Allan McCarthy, a former drug trafficker, is set to perform at the prison where he once served time, bringing music to current inmates.
Murcia: So, get this! Allan McCarthy, a former drug trafficker from Scotland, is heading back to the Spanish prison where he did time. He’s going to perform for the inmates, which is pretty wild, right?
Allan, now 61, was just 23 when he got locked up for drug trafficking. He was living in the Costa Del Sol, trying to set up some fun for tourists, but things took a turn when the cops found cannabis in his car back in 1988.
While he was in Sangonera de la Verde prison, he got into music and even formed a band called Berlin90. They had a hit song called “Runaway,” which he wrote while behind bars. Can you believe they even got to record it outside the prison?
Fast forward to today, and Allan is re-releasing “Runaway” with a fresh music video shot in his hometown. And guess what? The prison guards invited him back to perform for the current inmates, and it’s going to be broadcast on Spanish radio!
He shared that he had a pint with some of the guards, who are now in high positions, and they asked him to come back. It’s been almost 35 years since he got out, and he sees this as a chance to reconnect.
Back in the day, Berlin90 was a big deal in Spain, getting tons of media attention. They even played gigs, which was a bit against the rules. Allan reminisced about those days, saying they were always busy with concerts and rehearsals.
But then, things changed. He got moved to Carabanchel, a notorious maximum-security prison, and that pretty much ended the band’s run. He described Carabanchel as a brutal place, comparing it to Alcatraz, where life was tough and dangerous.
After serving his time, Allan went back to Scotland, banned from Spain for a decade. He managed to stay on the straight and narrow, working in magazine publishing. Once his ban was up, he returned to Spain but eventually came back to Barrhead after the pandemic.
Now, he’s excited to head back to Spain and keep the spirit of Berlin90 alive. It’s a fascinating journey, and I can’t wait to see how this performance goes!
