International rap superstar Eminem turns 40 today with 13 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and a large business empire among his successes. But back in the day he briefly rubbed shoulders with West Coast wildboys Silibil'n'Brains – who stormed the music industry by pretending they weren't from Scotland.
In this revealing interview, dug out of the STV archives, Dundee rapper Gavin Bain explains how the crushing rejection of a major record label inspired him to con his way into the charts.
The music didn't change but the accent did and soon Gavin and his friend Billy were signed by Sony, made more than £150,000, and got to rub shoulders with their idol, the REAL Slim Shady.
Inspired by Michael J. Fox movie The Secret of My Success the duo's little lie grew bigger and bigger, until they'd convinced others within the British music industry that they were best friends with Eminem.
Eventually, Silibil'n'Brains were invited to support Eminem and D12 on tour, but threw themselves into it and greeted the artists with such enthusiasm that no one from a distance would have thought they didn't know each other.
But it wasn't all success. Bain writes in his book, California Schemin, that although they never got caught they did have to battle with industry hazards like addiction, and the pressure of maintaining their characters.
Ultimately, he explains to STV's The Hour, "the lie tore us apart."
Video interview
Apparently this happened a long time ago, but I don't recall hearing anything about it at all...hm. I looked it up and it was all over the news in 2010, when his book came out.
