Biography

Alan Rankine (17 May 1958 – 2 January 2023) was a Scottish musician and record producer best known as keyboardist and guitarist for rock band the Associates, which he co-founded with lead vocalist Billy Mackenzie in the late 1970s. Rankine began his career with the cabaret band Caspian, which became the Associates. Together they recorded three albums: The Affectionate Punch (1980), the singles compilation Fourth Drawer Down (1981) and Sulk (1982). Rankine left the band in 1982 on the eve of what would have been the Sulk tour, due to Billy Mackenzie's reluctance to travel. While Mackenzie continued with other associates, Rankine established himself as a producer, working with artists such as Paul Haig, Cocteau Twins, and the Pale Fountains. He signed a recording contract with Belgian label Les Disques du Crépuscule in 1986 and embarked on a solo career. He recorded three solo studio albums: The World Begins to Look Her Age (1986), She Loves Me Not (1987), and the fully instrumental The Big Picture Sucks (1989). Rankine later worked as a lecturer in Stow College in Glasgow until 2010, when he left to return to music production. While working as a lecturer he helped students to set up their own inhouse record label Electric Honey, which went on to launch the careers of bands such as Belle and Sebastian, Snow Patrol and Biffy Clyro. Rankine died on 2 January 2023, at the age of 64. He died peacefully in his home after spending Christmas with his family. The cause of death was later confirmed to be heart disease.