Creation records do it again with another fad Scottish signing armed with a breeze of classic pop songs coated with delicious harmonies and delicate, simple arrangements that portray a bruised sense of aching despair. Ready Steady Go! spoke to the chief singer/songwriting duo Chris and Alan as they embark on their voyage to put pure pop music without the cynical and tinsel town trimmings back to the top of the charts.

How did you all come together?

"Me and Chris, the guitarist, went to school together. We moved to Glasgow about 4 years ago and joined up with John and Hank, nothing too serious at the time. We finally got signed two years ago, and that was that".

What were the Diggers aspirations at first?

"Well, we started out playing acoustic guitars supporting crazy Fife punk bands. We were into stuff like Simon and Garfunkel, and at the time, everyone else were into other things. We've never been a indie band, we're a POP group. I suppose we were a bit pissed off at the time, because there was a lot of good bands around such as the Mondays and the Roses. But the intentions were never different from others, just play good music, good songs".

What is your attitude towards the Glasgow music scene, is it a necessity to be involved coming from Scotland?

"Well, Glasgow is the only place folk go to see bands really, so that's why we moved there originally. There was a lot of talent going about in Fife, but it was just going nowhere because you're stuck in the wrong place. We don't hang about with the bands from Glasgow, and that's because we class ourselves as outsiders. We tried to get into the biography that we weren't from Glasgow, just to avoid all that bullshit".

When did you get your first break?

"Alan McGee came to see us when we were rehearsing, we weren't gigging at the time. It was during Sound City funnily enough. We played a few demos and that, and he signed us straight away".

Is it true that Martin Carr from the Boo Radleys got the credit for getting you signed?

"He got the tape from John at the gig, and then he handed it to an A&R guy from Creation. But apparently he had the tape, so I don't know really. Creation were the only label interested in us at the time, so yes! I think Alan McGee signed us for the songs, seen some potential in us".

Would you say the success of Oasis has put extra pressure on bands?

"No way, it's brought more money and less pressure. Oasis aren't really part of Creation now, they're that big. It doesn't matter what label they're on now, they'll sell records. But as far as pressure is concerned, it's all separate. We've got different press officers, we've got our own money, so we make our own attention. Creation are good like that, make bands find their own feet".

Like every (desperate) Britpop band seems to do these days, would the Diggers lick ol'gingerbollocks Chris Evans arse for their instant gateway to fame and fortune!?

"Smash him in the face more like! He's just a blagger isn't he? You can't take him serious. He's never been a real music fan. But of course, we wouldn't turn down a spot on TFI Friday, but he'd have to suck our cocks first!"

How passionate would you say you were about music?

"How long is a piece of string? It's in your blood isn't it? At first you're a fan, then if you're in a band you're involved in it. You can never be too involved in music, because it means so much. But you can be involved in your music that you don't know what's happening, Brian Wilson on Smile the perfect example".

When you were learning, did you intentionally try to write original material or learn from playing other people's songs?

"You can't really say. A lot of its conscious, a lot of its not. It may be a record you heard five years ago, just the once, and you've played a song and somebody will say that it sounds like that record. But so many bands have a tune but just keep it in your head. You've got to be good at stealing. There are many ways to go about it. You can be blatant and make yourself look stupid, pay out millions of pounds to the originator. Or you can take an idea from somebody and develop it. The way we write our songs is that I will write the lyrics first and then build around that, where as the guitarist will come up with a melody that may or may not have been influenced. It just depends. But we write our songs separately".

Who are your heroes ?

"I would say Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney. These guys made a lot of good music, so I have a lot of respect for them. Also, to a certain extent, R.E.M. and U2. But I try to listen to as much as possible. Peter Green too. But I never got into dance music at all, I could never see it. Public Enemy and The Beastie Boys, but that's about it".

What are your plans for the future?

"We're just going to work our arses off so that no matter what happens, we can say we gave it our best. You must work hard not only to get success, but for personal satisfaction".

The Diggers ace debut album MOUNT EVEREST is available on Creation Records. The Diggers are sadly no more but, the did leave their mark on pop history with Mount Everest, in years to come this little treasure will always be around bring back warm memories of a great little band.