John Richard Douglas was born in Irvine, Scotland on
3rd December 1963.
John, and Stephen, Douglas are members of The Trash Can Sinatras, a
Scottish band that was formed in Irvine in 1986. The band's music makes
frequent use of pop harmonies and the lyrics make frequent use of
wordplay. John plays guitar and sings.
John Douglas wrote "Wild Mountainside", which was recorded by Eddi
Reader for her 2003 album Eddi Reader Sings the Songs of Robert Burns.
This song was later recorded by the Trashcans and released as an EP in
2005. John Douglas wrote two songs, "Should I Pray?" and "Prisons",
which appear on Eddi Reader's 2007 album Peacetime. The Trashcans have
also recorded these songs for In the Music.
In 2013, Douglas and Reader were married, shortly after which he was
diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, ulcerative colitis, which
necessitated surgery and a lengthy convalescence.
Sadenia "Eddi" Reader MBE, born 29th August 1959, is a Scottish
singer-songwriter, known both for her work with Fairground Attraction
and for an enduring solo career. She is the recipient of three BRIT
Awards and has topped both the album and singles charts. In 2003 she
showcased the works of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns.
The Robert Burns project saw Reader awarded an MBE for outstanding
contributions to the arts in the New Year's honours list of 2006.
In May 2007 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of
Strathclyde. Later that year she was recognised for her contributions to
music and to the education and encouragement of young musicians with an
honorary doctorate and a Doctor of Letters from Glasgow Caledonian
University. In June 2008 she received another doctorate for her musical
work, this time from the University of Stirling, and in 2013 she
received an honorary doctor of music award from the University of
Edinburgh
-----------------------------------
John Douglas (1963–2026)
John Douglas, Scottish songwriter, guitarist and a founding member of
the Trashcan Sinatras, died peacefully on 3 August 2026 after a brief
illness, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Irvine on 3 December 1963,
Douglas spent four decades shaping the band’s distinctive melodic sound,
contributing to all seven studio albums and helping carry the group from
their 1990 breakthrough Cake through to Ever the Optimist, released just
four days before his death.
Douglas was part of a close musical
family within the band itself: he performed alongside his brother
Stephen Douglas, and his brother‑in‑law Francis Reader, with whom he
shared the group’s long creative life. He is also survived by his wife,
Eddi Reader, the acclaimed Scottish singer best known for her work with
Fairground Attraction.
Gentle, thoughtful, and quietly
brilliant, John Douglas leaves behind a body of work cherished for its
warmth, craft, and emotional clarity — a legacy now carried forward by
his family, bandmates, and the devoted community of listeners who found
solace and joy in his songs.
Note:
• Stephen was born in Irvine on 21st February 1970 |
