.

RIP Garry. You were a star, keep shining brightly.