Paul Gray (English musician) explained

Paul Gray
Background:non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth Date:1958 8, df=yes
Origin:England
Occupation:Musician, songwriter
Instrument:Bass
Years Active:1978–present

Paul Murray Granville Gray (born 1 August 1958) is an English bassist notable for playing with the rock bands Eddie and the Hot Rods, The Damned and UFO.

Biography

Paul Gray was born in Leigh-on-Sea.[1] Inspired by a Hawkwind gig he attended,[1] Gray started learning bass guitar at the age of 13, his playing influenced by bassists such as Steve Currie, Lemmy, John Entwistle, Felix Pappalardi and Roger Glover.[2] [3] He joined Eddie and the Hot Rods as bassist after answering an advert in the Southend Evening Echo.[2] The band had several hit singles and albums in the late 1970s, including "Do Anything You Wanna Do". While working with Eddie and the Hot Rods, he also recorded bass for Larry Wallis,[4] Rob Tyner[5] and Johnny Thunders,[6] as well as filling in as temporary bassist for The Members.[7] In early 1980, following the departure of Graeme Douglas, Gray left Eddie and the Hot Rods and, on the insistence of Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies,[7] joined the punk rock band The Damned, replacing former bassist Algy Ward.[8] Gray contributed to two studio albums, The Black Album and Strawberries, as well as numerous singles and the Friday 13th EP. Frictions in the band led to Gray's departure in February 1983.[9] Shortly afterwards, he joined UFO and remained until their split in 1987.[10]

In 1989, after brief stints with Heavy Load, Fastway[11] and Andrew Ridgeley, Gray rejoined The Damned, ostensibly for a one-off reunion tour of the UK, US, and Japan.[12] This tour reunited Gray with Captain Sensible, and the two worked together on Sensible's solo material, as well as touring together. This Sensible-led group briefly evolved into another reunion of The Damned, with Gray concurrently reforming Eddie & the Hot Rods for one album, Gasoline Days, for which he contributed the song writing, and supported the album with several tours in the UK and Germany.[13] In between these high-profile projects, he also played bass with Canvey Island Allstars, and René Berg, and began producing local bands.[14]

With the onset of severe tinnitus and hyperacusis interrupting his live music activities,[15] Gray became Lead Tutor for Community Music Wales – a charity aimed at helping young bands based in Cardiff – on a variety of national and international projects between 1995 and 2004.[16] In 1997, Gray formed Mischief with Alan Lee Shaw, a studio-based project allowing him to write and record without damaging his hearing further by playing live.[14] In 1998, he appeared alongside Barry Masters of Eddie & the Hot Rods on the Identity Parade round of British comedy panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks. In 2005, he took up the post of Regional Officer, Wales & Southwest England for the British Musicians' Union.[17]

Gray reunited with Captain Sensible in 2013 to form psychedelic rock band The Sensible Gray Cells with drummer Ant Thickett. After the release of debut album A Postcard from Britain, Gray was diagnosed with throat cancer[18] and had to cancel tentative plans to return to playing live music. He has since recovered. On 27 February 2014, Gray joined fellow original Hot Rods Barrie Masters, Steve Nicol, and Graeme Douglas on stage at The Oysterfleet, Canvey Island to play in tribute to the late Dave Higgs, founder member of the band.[19] Gray joined Professor and the Madman in 2017, alongside former Damned drummer Rat Scabies, and featured on their albums Disintegrate Me and Live at the Hundred Club.[20] In September 2017, Gray rejoined The Damned following the departure of Stu West,[21] recording the album Evil Spirits and returning to full-time touring for the first time in nearly 15 years. Gray appeared on stage for the final Eddie and the Hot Rods show in April 2019, alongside founding members Barry Masters, Graeme Douglas and Steve Nicol.[22] In 2020, both The Damned and The Sensible Gray Cells released new material, the latter including Gray's first lead vocal performance on "What's the Point of Andrew?". The Damned's 2020 EP The Rockfield Files included two tracks written by Gray, entitled 'Manipulator' and 'The Spider & the Fly'.[23] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gray opened up Paul Gray Bass Online, a website offering services as a session bassist to recording artists.

In 2020, Gray formed the side-project Wingmen with guitarists Baz Warne (the Stranglers) and Leigh Heggarty (Ruts DC), and drummer Marty Love (Johnny Moped). The band released their self-titled debut album in 2023.[24] [25]

Discography

With Eddie and the Hot Rods

With Robin Tyner and the Hot Rods

With Larry Wallis

With Johnny Thunders

With The Damned

With Dolly Mixture

With UFO

With Captain Sensible

With Andrew Ridgeley

With Canvey Island Allstars

With René Berg

With Mischief / Wicked Gravity

With The Sensible Gray Cells

With Sir Silence and The Hush

With Rachel Taylor-Beales

With EVO

With Professor and the Madman

With Nick Toczek & Signia Alpha

With Wingmen

With Signia Alpha

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Damned fine move – Essex boy is back with punk legends for new album and tour. Martin. Neal. 1 February 2018. EssexLive. 12 November 2020.
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 19 October 2015 . 19 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151019084912/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.gray/archives%20%26%20stories1.htm . dead .
  3. Web site: INTERVIEW! Paul Gray is back in The Damned and talks about the new Damned album and 2018 'Evil Spirits' tour and much more. 5 January 2018. 12 November 2020.
  4. Web site: LARRY WALLIS – POLICE CAR. 12 November 2020. Facebook.
  5. Web site: 10 Albums That Changed My Life: Paul Gray . 17 June 2018 . 14 December 2020.
  6. Web site: So Alone – Johnny Thunders | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  7. Web site: Archived copy . 26 March 2016 . 26 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160326102758/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.gray/archives%20%26%20stories2.htm . dead .
  8. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4021/biography|pure_url=yes}} Biography: The Damned]. Raggett. Ned. AllMusic. 7 May 2010.
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20160326165153/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.gray/damned.htm
  10. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5725/biography|pure_url=yes}} Biography: UFO]. Ankeny. Jason. AllMusic. 7 May 2010.
  11. Web site: Paul Gray, ex-bassist U.F.O. and The Damned talks British hard rock/punk rock. Todd Houston. 12 December 2012. 12 November 2020.
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20160418024154/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.gray/90s.htm
  13. Web site: Gasoline Days – Eddie & the Hot Rods Credits. AllMusic. en-us. 2019-09-06.
  14. https://web.archive.org/web/20160418024154/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.gray/90spart2.htm
  15. Web site: Former professional bass player Paul Gray on the impact tinnitus has had on his life. McWatt. Julia. 2012-02-22. Walesonline. 2019-09-06.
  16. https://uk.linkedin.com/in/paulgray
  17. Web site: Starting Out as a Session Musician. Musiciansunion.org.uk. en. 2019-09-06.
  18. Web site: THE SENSIBLE GRAY CELLS. 12 November 2020.
  19. Web site: Eddie & The Hot Rods – Done Everything We Wanna Do. Eddieandthehotrods.com. 31 August 2018 . 2019-09-06.
  20. Web site: PROFESSOR AND THE MADMAN ANNOUNCE PRE-ORDERS FOR NEW ALBUM, 'SÉANCE' – RPM Online. 12 November 2020.
  21. Web site: Tony Visconti To Produce New Album & Bassist Paul Gray Rejoins Band. 11 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171115022242/http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/the-damned-new-album/updates/88746. 15 November 2017. dead.
  22. Web site: They've done everything they wanna do. Martin. Neal. 31 August 2018. EssexLive. 12 November 2020.
  23. Web site: The Damned / Professor and the Madman / The Sensible Gray Cells / . 10 December 2020 . 14 December 2020.
  24. Web site: Burgess. Mick. Sunderland'-born Stranglers frontman Baz Warne on returning to the North East with new band Wingmen. Sunderland Echo. 18 January 2023. 20 March 2023.
  25. Web site: Watson. Denzil. Wingmen – Interview. Pennyblackmusic. 20 February 2023. 20 March 2023.
  26. Web site: Eddie & The Hot Rods* – Live at the Marquee. Discogs. August 1976 . 12 November 2020.
  27. Web site: Eddie and the Hotrods* – Teenage Depression. Discogs. 1976 . 12 November 2020.
  28. Web site: Hot Rods* – At The Sound of Speed. Discogs. June 1977 . 12 November 2020.
  29. Web site: Eddie and the Hot Rods – Life on the Line. Discogs. 1977 . 12 November 2020.
  30. Web site: Eddie + Hot Rods* – Thriller. Discogs. 9 March 1979 . 12 November 2020.
  31. Web site: Curse of the Hot Rods – Eddie & the Hot Rods | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  32. Web site: Gasoline Days – Eddie & the Hot Rods | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  33. Web site: Robin Tyner* & The Hot Rods* – Till The Night Is Gone (Let's Rock) / Flipside Rock. Discogs. November 1977 . 12 November 2020.
  34. Web site: The Black Album – The Damned | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  35. Web site: Strawberries – The Damned | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  36. Web site: The Damned – Mindless, Directionless Energy – Live At The Lyceum 1981 -. Discogs. 1987 . 12 November 2020.
  37. Web site: The Damned – Sessions of the Damned. Discogs. 1993 . 12 November 2020.
  38. Web site: The Damned – The Radio One Sessions. Discogs. 1996 . 12 November 2020.
  39. Web site: Evil Spirits – The Damned | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  40. Web site: Dolly Mixture – Everything And More. Discogs. 6 August 1982 . 12 November 2020.
  41. Web site: UFO (5) – This Time. Discogs. 1985 . 12 November 2020.
  42. Web site: Misdemeanor – UFO | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  43. Web site: UFO (5) – The Misdemeanour Tour. Discogs. 1985 . 12 November 2020.
  44. Web site: UFO (5) – Ain't Misbehavin'. Discogs. 1988 . 12 November 2020.
  45. Web site: UFO (5) – Heaven's Gate (Live). Discogs. 1995 . 12 November 2020.
  46. Web site: UFO (5) – Headstone: Live At Hammersmith 1983. Discogs. 12 November 2020.
  47. Web site: Revolution Now – Captain Sensible | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  48. Web site: Live at the Milky Way – Captain Sensible | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  49. Web site: Meathead – Captain Sensible | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  50. Web site: Andrew Ridgeley – Son of Albert. Discogs. 1990 . 12 November 2020.
  51. Web site: Canvey Island Allstars – Escape From Oil City. Discogs. 1991 . 12 November 2020.
  52. Web site: René Berg – The Leather, The Loneliness And Your Dark Eyes. Discogs. 1992 . 12 November 2020.
  53. Web site: Mischief (14) – Hubble Bubble. Discogs. 12 November 2020.
  54. Web site: Wicked Gravity – Wicked Gravity. Discogs. 12 November 2020.
  55. Web site: A Postcard From Britain – The Sensible Gray Cells | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  56. Web site: The Sensible Gray Cells – So Long / What's The Point of Andrew?. Discogs. 24 July 2020 . 12 November 2020.
  57. Web site: The Sensible Gray Cells – Get Back into the World / World of Confusion. Discogs. 7 January 2021.
  58. Web site: End of the Pier, by Sir Silence and the Hush. Sirsilenceandthehush.bandcamp.com. 12 November 2020.
  59. Web site: Stones Throw, Lament of the Selkie, by Rachel Taylor-Beales. Racheltaylor-beales.bandcamp.com. 12 November 2020.
  60. Web site: EVO – Warfare. Twan. Sibon. Brutalism.com. 12 November 2020.
  61. Web site: Disintegrate Me – Professor and the Madman | Credits | AllMusic. 12 November 2020. AllMusic.
  62. Web site: Live at 100 Club. Professorandthemadman.com. 12 November 2020.
  63. Web site: professorandthemadman.com . 2022-03-26 . professorandthemadman.com.

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