EXCLUSIVE – A genuine case of Déjà Vu in Murcia

Allan McCarthy is the first to admit that in his younger years, he was something of a ‘Jack the Lad’ and after spending his early years around the music scene in Scotland, at 22 he ended up in Spain.

One of the reasons for his move was the fact that he hadn’t actually paid any tax in the UK and thought it was time to move somewhere else, so Spain seemed a pretty good option.

.........

 Quite a story and we look forward to sharing Allan’s musical journey when he returns to play at Murcia prison in September. 

FROM D-WING TO SING SONG

"Music saved me it gave us all a reason to keep going"

 Ex-Scots drug trafficker returns to Spanish jail to play song for inmates 

By Eve Beattie 

"Click" on image for link to online article

JAILHOUSE ROCK: Convicted drugs trafficker who formed hit band in prison says ‘music saved me’

By Elea Prevel

Allan McCarthy interviewed by Ruma Jordan for her hit show "I heard a Ruma" on Costa Calida International Radio Station on Monday 13th January 2025

 How He Transitoned  From The Wrong Side Of The Law To Becoming A Respected  Musician (Part 1) 

 National FM interviews Glaswegian musician Allan McCarthy. Allan is a reformed character these days but back in the day he was imprisoned in some of Spain's most notorious prisons. Allan talks here about how he slipped into life of crime rather than choosing it as a career path and equally found a path away from crime through music when by chance he found, while in prison, he had a talent for music. Somehow he ended up winning a talent competition on Spanish TV with his band Berlin90 while still in prison. You could not make it up...  

“From Cell Block to Center Stage: 

Chats to Glasgow Eyes

Ex-Drug Smuggler Returns to Spanish Prison as Rock Star!"

A Glaswegian ex-drug trafficker turned musician is heading back to the Spanish prison where he once served time—but this time as a performer. Allan McCarthy, 61, who was convicted of drug trafficking at just 23, spent six-and-a-half years behind bars at Sangonera de la Verde prison in Murcia. Now, decades later, he's been invited back to entertain the inmates.

Silver Bullet Productionz 2025 01 29th

World Champion Martial Artist Lee Mayo interviews Allan McCarthy.

Listen to last night´s "Finally Friday" on Paisley Radio with host Chris Dixon Somerset and co-host Ian. I Allan McCarthy was lucky enough to be invited along with my friend Iain Henderson Iah En the BAFTA award winning director. There were two Ian & Iain so it got a bit confusing lol.

But luckily Iain the director filmed the proceedings so look out for some video clips appearing soon thanks to Sketchy Productions.

We listened to some great music and had a great chat on a lot of things including my story, my recovery and my recent appearance in BA XAnderson Brian Anderson´s new book "FACES 2" from Glasgow Eyes Gallus Collective. 

We mentioned the amazing video trailers from World Champion Martial Artist Lee Mayo for the interview we filmed together for Liquid Bullet Productionz Liquid Bullet Productionz FORUM | Interviews Crime and Entertainment which will be on YouTube soon and my upcoming meeting on Monday & Tuesday with Glasgow´s Jim King for his show. 

Host Chris played three of my tracks two of which "Its´s you girl" and  "Take a look at yourself" had never previously been heard on UK and the other "Stormy waters" had it´s UK radio premiere on Paisley Radio on my last visits in October so thanks to everyone at Paisley Radio for another great night and thanks to Ian Henderson Iah En for filming it.

Hope you all enjoy listening as much as I did being there

World Champion Martial Artist Lee May interviews Allan McCarthy about his band Berlin90 and the time Allan spent in "Europe´s most dangerous prison" the notorious Carabanchel maximum security prison in Madrid.

Carabanchel was where many of the early scenes in Netflix´s series "Narcos" actually took place

Watch some clips from Paisley Radio´s "Finally Friday" show where hosts Chris & Ian chat with Allan McCarthy play music from his band Berlin90 including the first UK radio airplay for the song "It´s you girl" recorded over thirty years ago.

All video clips were kindly recorded by Iain Henderson & Sketchy Productions/ HENDO FILM.

rraine also wrote one of the first articles on Allan´s which you can sread ticle written by Lorraine Williamson on Sunday 09th February 2025.

 Lorraine also wrote one of the first articles on Allan´s story which you can still read here

 The Olive Press is an English-language newspaper in Spain that covers local and national news. It has been voted Spain's top expat newspaper by a UK marketing group, and has also been called "the best English newspaper in Spain" by the UK's Rough Guide 

 A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge and growing expatriate community in southern Spain – 230,000 copies distributed monthly (160,000 digital impressions) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. 

JAILHOUSE ROCK 

THEY say everyone deserves a second chance.

And for one former narco-trafficker jailbird turned rocker, it comes 30 years after he nearly hit the big time with a band he formed while in a Spanish prison.

Former Costa del Sol resident Allan McCarthy, 61, once found minor fame as the front man for Berlin 90 (named after the wall which had just fallen), even playing live on national television from jail.

While performing shows for Spanish television and radio, the gregarious Scotsman penned the song Runaway from his cell.

I had a brilliant chat with Kris MacPherson on his podcast "TinPailTV"

on Monday 28th October 2024. I can´t believe we talked for NEARLY THREE HOURS !!!!

Click on the image to watch the full show

Renowned photographer Brian Anderson's interview with Allan McCarthy appeared in his GLASGOW EYES magazine

The interview also premiered Berlin90's video for "Runaway"

which features footage from Glasgow filmed by Iain Henderson

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La entrevista del renombrado fotógrafo Brian Anderson con Allan McCarthy apareció en su revista GLASGOW EYES

En la entrevista también se estrenó el vídeo de Berlin90 para "Runaway".

que incluye imágenes de Glasgow filmadas por Iain Henderson

Former drug trafficker turned musician films music video in Barrhead

 A musician who formed a successful band while serving prison time in Spain for drug trafficking has filmed a music video in Barrhead. 

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Un ex narcotraficante convertido en músico graba un vídeo musical en Barrhead

Un músico que formó una exitosa banda mientras cumplía condena en España por tráfico de drogas ha filmado un vídeo musical en Barrhead.

Visor Fest kicks off and its director tells us the latest news. Alan McCarthy, the former Scottish prisoner, premieres songs 30 years later

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Arranca Visor Fest y su director nos cuenta la última hora. Alan McCarthy , el ex recluso escocés, estrena canciones 30 años después

GLASGOW EYES magazine exclusively premiered 

Berlin90's upcoming video "Runaway".

Directed by BAFTA award winning director Iain Henderson

@Sketchy Productions 2024

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Se estrenó en exclusiva la revista GLASGOW EYES 

Próximo vídeo de Berlin90 "Runaway".

Dirigida por el director ganador del premio BAFTA Iain Henderson

@Sketchy Producciones 2024