Saw The Damned at The Enmore. I have to say Paul stood out as just one of the best bass players I’ve ever seen. Just at one with his bass and looked cool AF to boot too.
Paul was my "New deal for musicians" advisor in Treorchy job centre about 1999 to 2000 or so. I couldnt belive my luck when the job centre advisor said i could get advice on working in the music industry and asked "had i ever heard of the damned" because the new deal advisor was their bassist! I only had a few meetings with him, but it was an absolute treat for me as a young musician and a massive damned fan.
I have tickets to see the band in Portland, Oregon coming up in June 2024, I cannot wait!!! Having lived in London back in the 80s, I saw them several times. I met Dave on Carnaby street in 1986 and he helped me get a press pass to take photos in the pit area at the 10th Anniversary Tea Party and I got some photos I took at that show in their book "the Light at the End of the Tunnel". I made a little video about it. Also Paul is my favorite bass player - he is fantastic!! Love 💘
My longtime bass hero. Just the best. And a friendly down to earth guy to boot. Not to mention a cancer survivor. They don’t make ‘em any better than Paul. It was so great to finally see him in action with Rat (best rhythm section in the history of punk/garage/rock/whatever), and something I had been anticipating for many, many years. I was certainly not disappointed. Not much I can add here that hasn’t already been said, except maybe a mention of his one-off performance on the “Police Car” single by Larry Wallis… which is one of my favorite PG basslines of all time. Anyway, always great to hear from the man. May he live to at least a hundred years old.
"if my thought dream is correct" is the line, Dave higgs had some strange ways of saying things huh? Keep on singing my love." Barrie told me on FB in 2016. Bless his immortal soul. X
I've got a memory of Paul playing a two string bass around the Black Album period, i mean built with a thin neck for two strings, just for one or two songs , because he always plays a Rickenbacker. I don't know whether it's a drunk memory , or he broke a string, but i always took notice of guitars and amps that the band i was watching, were using, so this is a weird memory.
Bless you, Paul. Go steady, old friend. That sun is a bit strong for us Brythons. Come and play in Chester again. No large venues here. Just nice quiet ones. Remember The Yew Tree in Cwmbran? Support band didn't turn up and a lad came in with a guitar; Cap said to get up and do some songs. He asked to use Cap's guitar. Capn told him to use his own. He was a bit squiffy but went onstage. He'd been working on New Rose and Smash it up. Monumentally messed them up, switched to Bowie's Changes. Played it note perfect. Looked around. Thought, " it's like giving strawberries to pigs" . Walked offstage. Sound engineer said, " you should have carried on, you were sounding great". Later, you were playing Looking at You. The guy motioned to Cap that he'd like to sing it. Cap nodded, and beckoned him on stage. Fifteen minutes of fame beckoned. But then an amp blew or something. Shot down in the Night. Ah well. That was this lad's first contact with Cap. Been several more since. Bon voyage, Paul. PS please please please please please let me know where I could purchase a reasonably priced Ric. I've never played one. Would dearly love to one day. What was that lyric Barrie used to sing? I should be minted but they're getting me committed? Boys should be minted but they're getting me committed. My favourite HR line is, "and if my thoughts dream of the future, if it's correct. Then I'll just tighten up this rope around my neck"
You’ve a far better memory than me! I look for Rics from where everyone else does, marketplace, eBay, shops, Ric FB groups … you just have to make sure it plays nice and neck widths and sound suit, as many don’t for me.
@@paulgraybass cheers mukka. Will do. If it helps, the Yew Tree gig was when you and Cap were doing Revolution Now. I think that was the night that Sean O Reilly arranged for my mate, Lee Smith to ferry you and the band around in his yellow transit van. Lee lived on Chepstow Road in Newport.
@@astra-rb6sz let's perform an incantation. If vain Ian won't do it, I'll sing. My voice is far richer than his these days. And my hair's naturally black.
@@paulgraybass Paul, has to be said that I cannot possibly see the current iteration lasting long if Ray keeps up with comments like, " Good old Rat Scabies. He's still got it. Not sure what he's got. " I can see exactly where he's coming from. I mean, it's wonderful to see you all performing together again but the thunder has gone out of Rat. Arthritis, I expect. Kudos to him for having a go but there's no way you can all sustain that for long. I'll give it twelve months, tops. Perhaps if a percussionist was brought in to augment Rat's playing. I reckon I know every beat of every song like the back of my hand. Be more than happy to give it a go. I might even invent a new instrument. A subsonic guitar/drum machine. Hell, why not go the whole hog and put a harpsichord on it too? Whaddya think? Be something along the lines of that mouth operated wah-wah that they had on Tomorrow's World back in the eighties. By the way, any idea where and when Stephen Nice's funeral will be held. I'm missing him so much already. Actually shed a tear. First time that's happened since we lost Kirsty McColl. God bless, Paul. Go steady, Rickmeißter 🖤
Best bass player in the world, and a bloody lovely bloke too.
Can listen to Paul talking all day long. Great guy, incredible bass player.
Saw The Damned at The Enmore. I have to say Paul stood out as just one of the best bass players I’ve ever seen. Just at one with his bass and looked cool AF to boot too.
Paul was my "New deal for musicians" advisor in Treorchy job centre about 1999 to 2000 or so. I couldnt belive my luck when the job centre advisor said i could get advice on working in the music industry and asked "had i ever heard of the damned" because the new deal advisor was their bassist! I only had a few meetings with him, but it was an absolute treat for me as a young musician and a massive damned fan.
Met Paul at the Ipswich dome 1992 before a damned gig sitting on a field with his girlfriend at the time.A great guy and a pleasure to meet him.
He's one of the nicest blokes I've ever met. Happy days.
Cool interview.. Thanks PG for your time joining this.
I have tickets to see the band in Portland, Oregon coming up in June 2024, I cannot wait!!! Having lived in London back in the 80s, I saw them several times. I met Dave on Carnaby street in 1986 and he helped me get a press pass to take photos in the pit area at the 10th Anniversary Tea Party and I got some photos I took at that show in their book "the Light at the End of the Tunnel". I made a little video about it. Also Paul is my favorite bass player - he is fantastic!! Love 💘
Paul in the Damned or the Hot rods a joy to watch .saw the Hot Rods at the original marquee club the beginning of the end gets me every time👍👍👍👍👍
Loved his work with UFO in the mid 80's
Dreams do come true!
My longtime bass hero. Just the best. And a friendly down to earth guy to boot. Not to mention a cancer survivor. They don’t make ‘em any better than Paul. It was so great to finally see him in action with Rat (best rhythm section in the history of punk/garage/rock/whatever), and something I had been anticipating for many, many years. I was certainly not disappointed.
Not much I can add here that hasn’t already been said, except maybe a mention of his one-off performance on the “Police Car” single by Larry Wallis… which is one of my favorite PG basslines of all time.
Anyway, always great to hear from the man. May he live to at least a hundred years old.
Cant wait !!
"if my thought dream is correct" is the line, Dave higgs had some strange ways of saying things huh? Keep on singing my love."
Barrie told me on FB in 2016.
Bless his immortal soul. X
I've got a memory of Paul playing a two string bass around the Black Album period, i mean built with a thin neck for two strings, just for one or two songs , because he always plays a Rickenbacker. I don't know whether it's a drunk memory , or he broke a string, but i always took notice of guitars and amps that the band i was watching, were using, so this is a weird memory.
I've seen him on his vids playing an 8 string.. which is what I usually see 4 strings as.
Bless you, Paul. Go steady, old friend. That sun is a bit strong for us Brythons. Come and play in Chester again. No large venues here. Just nice quiet ones. Remember The Yew Tree in Cwmbran? Support band didn't turn up and a lad came in with a guitar; Cap said to get up and do some songs. He asked to use Cap's guitar. Capn told him to use his own. He was a bit squiffy but went onstage. He'd been working on New Rose and Smash it up. Monumentally messed them up, switched to Bowie's Changes. Played it note perfect. Looked around. Thought, " it's like giving strawberries to pigs" . Walked offstage. Sound engineer said, " you should have carried on, you were sounding great".
Later, you were playing Looking at You. The guy motioned to Cap that he'd like to sing it. Cap nodded, and beckoned him on stage. Fifteen minutes of fame beckoned. But then an amp blew or something. Shot down in the Night. Ah well. That was this lad's first contact with Cap. Been several more since. Bon voyage, Paul. PS please please please please please let me know where I could purchase a reasonably priced Ric. I've never played one. Would dearly love to one day.
What was that lyric Barrie used to sing? I should be minted but they're getting me committed? Boys should be minted but they're getting me committed.
My favourite HR line is, "and if my thoughts dream of the future, if it's correct. Then I'll just tighten up this rope around my neck"
You’ve a far better memory than me!
I look for Rics from where everyone else does, marketplace, eBay, shops, Ric FB groups … you just have to make sure it plays nice and neck widths and sound suit, as many don’t for me.
@@paulgraybass cheers mukka. Will do. If it helps, the Yew Tree gig was when you and Cap were doing Revolution Now. I think that was the night that Sean O Reilly arranged for my mate, Lee Smith to ferry you and the band around in his yellow transit van. Lee lived on Chepstow Road in Newport.
Yes Chester
@@astra-rb6sz let's perform an incantation. If vain Ian won't do it, I'll sing. My voice is far richer than his these days. And my hair's naturally black.
@@paulgraybass Paul, has to be said that I cannot possibly see the current iteration lasting long if Ray keeps up with comments like, " Good old Rat Scabies. He's still got it. Not sure what he's got. " I can see exactly where he's coming from. I mean, it's wonderful to see you all performing together again but the thunder has gone out of Rat. Arthritis, I expect. Kudos to him for having a go but there's no way you can all sustain that for long. I'll give it twelve months, tops.
Perhaps if a percussionist was brought in to augment Rat's playing. I reckon I know every beat of every song like the back of my hand. Be more than happy to give it a go. I might even invent a new instrument. A subsonic guitar/drum machine. Hell, why not go the whole hog and put a harpsichord on it too? Whaddya think? Be something along the lines of that mouth operated wah-wah that they had on Tomorrow's World back in the eighties. By the way, any idea where and when Stephen Nice's funeral will be held. I'm missing him so much already. Actually shed a tear. First time that's happened since we lost Kirsty McColl. God bless, Paul.
Go steady, Rickmeißter 🖤
New album with Rat?
Rat got booted or left in 1996 so not 35 years ago.
down to earth. good interview!