Last-minute hitch for Snow Patrol as rocker is arrested
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SNOW Patrol's keyboard player Tom Simpson, pictured right, will appear before Glasgow court today on drugs charges.
Scottish-man Simpson (35) was arrested hours before the band were due on stage to headline the Oxegen music festival last Saturday. The chart-topping band was then forced to perform before the packed 80,000-strong crowd at the Co Kildare venue minus the musician.
The Northern Irish band was preparing to fly over from London after playing at the Live Earth gig at Wembley when Simpson was arrested.
The musician was detained after allegedly failing to appear before Glasgow Sheriff Court in the past to face drugs charges. The band were about to board their private plane at RAF Northolt in Middlesex on Saturday to fly to Dublin for their Oxegen gig when Simpson was arrested. He was detained at Uxbridge Police Station in London.
However, despite losing a key member of the group, the rest of the band travelled on to Punchestown Racecourse to headline the show. It is believed Simpson's keyboard technician stepped in to fill in his slot.
Strathclyde Police confirmed Mr Simpson had been due to be transferred to their custody from Uxbridge Police Station, but was later released.
A police spokesman said he was let out of custody on the understanding he would attend at Glasgow Sheriff Court today. Simpson's release meant he was able to travel to Glasgow to join the band where they were closing the Sunday night of the T in the Park event.
The band, which also includes two members from Scotland, scooped the best Irish band and three other Meteor awards earlier this year following a string of chart successes.
They band were formed in 1994 by lead singer Gary Lightbody, from Bangor, Co Down, and Mark McClelland from Belfast.
Last year, Snow Patrol were the biggest-selling act in the UK after 1.5 million copies of their album 'Eyes Open' were sold.
Simpson, from Scotland, played with the band on tour for several years before he was made a full member of the band in 2005.
LOUISE HOGAN
