Paul Young – “Big in the ‘80s! What lucky bastards we were!’

Paul Young was the bassist in a pub band playing Led Zeppelin and Patto covers ‘til his solo soul and blues slot launched him as a singer. He’s still touring nearly 50 years later, just back from filling Mexican stadiums with Rod Stewart. And next May launching his acoustic ‘Songs & Stories Tour’ in theatres, intercut with film clips and hoary old tales from the battlefield. He looks back here at …

 

… Smash Hits cover shoots and Rewind package tours: “what a glorious time the ‘80s was”

 

… the soul phrases he stole from Free and his impression of “the Paul Rodgers moan”

 

… discovering James Taylor, the Doors, Gregg Allman, Vinegar Joe and Van Morrison

 

… supporting Bob Marley when the crowd threw a dead duck at Joe Jackson – “and hit him!”

 

… Mike & Bernie Winters in panto - “I was rolling in the aisles”

 

… playing Led Zeppelin, Cream and Patto and the Bill Withers and Albert King covers that launched him as a singer

 

… memories of Live Aid – “I wish I’d thought about it more”

 

… “What am I, a performing monkey?”

 

… when Midge Ure told him the opening line of Band Aid had actually been a secret audition – “Simon, Tony Hadley or me”

 

… the “deafening” Slade at Luton Tech, the night the DJ played Black JuJu by Alice Cooper

 

… the over-cranked news story that he’d lost his voice

 

… and the night the Mafia came to Rhode Island.

 

Tickets for ‘Paul Young – Songs & Stories’ here: https://www.awaywithmedia.com/tours/paul-young-2026

Help us to keep The Longest Conversation In Rock going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear

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