Band member biogs

THE GREAT PAUL THOMPSON (Drums and Percussion)
The great Paul Thompson
At the age of 15 he spotted an advert in the local newspaper for a drummer for the band THE URGE so he applied and got the job. This was his first band that was working 7 days a week. The band featured JOHN MILES who later would join up with TINA TURNER, and who also wrote the massive Worldwide hit song entitled ‘MUSIC’. Paul then became a member of the band THE INFLUENCE also with JOHN MILES.

 

Paul Thompson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England.

He acquired his first drum kit at the age of 11 and soon he was playing in a local band JOHNNY BLUE & The BLUE BOYS. At the age of 14 he joined a band called THE TYME. His influence at the time was playing along to Bobby Elliott and The Hollies.

Young Paul Thompson drummer
Paul Thompson Drummer John Miles

At the beginning of 1971 he moved to London, and it was whilst he was there that he read an advert in the Melody Maker that said “Wonder drummer wanted for avante rock group”. He called the number and a fellow Geordieman with a posh voice answered the phone. It was BRYAN FERRY who was originally from the North East of England but who had also moved down to London. Paul auditioned for the band playing on a borrowed drum kit and got the job. He joined ROXY MUSIC in November 1971 replacing Dexter Lloyd and subsequently played on six albums.

Paul Thompson Roxy Music
During his period with Roxy Music, Paul also played on the first four Bryan Ferry solo albums, and toured with Bryan Ferry on his 1977 ‘In Your Mind’ tour

Paul also performed on both ANDY MACKAY and PHIL MANZANERA’s solo albums ‘6PM’, ’50 Minutes Later’ and ‘London! New York! Rome! Paris’ as well as fitting in some live dates with Phil Manzanera's 801

He also played on BRIAN ENO's first solo album 'Here Come the Warm Jets' in 1974  

His post Roxy session work in the 80’s included playing in such diverse acts as punk band THE ANGELIC UPSTARTS playing on their 1983 album 'Reason Why'.

Paul also performed with Blues/Rock guitar legend GARY MOORE on his ‘Emerald Aisles Live In Ireland’ tour in 1985 which was also released on video.

He then joined the U.S. band CONCRETE BLONDE who covered Roxy's "End Of The Line" and had two successful albums ‘Bloodletting’ and ‘Mexican Moon’ which gave Paul his first U.S. Gold album.

In the 1990's Paul spent time playing in local bands back in his native Newcastle area, also working with MARTIN BLAND and STEVIE HUTCH from The ANIMALS in the band BECKETT.

In 2001 he joined the tour of the reformed Roxy Music, much to the delight of the fans, and proved show after show on the 2001 tour that he is a major part of the history of Roxy Music and an integral part of the Roxy sound.

Paul joined Bryan in the studio after the Roxy Music tour to record some drums to finish the long awaited Bryan Ferry album 'Frantic' and also joined Bryan for his 'Frantic' 2002-2004 tour, also performing with him at the Isle of White Festival in 2005. Paul was also back on the Roxy Music drum stool again for their 2010 and 2011 festival tours.

Paul Thompson Gary Moore Drummer

Fans nicknamed Paul ‘The Great Paul Thompson’ due to his remarkable drumming skills and power. Drummer Roger Taylor of the New Wave band Duran Duran says that Paul’s drumming was a big influence over his development.

In 2013 Paul started touring with the UK LEGENDS band performing throughout the UK and Europe and still appears as a special guest at some of the shows, and in 2014 also joined the legendary Tyneside band LINDISFARNE