Paul Burgess (musician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paul Burgess (born September 28, 1950 in Manchester) is an English rock drummer, notable for his association with a wide range of British rock and folk-rock bands. In addition to extensive session work, he has been an official member of 10cc, Jethro Tull, Camel, Magna Carta, and The Icicle Works.

[edit] Career

Burgess joined 10cc on their 1973 UK tour and subsequently played with the band on most of their tours until 1983.

He played on the 10cc Live: King Biscuit Flower Hour album recorded in 1975 and officially joined 10cc in 1976 after the departure of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. His first studio album for the band was Deceptive Bends, which featured the hits "The Things We Do For Love", "Good Morning Judge" and "People In Love". When 10cc began touring in 1977, Burgess was replaced on drums by Stuart Tosh.

Burgess subsequently became a member of The Invisible Girls, a band that backed punk-influenced performance poet John Cooper Clarke on several of his late 70s/early 80s recordings. Burgess temporarily left the band in 1980 and was replaced by Buzzcocks drummer John Maher for the album Pauline Murray and the Invisible Girls, on which the band backed ex-punk singer Pauline Murray.

Burgess resumed his association with 10cc in 1980, playing on 10cc's Look Hear? (1980) and Ten Out of 10 (1981) as well as two albums by 10cc's Eric Stewart, Girls (1980) and Frooty Rooties (1982). He was also a member of folk-rock outfit Magna Carta for one album, 1981's Midnight Blue. Ater the release of this album, Magna Carta broke up for several years.

The following year, Burgess was briefly a member of Jethro Tull, replacing Gerry Conway, and touring throughout Europe and North America with the band. Burgess was in turn replaced by Doane Perry, and did not record with the band.

Burgess rejoined 10cc for their 1983 tour, after which 10cc broke up.

In 1984, Burgess became a member of progressive rock unit Camel, replacing Stuart Tosh, who had once replaced him in 10cc. He stayed for one studio album (Stationary Traveller), and one live album (Pressure Points) before the band dissolved in 1985.

Around the same time, Burgess was the session drummer (though not an official band member) for pop band The Colourfield, playing drums on virtually all the tracks on their 1985 debut LP, Virgins & Philistines.

In 1986, he toured with Joan Armatrading and returned as a member of the reformed Magna Carta. During the late 1980s, Burgess also did extensive live work with a range of artists including glam-rocker/rockabilly revivialist Alvin Stardust and disco singer Gloria Gaynor.

In 1990, Burgess replaced drummer Zak Starkey in a late-running version of the new-wave rock band The Icicle Works. He recorded one album, 1990s Permanent Damage, before the group broke up.

In 1992, Camel reformed with Burgess on drums. He stayed until 1993, recording a studio album (Dust and Dreams) and a live album (Never Let Go) with the band.

He then joined Chris Farlowe's R&B styled backing band in 1995 and worked with Farlowe steadily for the next decade. In 2000, Burgess once again re-joined 10cc for a series of live shows. Generally speaking, ex-10cc bassist Graham Gouldman tours along with Burgess and guitarist Rick Fenn under names such as "10cc featuring Graham Gouldman & Friends" or "Graham Gouldman plays 10cc". Eric Stewart has not toured solo.

In 2003, in addition to semi-regular gigs with Farlow and 10cc, Paul Burgess played drums with The Soul Company (a band headed by Dave Sharp, formerly of The Alarm), as well as Then Came The Wheel, a band consisting of several veterans of the UK folk-rock scene.