Paul Cunniffe
Encyclopedia
Paul Cunniffe was a British
-born Irish
singer-songwriter
. He fronted the 1980s punk band Blaze X
.
, England
, and then lived in Ellesmere Port
, but moved back to his family's hometown of Tuam
in Ireland
at the age of 14. In the Christian Brothers School in Tuam
he formed Blaze X
with friends Paul Ralph, Davy Carton
and Ja Keating.
After Blaze X split, he moved to London. He began to write songs on his own, and play on the Irish pub scene around the capital. He won the London Pub Entertainer of the Year award in 1996
He wrote the first version of the Saw Doctors number 1 single, "I Useta Lover
". He also wrote the track "Funny World" which is covered by the Saw Doctors on their album The Cure
.
Following his death, an album of his songs entitled Excuse My Accent was released to critical acclaim. Many songs on this album evoke a sadness which seems to be in Paul's life. In the documentary, Man of Music, Heart of Gold, Kenny Ralph describes him as having frailty in life, similar to the life of Nick Drake
. Others, such as Sunshine, suggest otherwise; Sunshine, lights up a cloudy day, moonlight helps me to find my way. You can't beat the feeling, when you've made it on your own. Dreams is considered the song which most aptly displays Paul's fine talent for words and the English language. There were only 500 copies of this album pressed. A catalogue of unreleased songs may be released at some point in the future. Paul left behind his partner Jo and three children, Paula, Shane and Mollie Rae.
A no-budget documentary about his music entitled Man of Music, Heart Of Gold was shown to a packed audience in his hometown of Tuam
on 19 August 2007. The film had its Galway
premiere on 6 December 2007 in Monroe's Tavern.
, east London on 11 August 2001. In January 2010, The Guardian
claimed that Paul fell from the balcony of Paul Roundhill
's flat, and that the circumstances surrounding the fall have never been discovered. The guardian printed an error regarding Paul's death. Paul was living in the same street in a flat on the opposite side of the street to Roundhill. On the day of Paul's death he had been a visitor in the top flat and for some reason, climbed out of the window, hanging onto the gutter, the gutter broke and Paul fell to his death.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
-born Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. He fronted the 1980s punk band Blaze X
Blaze X
Blaze X were an Irish punk band. The band was formed in Tuam, Co. Galway. They released a successful single in 1980, Some Hope which became Larry Gogan's Hit song of the week on 2FM. It's b-side, Rippy, about serial killer The Yorkshire Ripper was banned by the RTE. Their finest moment came when...
.
Early life and career
Cunniffe was born in CambridgeCambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and then lived in Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
, but moved back to his family's hometown of Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
at the age of 14. In the Christian Brothers School in Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
he formed Blaze X
Blaze X
Blaze X were an Irish punk band. The band was formed in Tuam, Co. Galway. They released a successful single in 1980, Some Hope which became Larry Gogan's Hit song of the week on 2FM. It's b-side, Rippy, about serial killer The Yorkshire Ripper was banned by the RTE. Their finest moment came when...
with friends Paul Ralph, Davy Carton
Davy Carton
Davy Carton is a singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist from Tuam, County Galway, in the Republic of Ireland. He is best known as a core member of the Saw Doctors, the folk-rock band he co-founded with Leo Moran and others in 1987....
and Ja Keating.
After Blaze X split, he moved to London. He began to write songs on his own, and play on the Irish pub scene around the capital. He won the London Pub Entertainer of the Year award in 1996
He wrote the first version of the Saw Doctors number 1 single, "I Useta Lover
I Useta Lover
"I Useta Lover" is a 1990 song by Irish rock group The Saw Doctors. It is the second single off the If This Is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back album. It stayed at the #1 position in the Irish chart for nine weeks and became one of the best-selling singles of all time in the country...
". He also wrote the track "Funny World" which is covered by the Saw Doctors on their album The Cure
The cure (Saw Doctors Album)
The Cure is the 6th studio recording release by Irish rock band The Saw Doctors. The CD was released on The Saw Doctor's own record label, Shamtown Records and has the catalogue number of SAWDOC013CD...
.
Following his death, an album of his songs entitled Excuse My Accent was released to critical acclaim. Many songs on this album evoke a sadness which seems to be in Paul's life. In the documentary, Man of Music, Heart of Gold, Kenny Ralph describes him as having frailty in life, similar to the life of Nick Drake
Nick Drake
Nicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
. Others, such as Sunshine, suggest otherwise; Sunshine, lights up a cloudy day, moonlight helps me to find my way. You can't beat the feeling, when you've made it on your own. Dreams is considered the song which most aptly displays Paul's fine talent for words and the English language. There were only 500 copies of this album pressed. A catalogue of unreleased songs may be released at some point in the future. Paul left behind his partner Jo and three children, Paula, Shane and Mollie Rae.
A no-budget documentary about his music entitled Man of Music, Heart Of Gold was shown to a packed audience in his hometown of Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
on 19 August 2007. The film had its Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
premiere on 6 December 2007 in Monroe's Tavern.
Death
Paul died in suspicious circumstances, following a fall, in WhitechapelWhitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
, east London on 11 August 2001. In January 2010, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
claimed that Paul fell from the balcony of Paul Roundhill
Paul Roundhill
Paul Roundhill , and the son of a Church of England vicar, is an English artist and writer based in the [East End of London, England]...
's flat, and that the circumstances surrounding the fall have never been discovered. The guardian printed an error regarding Paul's death. Paul was living in the same street in a flat on the opposite side of the street to Roundhill. On the day of Paul's death he had been a visitor in the top flat and for some reason, climbed out of the window, hanging onto the gutter, the gutter broke and Paul fell to his death.