Paul Manzi Explained

Paul Manzi
Landscape:yes
Birth Date:6 May 1963
Birth Place:North London, United Kingdom
Occupation:Singer

Paul Manzi (born 6 May 1963)[1] is an English singer, best known as a member of The Sweet, Cats in Space and Arena, and for performing with the likes of Ian Paice, Gordon Giltrap and Oliver Wakeman.

Career

Early career

Manzi chose performing arts over his other love, tennis. Manzi got his first guitar at 15 and played guitar in a school band. He originally wanted to be a guitarist like Jimmy Page, but became a singer after his distinctive voice was discovered at age 23.[2] Other early influences include Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Rush and Queen.[3] 2 years after he started singing he joined progressive rock band Barchetta and gained valuable recording experience at Abbey Road Studios and live experience at the Marquee Club.

He did some vocal session work and also performed with various cover bands as well as with trios/duos and as a solo singer/guitarist. he performed on lead vocals on soundtracks for musicals Phantasmagoria and Space Family Robinson. Manzi joined Oliver Wakeman (son of Rick Wakeman, later of Yes)'s band in 2004, he continues to perform with both the band,[4] [5] including guitarist Gordon Giltrap, and with Wakeman as a duo.[6]

Manzi joined supergroup Raw Glory in 2006 with members of Judas Priest, Gillan and Heavy Metal Kids.

Arena

He joined neo-prog band Arena in 2010, replacing Rob Sowden. He wrote and recorded three acclaimed albums with them before his departure in 2020.[7] Drummer and band leader Mick Pointer praised Manzi's vocal ability saying "clearly Paul Manzi has a much better voice range than any of the others [previous singers in the band] put together."[8]

The Sweet

He first joined the Sweet temporarily on the 2014 tour in Australia, playing guitar and keyboards, covering for Tony O'Hora, who was absent for personal reasons.[9] He next performed with the band in 2019, again on keyboards and guitar with O'Hora taking on vocals/bass duties as he had in previous years.[10] [11] He joined the sweet full time as lead singer later that year after O'Hora and Peter Lincoln's departure, he also contributed bass until Lee Small joined.[12]

Cats in Space

Manzi joined newly formed rock band Cats in Space in 2016, he recorded two albums with the group as well as touring with the group which included highlights including British Summertime at Hyde Park with Phil Collins and support tours with Thunder, Deep Purple and Status Quo.[13] In 2019 he left Cats in Space to join The Sweet full time.[14]

Discography

YearArtistTitleNotesRef
2008David Munyon & Mary's Band Some Songs For Mary lead vocals on 1 track, backing on 4[15]
2011ArenaThe Seventh Degree Of Separationfirst studio album with Arena[16]
2013ArenaLiverecorded on 2011/2012 tour[17]
Ravens & Lullabieslead vocals alongside Benoit David.[18]
Alchemy Liveperforms vocals of Milosh on DVD [19]
Raw GloryCity Lifelead vocals[20]
ArenaRapturelive DVD recorded in Katowice, Poland on the 10th of November 2011.[21]
2015Cats In SpaceToo Many Godsvocals alongside Mick Wilson[22]
ArenaXXRecorded on the 9th of April, 2015 in Katowice, Poland[23]
2017David Palfreyman and Nicholas PeggDecadesbacking vocals[24]
Cats In SpaceScarecrowlead vocals[25]
2018Cats Alive!lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar; recorded live at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on March 24, 2017.[26]
ArenaDouble Visionperformer[27]
2019Cats In SpaceDaytrip To Narnia[28]
2019ArenaRe-Visited : Live!lead vocals; recorded live at the Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands [29]
2020Transitusvocals for Henry[30]
2021SweetIsolation Boulevardlead vocals[31]
Tales By Gaslightlead vocals on two bonus tracks[32]
Dark Fables[33]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SWEET Official New Album . 2023-06-16 . The Sweet . en.
  2. Web site: RAW GLORY . 2023-06-16 . rawglory.co.uk.
  3. Web site: Metalingus, Shepperton, Surrey . 2023-06-16 . Lemonrock Gig Guide . en.
  4. Web site: Oliver Live Performance Reviews . 2023-06-16 . Oliver Wakeman Music . en.
  5. Web site: News '20, '21 & '22 . 2023-06-16 . Oliver Wakeman Music . en.
  6. Web site: Oliver Wakeman Music Recordings . 2023-06-16 . Oliver Wakeman Music . en.
  7. Web site: Ewing . Jerry . 2020-07-13 . Paul Manzi leaves Arena . 2023-06-16 . louder . en.
  8. Web site: Arena interview (08/2012) . 2023-06-16 . Metal Storm . en.
  9. Web site: O'Hora . Tony . archive . 2023-06-16 . thesweetsite.co.uk . The great news is that our good friend Paul Manzi will be joining the band for the Australian leg of the tour. Paul is a very talented musician and singer and I would like to personally thank him for stepping in at such short notice. I’m sure that the tour will be a great success as the band are sounding fantastic!.
  10. Web site: 12 December 2019 . The Sweet Sage Gateshead . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190511145109/https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/the-sweet/ . 11 May 2019 . 2023-06-16 . sagegateshead.com . en-GB.
  11. Web site: Birch . Paul H. . 2019-05-11 . Sweet Xmas 2019 Tour . 2023-06-16 . RAMzine . en-GB.
  12. Web site: 2019-10-03 . New man onboard - Lee Small . 2023-06-16 . The Ultimate Sweet Fan Site . en-GB.
  13. Web site: Rockpit . The . 2022-11-01 . UK Classic Rockers CATS IN SPACE feat Iconic Songwriters & Artists Release New Album 'Kickstart The Sun' . 2023-06-16 . The Rockpit . en-GB.
  14. Web site: Dome . Malcolm . 2019-04-09 . VOCALIST LEAVES CATS IN SPACE • TotalRock . 2023-09-07 . TotalRock . en-GB.
  15. MHR006 . Some Songs For Mary . 2008 . liner notes . Mobile Home Records.
  16. VGCD032 . The Seventh Degree Of Separation . 2011 . liner notes . Verglas Music.
  17. VGCD034 . Live . 2013 . liner notes . Verglas Music.
  18. EANTCD 21012 . Ravens & Lullabies . 2013 . liner notes . Esoteric Antenna.
  19. MMP DVD 0207 . Alchemy Live . 2013 . liner notes . Metal Mind Productions.
  20. Doogie Dog Records . City Life . 2013 . liner notes . Doogie Dog Records.
  21. MMP DVD 0203 . Rapture . 2013 . liner notes . Metal Mind Productions.
  22. HF06 . Too Many Gods . 2015 . liner notes . Harmony Factory.
  23. MASS CD 1529 DGD . XX . 2016 . liner notes . Metal Mind Productions.
  24. DT1701 . . 2017 . liner notes . Diteli Records.
  25. HFV07 . Scarecrow . 2017 . liner notes . Harmony Factory.
  26. HFV08 . Cats Alive! . 2018 . liner notes . Harmony Factory.
  27. VGCD042 . Double Vision . 2018 . liner notes . Verglas Music.
  28. HFV09 . Daytrip To Narnia . 2019 . liner notes . Harmony Factory.
  29. VGCD044 . Re-Visited : Live! . 2019 . liner notes . Verglas Music.
  30. MTR 7623 5 . 2020 . liner notes . . Music Theories Recordings.
  31. 88875129699 . Isolation Boulevard . . 2021 . liner notes.
  32. ELR001CD . Tales By Gaslight . 2021 . liner notes . Elflock Records.
  33. ELR002CD . Dark Fables . liner notes . 2021 . Elflock Records.