I was fat shamed during my time with Texas and threatened with losing my gig if I didn't lose weight

Keyboard player says he was routinely told he looked awful', He admits leaving the group was a relief after years of torment

- JACKIE GRANT

FORMER Texas keyboard player Michael Bannister has described Scotland's music scene as the "Wild West" and claims he was fat-shamed in the industry.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Record, the musician told how Lizzo being accused of picking on three of her former dancers triggered memories of the "toxic environment in the Scots rock band.

The 43-year-old said his confidence hit an all-time low during his 17 years with the group and that he was "routinely" told he was overweight and looked "awful".

Michael said: "The allegations against Lizzo were pretty triggering for me, to be honest.

"I was routinely fat-shamed during my time with Texas and not just fat-shamed but threatened with losing my gig if I didn't lose weight.

"I was once sacked in Perth for not going to a lap dancing club in Aberdeen.

"The music industry is still the Wild West. There are people out there suffering and not saying anything I did for over a decade.

"Everyone thinks it's rock 'n' roll and glamorous, it's not. It's full to the brim with insecure bullies in positions of power." Since quitting the music scene two years ago to work as a parliamentary researcher for SNP MP Anne McLaughlin, he says he has never been happier.