Andy Bollen is a Scottish author, comedy writer, and columnist. He is best known for his memoir Nirvana: A Tour Diary (2013) and for A History of Scottish Football in 100 Objects (2019, 2023). His work spans music, football, and politics, and he has written for BBC television and radio for over twenty-five years.
Andy Bollen was born in Bellshill and grew up in Airdrie, where he attended St Margaret’s High School. He later said that he “always fancied” a career in journalism. His first involvement in creative work came through music.
From the age of fourteen Andy worked in record shops, became a DJ, and played in bands. He joined Captain America as a drummer and backing vocalist. After legal pressure from Marvel Comics, the group renamed themselves Eugenius. Its guitarist Eugene Kelly had earlier founded The Vaselines, a band admired by Kurt Cobain. This connection led to Bollen touring with Nirvana.
“Yes, that always sounds a bit far-fetched and wild,” he recalled, “it was all quite tame and sensible really.”
During the Nirvana tour he kept a diary, which became the basis of his first book Nirvana: A Tour Diary (2013). The memoir gave an inside view of the band during their rise to fame. Bollen described Kurt Cobain as “fun to be around, generous, and mischievous when he got bored,” rejecting the tragic image presented later in the media.
Alongside his music career Bollen built a long-standing reputation as a comedy writer. He contributed to BBC Scotland’s Only an Excuse? and the radio programme Off the Ball, as well as other shows including Chewin’ the Fat. He also wrote for The Sunday Mail, The Glasgow Herald, Scotland on Sunday, and The New York Times.
After the Nirvana book Andy Bollen released the political satire Sandy Trout: The Memoir (2015). He then moved into football history, publishing A History of Scottish Football in 100 Objects (2019, 2023), Fierce Genius: Cruyff’s Year at Feyenoord (2021), and A History of European Football in 100 Objects (2022).
He followed with The Number 10: More than a Number, More than a Shirt (2023), and the updated paperback of his Scottish football history the same year.
In 2024 Bollen returned to music with Labelled With Love: The History of the World in Your Record Collection, and to football with Classic Derbies & Epic Rivalries.
His most recent book is called Definitely Maybe: The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Oasis was published by Polygon in 2025. Bollen, who saw Alan McGee offer Oasis a record deal at King Tut's in 1993, uses his experience in the music industry for the book.
“Oasis became the band of the people by giving the people what they wanted: rock ‘n’ roll,” he said. “They weren’t formed in art school. They were from the street: Artful Dodgers from a housing scheme who enjoyed their fame and created stadium anthems that connected with millions.”
Photo credit: birlinn.co.uk
Andy Bollen was born in Bellshill and grew up in Airdrie, where he attended St Margaret’s High School. He later said that he “always fancied” a career in journalism. His first involvement in creative work came through music.
From the age of fourteen Andy worked in record shops, became a DJ, and played in bands. He joined Captain America as a drummer and backing vocalist. After legal pressure from Marvel Comics, the group renamed themselves Eugenius. Its guitarist Eugene Kelly had earlier founded The Vaselines, a band admired by Kurt Cobain. This connection led to Bollen touring with Nirvana.
“Yes, that always sounds a bit far-fetched and wild,” he recalled, “it was all quite tame and sensible really.”
During the Nirvana tour he kept a diary, which became the basis of his first book Nirvana: A Tour Diary (2013). The memoir gave an inside view of the band during their rise to fame. Bollen described Kurt Cobain as “fun to be around, generous, and mischievous when he got bored,” rejecting the tragic image presented later in the media.
Alongside his music career Bollen built a long-standing reputation as a comedy writer. He contributed to BBC Scotland’s Only an Excuse? and the radio programme Off the Ball, as well as other shows including Chewin’ the Fat. He also wrote for The Sunday Mail, The Glasgow Herald, Scotland on Sunday, and The New York Times.
After the Nirvana book Andy Bollen released the political satire Sandy Trout: The Memoir (2015). He then moved into football history, publishing A History of Scottish Football in 100 Objects (2019, 2023), Fierce Genius: Cruyff’s Year at Feyenoord (2021), and A History of European Football in 100 Objects (2022).
He followed with The Number 10: More than a Number, More than a Shirt (2023), and the updated paperback of his Scottish football history the same year.
In 2024 Bollen returned to music with Labelled With Love: The History of the World in Your Record Collection, and to football with Classic Derbies & Epic Rivalries.
His most recent book is called Definitely Maybe: The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Oasis was published by Polygon in 2025. Bollen, who saw Alan McGee offer Oasis a record deal at King Tut's in 1993, uses his experience in the music industry for the book.
“Oasis became the band of the people by giving the people what they wanted: rock ‘n’ roll,” he said. “They weren’t formed in art school. They were from the street: Artful Dodgers from a housing scheme who enjoyed their fame and created stadium anthems that connected with millions.”
Photo credit: birlinn.co.uk
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