Rack ‘n’ Ruin are a young band hailing from Cullivoe, in the north end of Yell, the second biggest island in the Shetland group.

Anyone who has visited the Shetland Islands, for no matter how short a time, cannot fail to notice how musically rich the Islands are.

This is illustrated by the varied line-up the band has been through during their relatively short time playing together.

Music has been a part of the boy’s lives as long as they can remember. Cullivoe is unique in having it's own style of fiddle playing, still kept alive today, by the most recent line-up of the Cullivoe Fiddlers. It was only natural then, that all four of the current members of Rack 'n' Ruin started out in music via the fiddle at school.

David, the oldest member, gave up the fiddle in favor of the guitar after leaving school, and learned with help from his father, Bruce, and the regular tune's held in the local houses and Public Hall.

Kevin Tulloch followed a similar route, coming from a rich musical background, Kevin drifted towards the piano as a backing instrument, accompanying his father Ivor (a member of the Cullivoe fiddlers) both at home and at the local hall.

Kevin and David naturally formed a backing team, and were noticed at a social evening by Margaret Scollay, the fiddle teacher at the time, who got them together with Barry Nisbet, one of her pupils, to form a three-piece band to play at the Guizer's Hop (Variety Concert) following the Local Up Helly Aa in 1995.

The three boy's enjoyed playing together so much that they continued to do so under their own initiative, deciding to go under the name, "DEM". (Later stolen by Demlot!)

However another regular group was slowly forming involving David, Kevin and Barry. With fiddlers Danny Jamieson and Peter Gear, with a young Martin Henderson joining the line-up shortly after. The group called themselves "Da North Boys".

After a while Martin replaced Kevin on piano, and the line up of the North Boys settled into Danny, Peter and Barry on fiddle, Martin on piano, David on guitar and Kevin on bass.

Both groups continued to practice regularly, the North Boys stuck to more traditional arrangements and tunes, whereas DEM started playing around with arrangements and more diverse tunes both learned and composed by Barry.

During this time the younger members of the groups were gathering almost nightly at the Cullivoe Hall to practice and experiment with new ideas. Another grouping, playing essentially heavy rock music, named themselves "Pete Moor and the Clod's".  (later stolen by Pete Stack and the Rayburns!) Perhaps thankfully, this linuep never saw the light of a public performance - but many of the influences of those crazy times still find their way through...

In 1991, DEM and the North Boys gathered at the Old Haa in Burravoe to record a few tracks with a view to releasing a cassette. This never happened, however tracks from both groups were included on "Young Yell"  and another track, the Orange Blossom Special, from the North boys (featuring Kevin and Martin both on piano!) was included on the cassette "Diversions".

There are still a few tracks from those sessions "in the archives". Maybe someday...

Shortly after those recordings were made, a big show was organized to celebrate the anniversary of the Cullivoe Public Hall's opening. Known as the "fiddlers rally", it featured the well know Shetland native Aly Bain, probably Shetland fiddle music's greatest exponent the late Willie Hunter, Margaret Scollay, Lell Robertson, Stephen Spence, and many other local fiddlers.

The Cullivoe Fiddlers opened the concert, Barry by this time was also a member of the group, and both the North Boys and DEM had items as well. This was probably one of the most critical audiences any young fiddle player could face, but Barry truly excelled himself - he was no longer "the boy".

As time went on, mainly due to their increased inclusion of Saw Doctors songs after the new years gale of 1992, DEM morphed for a short time into a country trio. With David on guitar and vocals, Barry on lead guitar and Kevin on bass. Martin became involved soon, as did two young female singers - Elaine Tulloch and Louise Dickie.

Gradually, though, Barry moved back to the fiddle and a foursome of Barry on fiddle, guitar and vocals, Kevin on bass, David on guitar and vocals, and Martin on keyboard. Playing a mixture of traditional and original fiddle music and songs from many diverse influences, all in their own unique arrangements.

In 1994, the Shetland Country Music Club ran a talent contest with heats held in rural venues, one of which was the Cullivoe Hall. Naturally, both groups decided to enter. There was much deliberation as to whether the fiddle based foursome of Barry, David, Kevin and Martin should enter as the North Boys. The group was split between using the old name or a new suggestion: Rack 'n' Ruin. As there was some confusion it was decided to wait and see what they were billed as on the programme for the finals of the talent contest, held at the Garrison Theatre in Lerwick.