Paul Draper (musician)

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Paul Draper
Draper in 2019
Draper in 2019
Background information
Birth namePaul Edward Draper
Born (1970-09-26) 26 September 1970 (age 50)
Liverpool, England
GenresAlternative rock, indie rock, Britpop, progressive rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, keyboards, piano, synthesizers, bass
Years active1995–present
LabelsKscope, Too Pure
Associated actsMansun, Grind, The Anchoress, Skin
Websitepauldraperofficial.com

Paul Edward Draper (born 26 September 1970 in Liverpool[1][non-primary source needed]) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer, formerly the frontman of the rock band Mansun.

Biography[]

Early days[]

Paul Draper grew up on Garmoyle Road in Wavertree, Liverpool before moving with his family to Connah's Quay, Deeside.[2][non-primary source needed]

Draper attended St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School, Flint and Thames Polytechnic (now University of Greenwich) where he formed Grind with Steve Heaton and drummer Carlton Hibbert[3] who regularly played around London and released one 12" single before splitting.

Mansun[]

Main article: Mansun

Draper returned home to study at Wrexham Art College before forming Mansun with bassist Stove King, and guitarist Dominic Chad.[4][non-primary source needed] The band signed to Parlophone and released three studio albums before splitting in 2003 whilst recording their fourth.

The band's debut album, Attack of the Grey Lantern, was released in the UK on 15 February 1997 and was released in Japan 9 days prior to the UK release with bonus tracks. The album spent a total of 19 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number one.

Mansun's second album, Six, was released in the UK in September 1998 and peaked at number 6.

Little Kix, Mansun's third album, was released in the UK in August 2000 and peaked at number 12.

In 2004, Draper compiled Mansun's aborted fourth album recordings for release in the Kleptomania box set.

In 2006, Draper was diagnosed with cancer (during album sessions at Rockfield Studios), but responded well to chemotherapy, though he was unable to play for several months after the tumour was cut out and his finger swelled up following treatment.[5]

29 August 2020 saw Kscope officially release The Dead Flowers Reject as a standalone Mansun album (previously only made available as a bootleg and later as part of the reissued Six deluxe 4-disc set). It was pressed as a limited edition 180g white vinyl for RSD 2020.[6]

Musical influences[]

As a young man, Draper cited The Beatles as his favourite band and referenced Abbey Road as an influence with the song structures of their 1969 album (in particular tracks like 'She's So Heavy') - "It wasn't standard verse chorus, verse chorus and that really interested me". He also listened to his sister's copy of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon to which he affectionately described as "odd". Prince is his all time number one artist with Purple Rain being a particular favourite . "There is real elements of progressive rock in that" says Draper. Attack of the Grey Lantern and Six would later come to reflect these influences.[7] In 2018 he said "If you put my Dad's and my sisters' record collections together, well, I reckon that's how you get Mansun".[8] Further influential and favourites bands were revealed by Draper in an early 2019 interview with GuitarGuitar - "Abba, Prince, The Beatles, Bee Gees, Kate Bush, Motown, Bowie, Depeche Mode are up there as my faves but I like all good songwriters and musicians, I’ve got a wide taste. I really love Dolly Parton and a lot of old school country."[9]

Post-Mansun career[]

Production work[]

In October 2005, "Alone in My Room", a single by Skin (Skunk Anansie), co-written and co-produced by Draper, was released; his first involvement in any musical project since Kleptomania.

He worked on a version of the 2006 Ibiza anthem "Exceeder" by the Dutch DJ Mason, which was uploaded to his MySpace page, and in 2009 produced and appeared on a track by The Joy Formidable, which was made available as a free download from the band's official website.

Draper performed a version of Mansun's "Wide Open Space" at London Astoria's last ever gig before it closed on 14 January 2009 with My Vitriol.[10] The two acts had toured together previously in 2000, along with King Adora.

In October 2013, Draper stated that he was considering releasing material from his abandoned unrecorded solo album Spooky Action at a Distance, which only existed in demo form, if there was enough interest.[11] After a petition was set up on Facebook,[12] he responded that he was going to give the idea of releasing solo material some "very serious consideration".

On 5 May 2014, the debut single "What Goes Around" by The Anchoress was released. A collaboration between Draper and singer-songwriter Catherine AD (Catherine Anne Davies), the duo have recorded an album's worth of material with Draper having co-written several of the songs and co-produced the whole album.[13] A follow up to the single is due for release on 20 October[needs update] in the form of EP "One For Sorrow".[14] In 2017, Davies reciprocally co-wrote 5 tracks on Draper's solo album Spooky Action.[15]

Solo career[]

Spooky Action (2014-2018)[]

Draper's first solo song "Feeling My Heart Run Slow" was premiered at a Mansun convention held at The Live Rooms in Chester on 23 August 2014. Recorded especially to play at the convention, Draper with the help of musicians from The Anchoress sessions, recorded five songs from his unrecorded solo album with a view to completing a whole album's worth.[16]

Draper announced his first solo single would be released via monthly subscription service 'The Too Pure Singles Club' in April 2016. It was announced that the official release of his EP One would be on Kscope on 10 June 2016.[17]

On 25 November 2016, Draper released EP Two featuring lead track "Friends Make The Worst Enemies", which was met with praise - "A sprightly, electro-infused solo single" - NME, Tracks of the Week" ...a significant step back into the spotlight from a generally underappreciated talent." - Prog Magazine and "...an unmistakable voice and an ear for utterly addictive melody whatever the musical setting." - Louder Than War.[18] His full length album, Spooky Action, was released on 11 August 2017.[19] With huge fan support, the album was nominated for Album of the Year at the annual Progressive Music Awards.[20] Spooky Action emerged to rave reviews and Top 20 chart success.[21]

EP Three was released as a digital download only on 16 March 2018 featuring a reworked single version of "Jealousy Is a Powerful Emotion" backed with acoustic versions of "Jealousy Is a Powerful Emotion" and "Things People Want". Also featured on the EP was a Public Service Broadcasting remix of "Friends Make the Worst Enemies".

Draper undertook his first sell-out UK solo tour in September 2017 including a headline show at London's Scala which was recorded for the Live at Scala album and subsequently released on 16 February 2018.[22] The gigs were Draper's first live shows since Mansun stopped touring in 2002 featuring tracks from his debut solo album Spooky Action, his solo EPs along with Mansun's Attack of the Grey Lantern and Little Kix.[23]

A second solo tour in February/March 2018 saw Draper take on doubleheader style gigs in which he performed his solo material and after a short interval, a second set playing Mansun's debut album Attack of the Grey Lantern in its entirety.[24]

In April 2018, Draper toured the US as support to Steven Wilson, his first dates in the US since Mansun toured in 1997.[25] On 8 June 2018 to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the release of Attack of the Grey Lantern. Kscope released an anniversary deluxe edition. This included a 4-disc deluxe book with a specially written introduction from Draper and previously unheard rarities and outtakes that Draper compiled from the writing and recording sessions.[26] The album re-charted at #28 in the UK album chart.

Following the solo US tour supporting Steven Wilson; Draper toured the UK in November 2018, playing an acoustic set with guitarist Ben Sink. Kscope also announced a new vinyl release, Paul Draper - Attack of the Grey Lantern - Live at the Ritz, recorded in Manchester on 1 March 2018. The show was recorded by Ronnie Stone who produced the original Mansun debut album, and mixed by Paul "PDub" Walton.[27]

In January 2019, Draper with guitarist Ben Sink supported Steven Wilson on Wilson's headline French tour.[28] They also visited Japan and China for dates in Tokyo, Osaka, Guangdong, Beijing and Shanghai in March 2019.[29]

March 2020 saw Draper invited to officially open Birmingham's newest live music venue, The Grey Lantern.[30]

Second solo album (2018 - present)[]

As of 2018, Draper has been working on his second solo album, tentatively titled Cult Leader Tactics.[31]

Discography[]

Draper's solo discography currently consists of a studio album,[32] two live albums, three extended plays, two singles and a digital download track. His second solo album is scheduled for release later in 2021.[citation needed]

Studio albums
Live albums
  • Live at Scala (Kscope, 16 February 2018)
  • Live at the Ritz (Kscope, 14 November 2018)
Extended plays
  • EP One (Kscope, KSCOPE 927 10 June 2016)
  • EP Two (Kscope, KSCOPE 935 25 November 2016)
  • EP Three (Kscope, 16 March 2017)
Singles and downloads
  • "Feeling My Heart Run Slow" (Too Pure Singles Club, PURE 328S, 27 April 2016)
  • "Friends Make the Worst Enemies" (Kscope, 13 October 2016)
  • "Friends Make the Worst Enemies (Public Service Broadcasting Remix)" (13 December 2016)
  • "Don't Poke the Bear" (Kscope, 7 June 2017)
  • "Things People Want" (Kscope KSCOPE410P, 11 August 2017)
  • "Grey House (7" Edit)" b/w "Who's Wearing the Trousers (7" Edit)" (Kscope KSCOPE 705, 27 October 2017)
  • "Jealousy Is a Powerful Emotion" (Kscope, 6 February 2018)

References[]

  1. ^ "PAUL DRAPER - Biography". 5 March 2010. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ "MANSUN.NET Features – The Guardian Weekend Feature". Archived from the original on 11 August 2002. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Music – Grind". BBC. 1 January 1970. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  4. ^ "MANSUN.NET History – Profiles – Paul Draper". Archived from the original on 11 September 2001. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Britpop 'Where Are They Now?' Special – Share Your Knowledge". NME. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Mansun". Record Store Day. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  7. ^ "INTERVIEW: PAUL DRAPER on the anniversary of 'Six', getting sacked from Mansun & 'Spooky Action'". XS Noize | Online Music Magazine. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Britpop Popped: An Interview with Ex-Mansun Frontman Paul Draper". PopMatters. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  9. ^ "The guitarguitar Interview: Paul Draper". guitarguitar.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  10. ^ Adams, Sean (9 January 2009). "Astoria's last hurrah: Mansun's Paul Draper to join Get Cape, My Vitriol and more". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  11. ^ "SOUTH OF THE PAINTED HALL: Paul speaks... well writes...and sets in train something interesting". Southofthepaintedhall.blogspot.co.uk. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  12. ^ "Petition for Paul Draper to release his long-awaited solo album". Retrieved 18 August 2014 – via Facebook.
  13. ^ "Mansun's Paul Draper open to solo album". Digital Spy. 6 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "Paul Draper - Spooky Action". discogs. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Paul Draper's first solo track unveiled at Mansun convention". Louder Than War. 25 August 2014.
  17. ^ "Mansun's Paul Draper announces debut EP details and posts new single online - listen". NME. 27 April 2016.
  18. ^ "EP TWO". burningshed.com. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Former Mansun ringleader Paul Draper gives the people the purging rock opera they petitioned for". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  20. ^ "2018 Progressive Music Awards nominations announced". The Prog Report. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  21. ^ Roy, David (16 February 2018). "Noise Annoys: Mansun man Paul Draper back on the attack". The Irish News. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  22. ^ "PAUL DRAPER Announces Limited Signed Vinyl Live Album | XS Noize | Online Music Magazine Paul Draper has announced details of a very limited signed vinyl live album which captures Paul's triumphant headline show at the Scala from 23rd". XS Noize | Online Music Magazine. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Live At Scala". pauldraper.tmstor.es. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  24. ^ "Paul Draper to play 'Attack of the Grey Lantern' in full on forthcoming UK tour". Gigslutz.co.uk. 24 October 2017.
  25. ^ Munro, Scott. "Paul Draper to support Steven Wilson in the US". Prog Magazine. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  26. ^ martin, Author (2 July 2018). "Review – Mansun – Attack of the Grey Lantern (Deluxe Remastered Reissue) – by James R. Turner". Progradar. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  27. ^ "Paul Draper (Mansun) announces solo acoustic tour". Louder Than War. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  28. ^ "Paul Draper en France avec Steven Wilson". Sound Of Violence. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  29. ^ "Paul Draper Acoustic Japan Tour 2019". Tokyo Weekender. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  30. ^ Young, Graham (5 February 2020). "New live music pub to open in city centre". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  31. ^ "WATCH Interview with Paul Draper on MANSUN'S 'Closed for Business' Box Set & upcoming solo album 'Cult Leader Tactics' | XS Noize | Online Music Magazine". www.xsnoize.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  32. ^ "Paul Draper". Kscope. Retrieved 14 July 2020.

External links[]

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