Doogie Paul - Musician
Born October 16th
1972; died November 3rd 2012
Doogie Paul, who has
died of cancer aged forty, was a singularly mercurial figure, both as
bass player with James Yorkston and the Athletes over five albums
across ten years, and during his early days as an award-winning if
somewhat bruised and battered skateboarder. Paul captivated too on
the all too rare occasions he performed his own songs live. Paul's
untimely passing has robbed Edinburgh and Scotland's music scene of a
rare talent, who, whether in the studio, onstage or in a bar with
the many friends and strangers his energy sparked off, remained an
instinctive, open-minded and unique presence.
Douglas Paul was born
in Glasgow to Anne and Douglas, who led a musical family. Paul's
father had been a professional bass player, and his elder brothers,
Alan and Iain, played guitar and drums respectively. Paul grew up
with his family in Newton Mearns, where he attended Mearns Primary
and Eastwood High schools. Although bright, Paul left school as soon
as possible to indulge a passion for skate-boarding which ensured the
six-footer several championship wins, as well as no end of hospital
visits. That career ended after Paul leapt off his board to avoid a
collision with a much younger boy while practising for a competition.
The incident briefly left Paul wheelchair-bound.
Paul first picked up a
bass in his late teens, and played with bands in Glasgow before
hooking up with Yorkston and the Athletes in Edinburgh. Paul toured
with the band extensively, providing vital backing vocals as well as
bass to Yorkston's doleful croon. Beyond his crucial role with
Yorkston, between 2006 and 2008 Paul sang and performed his own
material at shows usually involving associates of the Fife-based
Fence Collective, which Yorkston and the Athletes remain linked to.
Accompanying himself on
banjo, Paul's songs were spartan, intense and jarringly lovely. Some
were recorded in demo form, though none were released. A version of
folk legend Lal Waterson's song, Altisidora, was recorded with fellow
Athlete Reuben Taylor, and Paul played bass on an album by Waterson's
daughter and son, Marry Waterson and Oliver Knight. Paul was also
involved in a tribute night to Waterson at the BBC Electric Proms in
2007.
Paul was diagnosed with
cancer of the bladder in January 2010, but, after extensive sessions
of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, was given the all-clear
after a one-year check-up, only for him to relapse earlier this
year.
As Yorkston relates on
a Facebook tribute page to Paul set up by his multitude of friends,
the last time Paul played as part of James Yorkston and the Athletes
was at shows in London and Edinburgh. While too weak to play and sing
at the same time, the pair duetted for a moving rendering of
Yorkston's song, Temptation, from the 2008 album, When The Haar Rolls
In.
With things worsening
over the last few weeks, Paul checked into the Marie Curie hospice at
the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, only to move back home
shortly afterwards. After much persuasion by the friends who visited
and looked after him, Paul returned to the Marie Curie hospice, where
he passed away soon after.
As all those who spent
time with him in the last few days of his life confirm, Paul was a
one-off. A free-spirit with an inspirational warmth and positivity,
Doogie Paul loved life, and the people who filled his, to the last.
Paul is survived by his
parents and brothers.
Neil Cooper, with
thanks to Alan Paul and Marta Tycinska
The Herald, November 20th 2012
ends
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