Paul Walker
THE STORY SO FAR…
My earliest musical memory was when my dad came home with a record player & two 78’s (big round black things that spin around very fast). One was ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart’ by, I think, Ray Charles, & the other was ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ by Elvis Presley. It was at this point that it dawned on me that there was probably more to music than ‘Old McDonald Had A Farm’ & ‘The Laughing Policeman’.
After years of dreaming, drooling & posing I finally got my first guitar on my twelfth birthday. I very quickly became the new Elvis & continued in that role until about 1962. Then having paid 3s/6d for a ticket (about 18 pence), I attended one of my first live shows to see my heartthrob of the time, Helen Shapiro, when this guy from one of the warm-up acts walked onto the stage & in a broad alien accent announced, “Hello, my name is John Lennon & I would like to introduce you to my group”. In the moments that followed my ideals of music turned upside down once more. Most importantly I had learned a new stance, a new way to hold the guitar & a new way to wear my hair. Gone was the brylcreem forever, I knew exactly where I was going & school was never the same again.
During the fifteen or so years that followed I was a member of various bands achieving varying success. Some so successful that you still won’t have heard of them.
c 1969/70 - My first serious steps towards the BIG TIME with a folk duo called 'Nathans Harp' (what?) with my long-term friend & co-writer Dave Hughes
c 1971/74 - With 'Peaceful Tear' (who thought of these names?)
c 1975/76 - With probably my favourite band 'Kartoon' (Tony Iommi eat your heart out)
Then after a television talent show that we didn’t win, .
On tele in 1978, before we found out that we'd lost!!! With 'Dark Horse'
I thought it was time to get a ‘proper job’.
Twenty relatively unmusical years passed until I could stand it no more, burned my suit & bought a Martin.
I now try to fly the flag for live music in my area via my hosting of three or four weekly Acoustic/Open Mic sessions. This together with my gigs, writing & recording, surprisingly still leaves me ample time to work on my stance, the coolest way to hold the guitar & my hair-do.