It's no surprise if you've never come across Hugh Trowsers before. Hugh was born Uisdean MacLean (Hugh MacLean) on the Island of Mull on the west coast of Scotland in May 1943. He left school at 13 to take up a life working on his family's croft, but always had a hankering for taking his musical skills further and develop a career for himself beyond the sea. Hugh was named after his Grandfather of the same name, and always loved to tell the tale of the auld bugger's bright yellow trousers to anyone who'd listen: Hugh the Elder was known throughout the island and admired by all and sundry for his celebrated shocking garb. So much so that the moniker Uisdean nam Triubhas, or Hugh of the Trousers, stuck with him throughout his life. Hugh took up his Grandfather's nickname, changing the "u" to a "w" so as not to appear ridiculous, when he moved to the mainland in 1960. He worked hard at his music and became a relatively well known behind-the-scenes figure inside the music industry during the 60's and 70's. Hugh was heavily involved in the Scottish Psychedelic Folk scene; originally in Edinburgh playing impromptu gigs with the likes of Robin Williamson, Mike Heron and Clive Palmer of Scotland's greatest ever group 'The Incredible String Band', and developing his unique picking guitar style that influenced so many 60's artists. Appalled with the invasion of Edinburgh by the London Art-House regiment, and the loss of the spontaneity they were seeking to control, Hugh fled to the continent, and spent 15 years in Europe entrenching himself in the burgeoning continental music scene.

Hugh saw the opportunities of the developing electronic arena, and produced a huge bank of early continental electronic ambient rock. Bands who are now lost to the world, but were undoubtedly influential to the likes of Kraftwerk, and therefore through to Jean Michel Jarre, Yello, Gary Numan, the Human League and OMD.

Hugh retired from music in 1980 to concentrate on his business interests in New York where he wrote his first book "The Golden Humbucker". He sold his business in 1989 and moved to Texas where he lived quietly until deciding to return home to Scotland at the end of 2003.

Hugh had music in his blood. Even in his Texan hermitage he was surrounded by self-made musical instruments of all descriptions. He never lost his belief that true Nirvana could only be found in the regular company of other people with a strong focussed collective mission. On his return to his Scotland, Hugh happened upon a small music society (MAMAS) in a rustic country village where individuals played acoustic music beside the fireplace to each other. Amazingly Hugh met Davie McCallum, an old musical acquaintance from the 80s there. With Davie's pal Ian Kay, the threesome decided to form a band to play music.

Originally the new band played a kind of folky-celtic rock, and called themselves 'The Magical Phi'. The music became much more rock-pop when Hugh influenced the band to start writing their own material.

Nope. The Magical Phi was always a folk band. When Ian and Davie started writing their own material their more rock oriented influences came into the kitchen. When the triumverate of the Joester bringing his jazz/pop background, Tim Gray with percussive skills that devastate lesser beings, and George Futter the free-spirited violinster supreme, joined the band it became what they've become. Vivien Scotson's heart-melting vocals adds a tasty layer of icing on top of the marzipan and fruitcake. Hugh's always there in fine cognac spirit, but always combusts or evaporates quickly.

The unique wonderful sound they've developed now is far away from where they've been in the past. It's called progress, but the auld codger approves: Hugh told Classic Rock Magazine - "I'm on their mountain. If you stand still you erode and you're not worth moving".

The band never formed, and never will.

Thanks to Hugh's old pal "Fearsome" Les Oman of Radio Argyll FM for helping to fill in the blanks in Hugh's early life, and to Hugh's soul-brother Lachie Paterson for letting us know a little of Hugh's time in America.