Biography
the Cateran, a group of similarly-styled Edinburgh-based Invernessian expats, including life-long friend Murdo MacLeod alongside Sandy MacPherson, Cameron Fraser and Andy Milne. The Cateran played a form of hardcore punk, and modelled their sound on Husker Du and the Dead Kennedys. In 1989, the Cateran was asked to support the then relatively-unknown Nirvana on its first UK tour.
Chaos ensued, with the Scots more than holding their own both onstage and off with the future superstars, as they also did supporting Grant Hart, formerly of Husker Du, and with the Lemonheads' Evan Dando.
By the time they produced their third album, ACHE in may 1989 and the 4 track 12" single DIE TOMORROW, The Cateran were edging closer to finally shaking off the Hüsker Dü comparisons that had dogged them since they formed in Inverness in the mid 1980s. With these two releases they were creating their own sound, merging layer upon layer of grungy guitars and delicate harmonies into a sonic maelstrom that only found its true expression in the bands increasingly intense and unstable live performances. High spots for the band included joyfully chaotic European tours, an abysmal BBC Radio One session and a couple of disastrous TV appearances. More memorably and despite the earlier unfavourable comparisons, the band played with Grant Hart on his first UK appearances after the demise of Hüsker Dü. They also had close links with such luminaries as Nirvana, Mega City Four, Bitch Magnet, Lemonheads and many more. Shortly after the release of Ache, Andy Milne left the band and was replaced by Willie Murray on drums. An acrimonious split followed in 1991, which saw Kai and Murdo move on to form the Joyriders before eventually going their separate ways. There are no reports of Cameron having done anything post Cateran.
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