Paul Roland

Paul Roland (born 6 September 1959 in Kent, England), is a singer-songwriter, author, journalist and paranormal researcher. Since the release of his first single 'Oscar Automobile' with the Weird Strings in 1979, Paul Roland has been spinning his tales against a backdrop of gothic rock, psychedelic pop, folk and, occasionally, baroque strings. His character creations include a Regency magistrate, various 19th Century murderers, a retired executioner, an opium addict, and an entire court of medieval grotesques. Paul Roland's first album (credited as Midnight Rags) 'The Werewolf of London' (1980), with historical and supernatural themes was picked up by Armageddon Records in the UK. It was there that Paul Roland met Robyn Hitchcock who later appeared on tracks for Paul Roland's second album. After an abortive flirtation with the music business, when he was managed by David Enthoven (manager of Roxy Music) and June Bolan (widow of Marc Bolan), Paul Roland returned to Armageddon Records for the mini-album 'Burnt Orchids'. Its title track was the first to feature Paul Roland backed by a small string and woodwind ensemble, a trademark of many of his albums of the 80s and 90s. 

The success of the album led to Paul Roland's first tours in Europe, label deals in France (New Rose Records), Germany (Pastell), Greece (DiDi Music), Italy (Diva Records), the USA (Revolver) and Japan (Century Records) and offers to work with film composer Michael Nyman and members of The Velvet Underground. Other cult figures such as Robyn Hitchcock, Nick Saloman (a.k.a. The Bevis Frond), Nick Nicely, and Andy Ellison (of John's Children) made guest appearances on Paul Roland's subsequent albums, several of which are now listed as highly collectable including the psychedelic classic 'Danse Macabre', the acoustic based mini-albums 'A Cabinet of Curiosities' and 'Happy Families' with stories of eccentric characters, the rockier 'Duel' with its medieval-tinged three-song suite "The King Must Die" and the folk rock outing 'Masque', 'Roaring Boys', a mini-album of cover versions entitled 'Strychnine', 'Sarabande' and 'Gargoyles' which completed the first chapter of the Paul Roland discography in 1997. That year, Paul Roland took a seven-year break from music to raise his two young sons, and write a series of books on mysticism and true crime. 

In 2002 Paul Roland returned with an appearance at the Herbstnächte-Festival in Berlin in September of that year. After that a series of re-issues appeared, beginning with 'Duel' which was released by Haunted Forest Records in Greece (2002). In 2004 Paul Roland returned with his first new album in seven years, the largely acoustic 'Pavane', which was released on Paul Roland's own label Gaslight Records. The album provided a further glimpse into his mind including a brief baroque instrumental piece that he had discussed recording with film composer Michael Nyman many years earlier. This album was re-issued by Black Widow Records in Italy in 2006. In 2007 Roland released 'Re-Animator', his first rock album for many years. It featured musicians who have recorded with Caravan, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Hillage and many great musicians of the 1960s Canterbury music scene. This album was released by Black Widow Records in Italy and re-issued as an expanded edition by Syborgmusic in Germany. In 2008 Paul Roland’s album 'Nevermore' was released on Syborgmusic in Germany. This album has a selection of songs in a variety of styles from seafaring folk to psychedelic pop and more whimsical fantasy this time inspired by Edgar Allan Poe and Jules Verne. The album 'Grimm' (2011) is a true solo album. Paul Roland played every instrument on the album and engineered the recording in his own studio. All of the songs are based on the dark fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, so there is a touch of the macabre and the doomed romantic about the lyrics although the musical setting is baroque acoustic psychedelic pop. In 2015 the album 'Bitter and Twisted' was released by the independent record label Sireena Records in Germany. In February 2016 Cherry Red Records in the UK released a compilation album (as a double CD) called 'In The Opium Den - The Early Recordings 1980-87'. Compiled and curated by the artist, 'In The Opium Den' is a comprehensive anthology of Paul Roland’s early works, including his first three albums plus A and B sides, EP tracks and unreleased tracks from the period, spanning his output up until 1987. In January 2017 Paul Roland's new album 'White Zombie' was released by the Italian label Unifaun Productions ‎. [SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA]