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==Career==
Mair grew up in the Glasgow area. He began playing guitar at about age 13 and gained experience in various bands during the 1960s.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fie47qSuTsoC&pg=RA1-PA1844&lpg=RA1-PA1844&dq=how+old+is+bassist+alan+mair&source=bl&ots=c-P48WnA-e&sig=rsnXh7P-qIy4A2G6oNocSWOszgM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDIQ6AEwA2oVChMImdTeluzGxwIVCIoNCh0NLwSH#v=onepage&q=how%20old%20is%20bassist%20alan%20mair&f=false |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |page=184 |website=Books.google.com |date= |accessdate=17 September 2016}}</ref> In 1962, Mair and Eddie Campbell formed the Glasgow band [[The Beatstalkers]]. The line-up included Davie Lennox on vocals, Eddie Campbell on guitar, Mair on bass and 'Tudge' Williamson on drums (replaced by [[Jeff Allen]]). Later Ronnie Smith joined the group on rhythm guitar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tartanrocker.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-beatstalkers.html |title=Tartan Rocker: The Beatstalkers |website=Tartanrocker.blogspot.com |date=27 January 2014 |accessdate=17 September 2016}}</ref> Under the management of Joe Gaffney, the band went on to become Scotland's "top group" at the time. They were called the "Scottish [[The Beatles|Beatles]]" by the local press because of the screaming and riots that occurred anywhere they made an appearance; although the band toured England and Europe many times, had a 6-week sell-out residency at the famous [[Marquee Club]] and performed on the TV show "[[Ready Steady Go!]]", they never achieved the same dizzy heights of success as they did in Scotland. The band signed a recording contract with [[Decca Records]]. Their records sold thousands of copies in Scotland, but with only two chart shops in Scotland their sales made no impact on the UK charts. They split in 1969 after their van was stolen with all their equipment in it.<ref name=beat>{{
After The Beatstalkers decided to call it a day in 1969 Mair began making leather clothes and hand made boots for rock bands the likes of Yes, Santana, The Tremolos, David Bowie, Uriah Heep and many more. A short time later in 1970 he opened shops in Kensington Market, Kings Road and High street Kensington selling handmade leather stacked heel boots which he was making in his own factory in Kentish Town. In 1971 he employed Freddie Mercury of the rock band Queen at his Kensington Market shop as his shop manager from 1971 until 1974. On one occasion after being at a party Freddie told Alan that everyone at the party, including the girls, had his boots on, and said “ I don’t know if you realise but you’re not considered hip unless you have on a pair of Alan Mair boots”
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After a five-year spell in the fashion world Mair was drawn back to the music business. He joined the "Al Matthews Band" who had a couple of hit records. They were a bunch of formidable players, all great musicians,.!!!! Al Matthews on vocals, who went on to play "Sergeant Apone" in Aliens. Raphael Ravenscroft on sax [Baker Street]. Sean Byrne on guitar. Theodore Thunder on drums [Leo Sayer]. Ric Parnell [2nd drummer] Atomic Rooster and played Mick Shrimpton in the movie “This is Spinal Tap”. Dave Rose on keyboards [Leo Sayer and Allan Price] and Lindsay Scott on violin [JSD band]. They toured constantly. Their first tour was supporting Levi Stubbs’s “Four Tops”.
When The Al Matthews band split Mair answered an advert in Melody Maker and went for an audition with Roger Chapman’s band “Streetwalkers” at Mano’s Studios in Lots Road. During a break he wandered into the studio next door and found himself watching The Only Ones rehearse. On leaving the studio Mike Kellie enquired who Alan was and found out he was a bass player. Without hearing him play Kellie said he felt a spiritual connection and that he was the bass player they were looking for. He joined The Only Ones in August 1976. They signed to CBS and recorded 3 studio albums, of which their first album “The Only Ones and “Even Serpents Shine” received critical acclaim. The Only Ones included lead vocalist [[Peter Perrett]], guitarist [[John Perry (musician)|John Perry]] and drummer and ex-[[Spooky Tooth]] member [[Mike Kellie]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin|last=Perry |title=Alan Mair interviewed about The Only Ones |url=http://thebeaverdialogues.blogspot.com/2007/05/only-ones.html |newspaper=[[The Beaver (newspaper)|The Beaver]] |date=1 May 2007 |accessdate=29 September 2010 | location=London}}</ref> Their first single, "Lovers of Today", was self-released on the Vengeance record label, and a year later they signed to [[CBS]]. Their next single "[[Another Girl, Another Planet]]" became the band's best-known song. The band released ''[[The Only Ones (album)|The Only Ones]]'' in 1978, which was well received. The next year they released ''[[Even Serpents Shine]]'', and a year later, they released their final studio album, ''[[Baby's Got a Gun]]''. In the summer of 1980, they supported [[the Who]] on their tour of the United States. In 1982, the band officially disbanded. In subsequent years, The Only Ones gained a cult following, and [[compilation album]]s now outnumber their official studio albums.
==Later career==
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