Texas guitarist fights for life

Scottish band Texas' guitarist suffered a brain haemorrhageÂ…

12:32 14 September 2009

The guitarist from the popular Scottish band Texas is fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

According to the Daily Record, Alistair McErlaine was taken to a London hospital on Thursday where his wife Shelly is keeping a bedside vigil.

The Glasgow-born 41-year-old musician was said to have been in good health and have shown no symptoms prior to suffering the brain aneurysm.

Singer Sharleen Spiteri, who fronted the band before embarking on a solo career, told the paper she was "heartbroken" by the news.

Spiteri stated: "Like everyone else, I am desperately hoping Ally will get well and pull through. It is a shock. He is a personal friend and all of us are wishing him well with all our hearts."

A spokesman for the band said: "We heard the news today. It is something we are still coming to terms with. Ally is a great lad and well liked by everyone. He has had a bad one.

"We have been told the next 48 hours are critical."

Texas was formed in Glasgow in 1988, going on to sell more than 1.5 million copies of their 1996 album 'White On Blonde' in the UK.

Within the next two decades, the group had garnered 13 top 10 hits including 'Say What You Want', 'Summer Son' and 'I Don't Want A Lover'. Sharleen Spiteri began her solo career in 2008, but the band officially remained together.