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Paul Wrightson career?

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Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
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Topic: Paul Wrightson career?

Posted By: Prog-man
Subject: Paul Wrightson career?
Date Posted: March 07 2006 at 23:14

Do you remember ARENA's singer: Paul Wrightson?

http://www.dprp.vuurwerk.nl/bands/arena/images/paul7.jpg -

He really did a GREAT JOB with ARENA albums like:

http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/004pride.htm"> http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/009stage.htm"> http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/005cry.htm"> http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/009stage.htm - http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/009stage.htm - http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/005cry.htm -

And, of course... http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/012visitor.htm">

But... does anybody know what happened with his career?

I know he appears in this Arena albums, edited later:

http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/edits.htm"> http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/cage_unlocking.htm"> http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/cage_back.htm">

http://www.verglas.com/arenaworld/releases/cage_revisited.htm"> And: Nolan, Clive - Hound Of The Baskervilles CD (only backing vocals...)

Of course, ARENA had three BIG vocalists:

- CARSON

- WRIGHTSON

- SOWDEN.

But Wrightson is GREAT. Cool voice. His interpretation was absolutely theatrical (just listen to "Welcome to the stage!" or "The Visitor").

Does someone know why that he separate of the band? Or did they force it?

I saw Arena in Buenos Aires (ARGENTINA, great show), a few years ago (Immortal Tour) and Sowden's voice sounded fantastic. Cool singer.

But I am interested in knowing that was of Wrightson, since I thought that it he was ideal for the band, and saw it almost as a possible continuation of a style (obviusly, saving respectful differences): GABRIEL (70's), FISH (80's), WHRIGHTSON (90's), without taking merit from the others Arena's singers.

Does anybody know something about his career?

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Arriving somewhere but not here

Replies:

Posted By: Hibou
Date Posted: March 08 2006 at 00:30

That's something I always wanted to know myself. I've searched the web and all I ever found was an official 1999 announcement by Arena, saying that personal problems had arisen between Paul and the other band members that prompted his departure. Nothing about a post-Arena career.

As if the voice of "The Visitor" had simply faded back into obscurity... What a shame...

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[IMG]http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/Progueuse/Album.jpg">
Gene Police: You!! Out of the pool!

Posted By: Prog-man
Date Posted: March 11 2006 at 02:01

Hibou:

Thank you for the information. Yeah, it's a shame! Cry

Simply he vanished like Syd Barret... Confused

I repeat: Sowden is really great (Carson too).

But I listen "The Hanging Tree" (from "The Visitor") agian and again, and cannot understand what could have happened with Wrightson; or how no band bore in mind his talent! Angry

(Hey! I see that you like almost the same bands than to me, man! Clap )

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Arriving somewhere but not here

Posted By: Hibou
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 00:10

Ah, great minds think alike, don’t they ?

Seriously, though, your post got me searching the web the other day, and I found another tiny piece of info about Paul Wrightson. While Arena were touring/promoting their album “Immortal?” in 2000, it appears that Paul was in the audience and the band knew it. They were a little nervous, to say the least, since they had planned on having new singer Rob Sowden do a couple of numbers from “The Visitor” which Paul used to sing. But everything went well: after the show, Paul actually went backstage and congratulated everyone. A class act, if you ask me, considering he’d been kicked out.

One good thing about Arena is that they always hire great vocalists. And it’s funny your mentioning Fish and Gabriel because I also tend to put these two in the same category (alongwith Carson, Sowden and Wrightson). These voices somehow seem to belong to the same family.

Who knows, maybe Paul will surface again one day. Like you said, it's hard to imagine such a talented vocalist could go unnoticed forever. Let's keep our fingers crossed and our eyes (and ears) open.

P.S. If you ever want to hear a couple of other perfect Gabriel sound-alikes, check out streams from Shaun Guerin and Italian band The Watch on this site. They sound so much like PG it's almost freakish

.

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[IMG]http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/Progueuse/Album.jpg">
Gene Police: You!! Out of the pool!

Posted By: Prog-man
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 20:33

Yes, "great minds think alike", man!

Very interesting anecdote. And Paul's attitude was very cool! Clap

Thank you for your recommendations. I like The Watch, and I'm going to listen to Shaun Guerin.

I agree what you say about Gabriel, Fish, Sowden, Carson, and Wrightson.

Would you include Credo's vocalist Mark Colton in that list of "theatrical" style? What do you think?

And... I found this info about Paul in the web: Wacko

http://www.lemonrock.com/purpleproject - http://www.lemonrock.com/purpleproject

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2006/01/31/tribute_bands_riffs_feature.shtml - http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2006/01/31/t ribute_bands_riffs_feature.shtml

Deep Purple tribute band? Confused

(With the due respect who plays in tribute bands)... He deserves a more important place!!... Angry

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Arriving somewhere but not here

Posted By: Hibou
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 22:29

Wow, Paul Wrightson in a Deep Purple tribute! Now that’s news alright. I can just imagine the “Smoke on the Water” riff and then Wrightson singing “We all came out to Montreux...”

I almost wish I never found out... A first-rate frontman going on the road to perform other people’s music. It’s like the proud lion fell from his pedestal. I just hope he’s doing it because he likes it, not out of necessity.

About Credo's Mark Colton, I'm afraid I've never heard of the band. Are they any good? Is thei name "Credo" in relation to Fish's song?

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[IMG]http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/Progueuse/Album.jpg">
Gene Police: You!! Out of the pool!

Posted By: Prog-man
Date Posted: March 12 2006 at 23:13

Hey, what do you think about this?:

RPWL: are currently working on their Live-DVD and solo-projects of the RPWL musicians! Kalle Wallner is producing his album with JOHN JOWITT (IQ, Arena, Jadis, etc) and singer PAUL WRIGHTSON (ex-Arena). Chris Postl and Yogi Lang are almost finished composing their albums, too. Furthermore the following RPWL concerts are confirmed:

07 May 06 NL-Zoetermeer
11 May 06 ES-Madrid
12 May 06 ES Alcazar de San Juan
13 May 06 ES-Valencia
19 May06 D-Freising (festival with RIVERSIDE and special guest)
27 May 06 D-Marseille (Festival Prog'Sud)
15 July 06 D-Reichenbach (artrock festival with RAY WILSON and THE WATCH)

Cool!!! RPWL is one of my fave bands!!!

and of course, all JOWITT bands (IQ, ARENA, JADIS, DIRTBOX) too!!!

http://www.dprp.net/news/index.php - http://www.dprp.net/news/index.php

I like Purple (and I would like to listen that tribute band) but this is much more interesting! LOL

P.S.: About CREDO, I don't know about the relation to Fish's song (I had never thought it...) but RHETORIC is a GREAT album! 4.50/5 in Progarchives. Big smile

And Mike Varty (Shadowland, Janison Edge, Landmarq) plays in it!

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=9358 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD. asp?cd_id=9358

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Arriving somewhere but not here

Posted By: Hibou
Date Posted: March 13 2006 at 00:44

Prog-man wrote:

Hey, what do you think about this?:

Cool!!! RPWL is one of my fave bands!!!

and of course, all JOWITT bands (IQ, ARENA, JADIS, DIRTBOX) too!!!

http://www.dprp.net/news/index.php - http://www.dprp.net/news/index.php

I like Purple (and I would like to listen that tribute band) but this is much more interesting! LOL

P.S.: About CREDO, I don't know about the relation to Fish's song (I had never thought it...) but RHETORIC is a GREAT album! 4.50/5 in Progarchives. Big smile

And Mike Varty (Shadowland, Janison Edge, Landmarq) plays in it!

http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD.asp?cd_id=9358 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD. asp?cd_id=9358

! Good heavens, are you a visionary or something? I mean, no one hears anything about the guy for five years and then just as you mention his name...

This is great news! I love RPWL too! (if this were April 1st, I'd think you're pulling my leg

). I've been hooked on their Trying to Kiss the Sun album for quite a while now, although I've yet to buy "Stock" (I hear it's even better).

Thanks a million for the info, Prog-Man! And thanks also for the Credo details too. I'll be looking into them and will write them a bio soon. Do let me know if you hear anything new about RPWL.

Ciao!

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[IMG]http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b311/Progueuse/Album.jpg">
Gene Police: You!! Out of the pool!

Posted By: red_planet
Date Posted: June 28 2007 at 16:15

How far back do you want to go Wink

??

Rgds

The Ranger

Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: June 28 2007 at 16:20

I saw Paul play in the DP tribute some time last year @ Riff's in Swindon.

Great fun!

Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: June 28 2007 at 19:46

Paul Wrightson lends vocals to Blind Ego (RPWL guitarist) along with John Mitchell. Bassist John Jowitt is also on it.

E

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Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: June 29 2007 at 13:41

I'll be seeing Blind Ego in Germany in 2 weeks time! So I shall report back!

http://www.bergkeller-reichenbach.de/ - http://www.bergkeller-reichenbach.de/

Quite looking forward to seeing Paul on stage again......... back stage will be a bit of an Arena moment wi th Paul, John, John, and of course Clive will also be there!

Posted By: progrockdaddy
Date Posted: July 24 2007 at 06:50

We know where hes hiding...

Posted By: mainman
Date Posted: February 21 2008 at 14:43

A Class Act is a good apt term my friend as a quick google search will reveal the man himself ended up as an amatuer actor!!! A further search reveals he was a better singer than actor!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonder why he no longer acts!!!

Posted By: Vienna
Date Posted: May 12 2008 at 14:17

Hi All!

Being a big fan of Blind Ego I have it on good authority that Paul gave up the 'amateur' theatricals because of Blind Ego and The Purple Project, two 'professional' outfits! I've also heard that Paul is quite good at acting and was brought into Class Act to give it some clout. Sounds like a decent bloke, giving his support to an amateur group. I've checked The Purple Project website and they have quite a good list of up and coming gigs dotted about the country, so he must be a busy man!

Posted By: mainman
Date Posted: June 16 2008 at 04:14

Me thinks (sorry Knows) your authority lacks any credibility. Mind you ego comes into although not particularly blind!