| Paul Wickens | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 March 1956 Brentwood, Essex, England |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, score composer |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards, piano, accordion, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussion, harmonica |
| Associated acts | Paul McCartney Paul Carrack Jim Diamond Nik Kershaw Boy George Elton John Joni Mitchell Bon Jovi Bob Dylan |
Paul "Wix" Wickens (born 27 March 1956) is a keyboardist and composer from Essex, United Kingdom. Wickens has worked with musicians such as Paul McCartney, Nik Kershaw, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bon Jovi and many other artists. Wickens has been a member of McCartney's touring band since 1989.[1]
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Wickens began touring with Paul McCartney in 1989. As of then, he has appeared on many of McCartney's albums and DVDs, and has become the musical director for many of McCartney's tours. He continues to tour with McCartney, and of the four musicians in McCartney's touring band, he has worked with McCartney for considerably longer.
Wickens recorded on albums by Tommy Shaw of the American rock group Styx, The Damned, Tim Finn, Paul Carrack, Nik Kershaw, Jim Diamond, Boy George, and David Gilmour, and was the co-producer of the first Savage Progress album. He also was the keyboardist and programmer for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians album, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars - which was where he first met Chris Whitten. Paul was also instrumental in making the BANDAGED album the success it was, in aid of BBC Children in Need.
He attended Brentwood School, Essex where he became a friend of fellow student, the writer Douglas Adams, and performed at his memorial service in 2001. Wickens composed the music for the sequel radio productions of Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, originally broadcast in 2003-2004.
Wickens recorded a version of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", and has also been known for The The's minor UK hit, "This is the day", from their album Soul Mining.
Wickens currently uses a Yamaha Motif ES7 synthesizer and a Kurzweil controller plus a rack of processors.
| Year | Album | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Desire For Freedom | Jim Diamond |
| 1992 | Sleeping Satellite | Tasmin Archer |
| 1992 | Great Expectations | Tasmin Archer |
| 1993 | In Your Care | Tasmin Archer |
| 1996 | Big White Room | Melanie Garside |
| 1996 | She Knows | Melanie Garside |