Paul Heaton
Background information
Birth name	Paul David Heaton
Born	May 9, 1962 (1962-05-09) (age 45) Birkenhead, England
Genre(s)	Indie Pop, Pop, Alternative rock
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, Songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar
Years active	1982 - Present
Label(s)	Go! Discs, Universal, Ark 21, Mercury, Sony BMG
Associated acts	The Housemartins, The Beautiful South, Biscuit Boy
Website	http://www.paulheaton.com

Paul David Heaton (born May 9, 1962) is an English singer-songwriter. He was a member of The Beautiful South, who disbanded in 2007, and a member of The Housemartins, who disbanded in 1988. is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... Map sources for Birkenhead at grid reference SJ3088 Birkenhead is a town on The Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, on the left bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liverpool. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music often used to refer to bands that are on small independent record labels or that arent on labels at all. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Go! Discs is an independent record label based in the United Kingdom. ... Universal Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. ... Ark 21 is record label founded by former The Police manager Miles Copeland III. See also List of record labels Categories: | ... Mercury Records was a record label founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1945 by Irving Green, Berle Adams and Arthur Talmadge. ... Bertelsmann is a transnational media corporation founded in 1835, based in G tersloh, Germany. ... The Housemartins were an English indie rock/accapella band that was active in the 1980s. ... It has been suggested that Jacqui Abbott be merged into this article or section. ... Fat Chance, released July 2002, is Paul Heaton, of The Beautiful Souths solo album. ... is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... It has been suggested that Jacqui Abbott be merged into this article or section. ... The Housemartins were an English indie rock/accapella band that was active in the 1980s. ...

Early years

Heaton was born in Birkenhead, England, the third son of Horace Heaton and Doris James Heaton. His father was a football player and came quite close to having a professional career with Liverpool, Everton and Tranmere Rovers. Paul was brought up in Sheffield (he attended King Edward VII School and remains a supporter of Sheffield United^[1]), and was very athletic as a boy, excelling particularly in cross country. When he was 14 years old, the Heaton family moved to Surrey, where Paul became known as a class eccentric; he was soon expelled from his school for numerous incidents of bad behaviour. Due to his lack of O-Levels, his mother insisted he follow his brother, Adrian, into college, where he met several students who played in their own bands.^[2] Map sources for Birkenhead at grid reference SJ3088 Birkenhead is a town on The Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, on the left bank of the River Mersey, opposite Liverpool. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total... Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England. ... King Edward VII School (KES) is a secondary school located in South Yorkshire, Sheffield, United Kingdom. ... Sheffield United F.C. are a football club in The Football League. ... US Armed Forces cross country meet Cross-country running is a sport in which teams of runners compete to complete a course over open or rough terrain before other teams. ... The General Certificate of Education or GCE is an academic qualification, often divided into two levels: Ordinary level (O-level) and Advanced level (A-Level), although other categories exist. ...

Early music career

Paul's first musical experience was in a band called Tools Down alongside brother Adrian and friend John Box. They only made one recording, "All I Want", although they gained experience from playing in pubs. At Reigate College, Paul decided he was going to be in a band, though his poor behaviour continued, as he set off bangers and robbed the college safe. However, it was at Reigate that Paul met Quentin Cook, singer of A Disque Attack. Cook and Heaton formed a band with John Laurenson and Chris Lang, called The Stomping Pond Frogs, who busked on weekends. Heaton described the Pond Frogs' music as "Cabaret."^{[citation needed]} After leaving college, Paul worked as a ledger clerk for 3 years before moving to Norway with his girlfriend. Reigate is a commuter town in Surrey near London. ... Fatboy Slim (born on July 16, 1963, Quentin Cook) also known as Norman Cook is a British musician in the dance music genre. ...

The Housemartins

Main article: The Housemartins

Paul Heaton formed The Housemartins in the early 1980s. It featured Stan Cullimore on guitar, Ted Key on bass and Hugh Whitaker on drums. Shortly afterwards Ted left the band and was replaced with Quentin Cook, now known to all as Norman Cook (later Fatboy Slim). The Housemartins released a number of singles and two studio albums, London 0 Hull 4 and The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death. Their most famous hit was an a capella version of the Isley Brothers' "Caravan of Love", which was a [[Christmas number Two] in the UK. For the second album Hugh Whitaker was replaced with Dave Hemingway on drums. Shortly afterwards the Housemartins split up. The Housemartins were an English indie rock/accapella band that was active in the 1980s. ... The Housemartins were an English indie rock/accapella band that was active in the 1980s. ... Stan Cullimore was born Ian Cullimore, on 6 April 1962, in Kingston Upon Hull, England. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ... Hugh Whitaker is the former drummer for the British indie rock band The Housemartins. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Fatboy Slim (born Quentin Leo Cook on July 31, 1963[1], also known as Norman Cook) is a British big beat musician. ... London 0 Hull 4 is a 1986 album by The Housemartins. ... The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death was the second and last album by The Housemartins. ... A cappella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. ... The Isley Brothers are an American pop, R&B, funk and soul group who began their musical career in Cincinnati in the early 1950s. ... Caravan of Love is a 1985 R&B hit originally recorded by Isley-Jasper-Isley, the second half of The Isley Brothers 3 + 3 lineup of the 1970s. ... David Hemingway known as Hammy (born September 20, 1960), is a lead vocalist for Hull-based group The Beautiful South. ...

The Beautiful South

Main article: The Beautiful South

In 1988, Paul Heaton formed The Beautiful South from the ashes of The Housemartins. It had Dave Rotheray on lead guitar, former Housemartins roadie Sean Welch on bass, David Stead on drums and probably most surprisingly, Housemartins former drummer Dave Hemingway, now in the role of lead singer and frontman. The Beautiful South released two top ten singles, "Song for Whoever" and "You Keep It All In"; the latter featured Irish singer Briana Corrigan on vocals. In 1989, the band released an album, Welcome to the Beautiful South. The band's biggest success to date is the release of the single "A Little Time" in 1991; it reached number 1 on the charts. The band went on to release eight more albums, including two (1996's Blue Is the Colour and 1998's Quench) that reached the #1 spot on the UK album charts, as well as releasing the best-of compilation Carry on Up the Charts, which also reached #1 and achieved platinum status before splitting up in January 2007. It has been suggested that Jacqui Abbott be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Jacqui Abbott be merged into this article or section. ... David Rotheray (born February 6, 1963 in Birmingham, England) is the lead guitarist for The Beautiful South. ... Sean Welch (born April 12, 1965 in Enfield, England) is the bassist for The Beautiful South and former roadie for The Housemartins. ... David Hemingway known as Hammy (born September 20, 1960), is a lead vocalist for Hull-based group The Beautiful South. ... Briana Corrigan (b. ... Welcome To The Beautiful South was the debut album by The Beautiful South released in August 1989. ... Blue is The Colour, released October 1996, is The Beautiful Souths sixth album following the two singles Pretenders to the Throne and Dream a Little Dream, which never featured on any album until the release of the second greatest hits Solid Bronze in 2001. ... Quench released October 1998 is The Beautiful Souths seventh album. ... Carry On Up The Charts: The Best Of The Beautiful South Is The Beautiful Souths 5th album and first greatest hits collection. ...

On the ITV documentary music series Faith & Music screened 29th October 2006, Paul talks openly and honestly about his atheism and his battle with alcoholism. Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... “Atheist” redirects here. ... Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ...

After a band meeting on the 30th January 2007, they decided to split. They released a statement on 31st January, in which their reasons for splitting were "musical similarities". "The band would like to thank everyone for their 19 wonderful years in music," the statement also said. ^[3]

Biscuit Boy

In 2001, Heaton released an album with his side project Biscuit Boy (a.k.a Crackerman). However the album, called Fat Chance, was not a success, with a single, "Mitch", reaching only Number 74 in the UK Singles Chart. Due to this failure, the album was re-issued by Mercury Records under Heaton's own name. This record charted even lower in the charts.^{[citation needed]} Fat Chance, released July 2002, is Paul Heaton, of The Beautiful Souths solo album. ... The UK Singles Chart is currently compiled by The Official UK Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the British record industry. ... Mercury Records was a record label founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1945 by Irving Green, Berle Adams and Arthur Talmadge. ...

Politics

Heaton is well known for being a socialist and this is best shown through his lyrics over the years, also during his time with the Beautiful South all money was split equally between all members of the band making them one of the few co-operative bands ever, he is also a strong advocate of abdicating the British monarchy. Some of his lyrics also look at the injustice of world leaders sending ordinary people into combat and not getting their own hands dirty (From Under The Covers and Poppy). These are all common themes in his more political songs, but as well as this his songs have covered a range of topics from Feminism (Mini Correct), Global Warming (Man's World), Globalisation (Big Coin) and the Euro (The Root of All Evil). Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... Welcome To The Beautiful South was the debut album by The Beautiful South released in August 1989. ... Miaow is the fourth album by The Beautiful South. ... Miaow is the fourth album by The Beautiful South. ... Fat Chance, released July 2002, is Paul Heaton, of The Beautiful Souths solo album. ... Quench released October 1998 is The Beautiful Souths seventh album. ... “EUR” redirects here. ... Solid Bronze: Great Hits is The Beautiful Souths ninth album and second greatest hits compilation. ...

Some examples of his socialist lyrics include;

“Too many Florence Nightingales, not enough Robin Hoods” – Flag Day (1986) London 0 Hull 4 is a 1986 album by The Housemartins. ...

“From the front page news to the interviews, its sink the reds and left the blues, they pretend they’re differing points of view, but its only different shades of blue” – Freedom (1986) London 0 Hull 4 is a 1986 album by The Housemartins. ...

“Whisky for the Greek and the Turk, Gin for the Arab and the Jew, A double arsenic for Mister Le Pen, Cause it's him who soils Europe and not you.” – Hidden Jukebox (1994) Miaow is the fourth album by The Beautiful South. ...

"For year after year we’ve stomached these views, starvation can’t compete with Royalties cruise." Man's World (2001) Fat Chance, released July 2002, is Paul Heaton, of The Beautiful Souths solo album. ...

Examples of anti-royalist lyrics;

“It’s a waste of time if you know what they mean, Try shaking a box in front of the queen, Cause her purse is fat and bursting at the seams, It’s a waste of time if you know what they mean.” - Flag Day (1986) London 0 Hull 4 is a 1986 album by The Housemartins. ...

“So to a world without hunger, where royalty face death. (I think the answer's yes, I think the answer's yes)” - I Think The Answer's Yes (1990) Choke (released October 1990) is the name of The Beautiful Souths second album. ...

"Royalty's balloon coming down is a memorable shriek" - Who's Gonna Tell? (2000) Painting It Red is the eighth album released by The Beautiful South in October 2000. ...

The Future

On his regular DJ slot with Manchester radio station ALL FM Heaton has said he is looking at his options^{[citation needed]}.

Heaton is the father of two daughters. He has never married.

References