The rapper behind ‘90s hit Gangsta’s Paradise, Coolio, died at the age of 59 earlier this week.
After the artist, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr, passed - we at Glasgow Live were thinking about his appearance at the Pavilion Theatre in 1998. After rising to fame with his debut album It Takes a Thief, he gained further popularity when he released Gangsta’s Paradise in 1995.
Three years later, he crossed the Atlantic and performed to a crowd at the Pavilion - a building which typically hosts plays, comedy shows and pantomimes.
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An advertisement for the gig on July 21, 1998, reads: “The spidery-haired rapper plays this theatre venue not previously known for its patronage of hip hop.
“Don those unfeasibly baggy pants and prepare for the gospel choir singalong on the sublime Gangta’s Paradise.”
The event, hosted by Clyde FM, cost just £12.50 - back in the day when gigs were relatively affordable.
It may have been an odd venue choice, though Glaswegians were quick to snap up tickets. Coolio fan Laura Coventry told us: “A massive Coolio fan, I rushed to buy tickets and was at this very gig, in the front row.
“I took some photos and was invited on to the stage to rap with Coolio. I even kept the concert flyer and tickets from the show.”
As it turned out, the American rap icon would go on to become a Celtic fan after forming a friendship with Tommy Sheridan in the Big Brother house. He finished third in the 2009 Celebrity edition of the show, and remained in touch with his former MP friend for many years.
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The pair attended a Celtic match in 2017, prior to the rappers I Love the 90s Tour performance in Glasgow - for which he donned a kilt. Before going on stage, he told fans: “Hey, y’all know I gotta represent.”
Sheridan tweeted on Thursday morning: “Devastated by the sad news this morning.
“This guy was multi-talented, great fun and larger than life. He will be missed by everyone who knows and loved him, you will never walk alone pal.”
According to TMZ, the rapper was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of a friend’s house in LA on Wednesday.
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