One of the world's top-selling rock stars has been rejected as Runrig's new lead singer.
Paul Carrack, who fronts Mike & The Mechanics, applied to replace Donnie Munro. But after a series of auditions the chart-topping singer was rejected.
The Gaelic rock band's hunt for a replacement began when Munro announced he was leaving earlier this year. He stood for Parliament as a Labour candidate in the Western Isles seat in the General Election, but narrowly missed out.
After the election he wanted to devote more time to politics and told the band he would be leaving Runrig, after more than 20 years.
The band briefly considered continuing as an instrumental group, but then decided to hire a replacement for Munro.
Carrack, whose band Ace topped the charts with How Long in the 70s, was a frontrunner. He and an unnamed Scot were neck and neck as the band whittled the shortlist down to two.
But it was decided the Gaelic-speaking Scot would cope more easily with the Runrig back catalogue. The band members were also worried that Carrack might leave when Mike & The Mechanics reformed.
Carrack, who also sang with 80s pop band Squeeze, is about to start a solo tour of the UK.
He is on leave from Mike & The Mechanics, because songwriter Mike Rutherford is currently touring with his other band Genesis. Mike & The Mechanics is expected to reform when the Genesis tour ends.
Meanwhile, the current members of Runrig, who played their last ever Scottish gigs with Munro at Stirling Castle a few weeks ago, are expected to unveil the identity of the new singer shortly.
Band spokeswoman Marlene Ross said: ''We are getting close to confirming who our new singer will be.
''We will let everybody know when the time is right for us.''
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