Paul Heaton
Encyclopedia
Paul David Heaton is an English
singer-songwriter
. He was a member of The Housemartins
, who disbanded in 1988, and a member of The Beautiful South
, who disbanded in 2007. He is currently pursuing a solo career.
on 9 May 1962. At the age of four his family relocated to Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
(then the West Riding of Yorkshire
). While living in Sheffield, Heaton became interested in football, and while his father and elder brother elected to watch Sheffield Wednesday, Heaton chose to support Sheffield United. After moving to Sheffield, Heaton's father took a job in management and Heaton described his childhood as being "fairly middle class, although you wouldn't know it given the schools I went to and the friends I had". After a childhood in Sheffield, Heaton moved to Chipstead, Surrey
during his adolescent years, an early life Heaton described as "bred in Sheffield, fed in Surrey". Whilst in Surrey he, with his brother Adrian, formed their first band "Tools Down" with friends John Box and Stuart Mair. After leaving Surrey, Heaton spent time in Germany
before moving to Kingston upon Hull
, East Riding of Yorkshire
(then Humberside
), where he formed The Housemartins
. Heaton also lived in Leeds
for some time.
games. Heaton also ran with the Blades Business Crew
, a hooligan
faction of Sheffield United supporters. When he began singing, Heaton used to bait his early audiences by mocking their football clubs, he later admitted. For example, at an early Beautiful South performance in Manchester
, Heaton baited the crowd by shouting "fuck off, you Manc twats", after which some members of the audience began throwing chairs towards the stage.
in the early 1980s. This band featured Stan Cullimore
on guitar
, Ted Key
on bass
and Hugh Whitaker
on drums
. Shortly afterwards Key left the band and was replaced with Norman Cook (later Fatboy Slim
). The Housemartins released a number of singles and two studio albums, London 0 Hull 4
and The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death
. Their most famous hit was an a cappella
version of the Isley Brothers' "Caravan of Love
", which was their only Number 1 hit in the UK. For the second album Hugh Whitaker was replaced with Dave Hemingway
on drums. Shortly afterwards the Housemartins split up.
The Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist
politics and Christianity
. (The back cover of London 0 Hull 4 contained the message "Take Jesus - Take Marx - Take Hope".) Heaton has since stated on many occasions that he is an atheist.
from the ashes of The Housemartins. It had Dave Rotheray
on lead guitar, former Housemartins roadie Sean Welch
on bass, David Stead on drums and probably most surprisingly, Housemartins former drummer Dave Hemingway
, now in the role of joint lead singer and frontman. The writing partnership of Heaton and Rotheray proved very successful. The Beautiful South released two top ten singles, "Song for Whoever" and "You Keep It All In"; the latter featured Irish singer Briana Corrigan
on vocals. In 1989, the band released an album, Welcome to the Beautiful South
. The band's biggest success to date is the single "A Little Time", released in 1990; it reached number 1 on the charts. The band went on to release eight more albums, including two (1996's Blue Is the Colour
and 1998's Quench
) that reached the #1 spot on the UK album charts, as well as releasing the best-of compilation Carry on Up the Charts
, which also reached #1 and achieved platinum status, before the band split up in January 2007.
On the ITV
documentary
music series Faith & Music screened 29 October 2006, Heaton talks openly about his atheism and his battle with alcoholism
.
After a band meeting on 30 January 2007, they decided to split. They released a statement on 31 January, in which their reasons for splitting were "musical similarities". "The band would like to thank everyone for their 19 wonderful years in music," the statement also said. On an interview with BBC Breakfast in July 2008, Heaton clarified this statement by stating the Beautiful South had made similar sounding albums for the past ten years.
The New Beautiful South were formed shortly after by David Stead with other members of the band, but without composers Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray, playing old hits live to small venues.
The solo album, called Fat Chance, was not a commercial success, peaking at #95 for 1 week on the UK chart. Also, "Mitch", the lone single credited to Biscuit Boy (a.k.a. Crackerman), reached only Number 75 in the UK Singles Chart
.
In an attempt to re-launch the album, Mercury Records
re-issued Fat Chance in 2002. The album featured new artwork, and was now credited to Paul Heaton. However, this record charted even lower in the album charts, hitting #168. "The Perfect Couple", a single pulled from this re-release also did poorly, peaking at #102 UK. Heaton subsequently rejoined The Beautiful South from 2002 to 2007.
With the 2007 dissolution of The Beautiful South, Heaton has formed a new band "The Sound of Paul Heaton" and is touring small venues.
was released on 7 July 2008, and was preceded by the single "Mermaids and Slaves" on 30 June, and he toured in support of it throughout July.
The album charted at number 43.
The album was recorded in Colne, Lancashire at Modern English Studios with The Earlies
members Christian and Nicky Madden and mixed by Tom Dalgety
In May 2010 Paul and his band headed off on there "Pedals and Pumps" tour, playing local pubs in an attempt to promote the local pub. Paul combined this tour with another passion of his, cycling. He cycled from show to show, accompanied by the support act and long term friend, Gus Devlin, covering nearly 1000 miles.
Heaton and his band played in the Left Field Tent at Glastonbury 2010, closing the stage on the Sunday evening with a duet with tent-curator and old Go! Discs cohort Billy Bragg
.
His third solo album, Acid Country
was released in September 2010 and charted at number 51.
In November and December 2010 he supported Madness
on their 'Do Not Adjust Your Nut Tour' performing mostly songs from Acid Country, as well as material from his second album. He also sang Housemartins hits Caravan of Love
and Me and the Farmer
and covered White Man In Hammersmith Palais by The Clash
.
The piece, commissioned by The Manchester International Festival, was based around the concept of the 7 deadly sins, the 8th sin revealed by Heaton himself during the performance.
For the piece, each sin is given a section of the song, and is sung by a different singer representing that sin.
The guest singers featured on The 8th were London based soul singer Wayne Gidden (Lust), Scottish singer/songwriter Aaron Wright (Wrath), Scottish singer/songwriter King Creosote (Gluttony), Manchester singer/songwriter Simon Aldred from Cherry Ghost (Greed), former Beautiful South Singer Jacqui Abbott (Envy), Manchester based gospel singer Yvonne Shelton (Sloth) and Hull based country singer Mike Greaves (Pride).
The sections were linked together with a narration written by English actor/playwright/producer Che Walker.
It was narrated by American actor and star of The Wire Reg E. Cathey
The debut performance was in July 2011, in the Festival Pavilion Theatre in Albert Square, Manchester. This was the first time in over 10 years that Paul and Jacqui Abbott had shared a stage, and the first time Jacqui had sung publicly since leaving The Beautiful South in 2000.
. Some of his lyrics also look at the injustice of world leaders sending ordinary people into combat while not getting their own hands dirty (Have You Ever Been Away
and Poppy
). These are all common themes in his more political songs, but as well as this his songs have covered a range of topics from Feminism (Mini Correct
), Global Warming (Man's World), Globalisation (Big Coin
) and the Euro
(The Root of All Evil).
's coverage of Italian Serie A
football as a pre match guest and was frequently introduced by host James Richardson
as an 'Italian Football expert'.
In March 2010, Heaton set off on a cycle tour of British pubs, promoting his latest album, British pubs and cycling.
, Manchester
, and supports Sheffield United. Heaton appeared on a BBC One talking heads
programme, Why we love the Royle Family along with Noel Gallagher
in his capacity as a fan of the television sitcom, The Royle Family
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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 was a member of The Housemartins
The Housemartins
The Housemartins were an English indie pop band that was active in the 1980s. Many of the Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist politics and Christianity, reflecting singer Paul Heaton's beliefs at the time .-Formation:The band was formed in late 1983 by Paul Heaton and...
, who disbanded in 1988, and a member of The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South were an English alternative rock group formed at the end of the 1980s by two former members of Hull group The Housemartins, Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway. The duo were initially joined by Sean Welch , Dave Stead and Dave Rotheray , all of whom stayed with the group throughout...
, who disbanded in 2007. He is currently pursuing a solo career.
Early life
Heaton was born on the WirralWirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
on 9 May 1962. At the age of four his family relocated to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
(then the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
). While living in Sheffield, Heaton became interested in football, and while his father and elder brother elected to watch Sheffield Wednesday, Heaton chose to support Sheffield United. After moving to Sheffield, Heaton's father took a job in management and Heaton described his childhood as being "fairly middle class, although you wouldn't know it given the schools I went to and the friends I had". After a childhood in Sheffield, Heaton moved to Chipstead, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
during his adolescent years, an early life Heaton described as "bred in Sheffield, fed in Surrey". Whilst in Surrey he, with his brother Adrian, formed their first band "Tools Down" with friends John Box and Stuart Mair. After leaving Surrey, Heaton spent time in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
before moving to Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
(then Humberside
Humberside
Humberside was a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in Northern England from 1 April 1974 until 1 April 1996. It was composed of land from either side of the Humber Estuary, created from portions of the East and West ridings of Yorkshire and parts of Lindsey, Lincolnshire...
), where he formed The Housemartins
The Housemartins
The Housemartins were an English indie pop band that was active in the 1980s. Many of the Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist politics and Christianity, reflecting singer Paul Heaton's beliefs at the time .-Formation:The band was formed in late 1983 by Paul Heaton and...
. Heaton also lived in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
for some time.
Football hooliganism
Throughout his childhood, Heaton's main interest was football, and he regularly attended Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
games. Heaton also ran with the Blades Business Crew
Blades Business Crew
Blades Business Crew is a football hooligan firm linked to the English Football League club, Sheffield United F.C.-Background:A notable former member of the Blades Business Crew is former Housemartins and Beautiful South front man, Paul Heaton....
, a hooligan
Hooliganism
Hooliganism refers to unruly, destructive, aggressive and bullying behaviour. Such behaviour is commonly associated with sports fans. The term can also apply to general rowdy behaviour and vandalism, often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs....
faction of Sheffield United supporters. When he began singing, Heaton used to bait his early audiences by mocking their football clubs, he later admitted. For example, at an early Beautiful South performance in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Heaton baited the crowd by shouting "fuck off, you Manc twats", after which some members of the audience began throwing chairs towards the stage.
The Housemartins
Heaton, then billing himself as P.d. Heaton, formed The HousemartinsThe Housemartins
The Housemartins were an English indie pop band that was active in the 1980s. Many of the Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist politics and Christianity, reflecting singer Paul Heaton's beliefs at the time .-Formation:The band was formed in late 1983 by Paul Heaton and...
in the early 1980s. This band featured Stan Cullimore
Stan Cullimore
Stan Cullimore played guitar, between 1983 and 1988, for the Hull based indie rock band called The Housemartins.-Biography:Cullimore studied maths at the University of Hull, graduating in 1984....
on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Ted Key
Ted Key (musician)
Ted Key was the original bassist in The Housemartins. He was replaced in 1985 by Norman Cook.Key originally played with a local band called The Gargoyles...
on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and Hugh Whitaker
Hugh Whitaker
Hugh Whitaker is the former drummer for the British indie rock band The Housemartins. He replaced original drummer Chris Lang and drummed for the band's first album, London 0 Hull 4, and its attendant single releases. He left the band before the recording of their second album, The People Who...
on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. Shortly afterwards Key left the band and was replaced with Norman Cook (later Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
). The Housemartins released a number of singles and two studio albums, London 0 Hull 4
London 0 Hull 4
London 0 Hull 4 is a 1986 album by The Housemartins. It was their first album and contains the singles "Flag Day" , "Sheep" , "Happy Hour" and "Think for a Minute" ....
and The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death
The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death
The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death was the second and last studio album by The Housemartins. It was released in 1987. The songs "Five Get Over Excited", "Me and the Farmer" and "Build" were released as singles...
. Their most famous hit was an a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
version of the Isley Brothers' "Caravan of Love
Caravan of Love
"Caravan of Love" is a 1985 R&B hit originally recorded by Isley-Jasper-Isley, the second half of The Isley Brothers' 3 + 3 lineup of the 1970s.-Isley-Jasper-Isley version:...
", which was their only Number 1 hit in the UK. For the second album Hugh Whitaker was replaced with Dave Hemingway
Dave Hemingway
Dave Hemingway , is a British musician and songwriter, and was a lead vocalist for the Hull-based band The Beautiful South until they disbanded in 2007...
on drums. Shortly afterwards the Housemartins split up.
The Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
politics and Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. (The back cover of London 0 Hull 4 contained the message "Take Jesus - Take Marx - Take Hope".) Heaton has since stated on many occasions that he is an atheist.
The Beautiful South
In 1988, Heaton formed The Beautiful SouthThe Beautiful South
The Beautiful South were an English alternative rock group formed at the end of the 1980s by two former members of Hull group The Housemartins, Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway. The duo were initially joined by Sean Welch , Dave Stead and Dave Rotheray , all of whom stayed with the group throughout...
from the ashes of The Housemartins. It had Dave Rotheray
Dave Rotheray
David Rotheray is a British musician, best known for being the lead guitarist for The Beautiful South.Rotheray was born the fifth of five children. His parents were both intellectual and had met through the Young Communist League...
on lead guitar, former Housemartins roadie Sean Welch
Sean Welch
Sean Welch was the bassist for The Beautiful South and previously roadie for The Housemartins.During his childhood, he played in a number of school bands, but unlike many budding musicians he was dismissed for his lack of musical skill...
on bass, David Stead on drums and probably most surprisingly, Housemartins former drummer Dave Hemingway
Dave Hemingway
Dave Hemingway , is a British musician and songwriter, and was a lead vocalist for the Hull-based band The Beautiful South until they disbanded in 2007...
, now in the role of joint lead singer and frontman. The writing partnership of Heaton and Rotheray proved very successful. The Beautiful South released two top ten singles, "Song for Whoever" and "You Keep It All In"; the latter featured Irish singer Briana Corrigan
Briana Corrigan
Briana Corrigan is an Irish singer. She was the first female singer for The Beautiful South, from 1988 to 1994.She was born in Northern Ireland, her family moving from Belfast to Portstewart, County Londonderry when she was eleven, but her love for the theatre made her move to Newcastle upon...
on vocals. In 1989, the band released an album, Welcome to the Beautiful South
Welcome to the Beautiful South
Welcome to the Beautiful South is the debut album by The Beautiful South released in August 1989. Three singles were released from the album: "Song for Whoever" , "You Keep It All In" and "I'll Sail This Ship Alone" ....
. The band's biggest success to date is the single "A Little Time", released in 1990; it reached number 1 on the charts. The band went on to release eight more albums, including two (1996's Blue Is the Colour
Blue Is the Colour
Blue Is the Colour, released October 1996, is The Beautiful South's fifth original album following the two singles "Pretenders to the Throne" and "Dream a Little Dream", which never featured on any album until the release of the second greatest hits Solid Bronze in 2001...
and 1998's Quench
Quench (album)
Quench released in the UK in October 1998 is The Beautiful South's sixth original album. Including the compilation Carry On Up The Charts it was the band's third album in a row to reach the top of the charts....
) that reached the #1 spot on the UK album charts, as well as releasing the best-of compilation Carry on Up the Charts
Carry on up the Charts
Carry On up the Charts: The Best of The Beautiful South is The Beautiful South's fifth album and first greatest hits collection.It was released in the same year as the Miaow album, with the album's only single, "One Last Love Song", was released in October 1994, only two months after "Prettiest...
, which also reached #1 and achieved platinum status, before the band split up in January 2007.
On the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
music series Faith & Music screened 29 October 2006, Heaton talks openly about his atheism and his battle with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
.
After a band meeting on 30 January 2007, they decided to split. They released a statement on 31 January, in which their reasons for splitting were "musical similarities". "The band would like to thank everyone for their 19 wonderful years in music," the statement also said. On an interview with BBC Breakfast in July 2008, Heaton clarified this statement by stating the Beautiful South had made similar sounding albums for the past ten years.
The New Beautiful South were formed shortly after by David Stead with other members of the band, but without composers Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray, playing old hits live to small venues.
Biscuit Boy (a.k.a. Crackerman)
In 2001, Heaton released a solo album using the persona of Biscuit Boy (a.k.a Crackerman). This double-barrelled name, including the parenthetical a.k.a., was the official project name on all early releases.The solo album, called Fat Chance, was not a commercial success, peaking at #95 for 1 week on the UK chart. Also, "Mitch", the lone single credited to Biscuit Boy (a.k.a. Crackerman), reached only Number 75 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
In an attempt to re-launch the album, Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
re-issued Fat Chance in 2002. The album featured new artwork, and was now credited to Paul Heaton. However, this record charted even lower in the album charts, hitting #168. "The Perfect Couple", a single pulled from this re-release also did poorly, peaking at #102 UK. Heaton subsequently rejoined The Beautiful South from 2002 to 2007.
With the 2007 dissolution of The Beautiful South, Heaton has formed a new band "The Sound of Paul Heaton" and is touring small venues.
Second solo album
Heaton's second solo album The Cross Eyed RamblerThe Cross Eyed Rambler
The Cross Eyed Rambler is a 2008 album by Paul Heaton. It was his first album since the breakup of The Beautiful South in 2007 and his second solo album after 2001's Fat Chance...
was released on 7 July 2008, and was preceded by the single "Mermaids and Slaves" on 30 June, and he toured in support of it throughout July.
The album charted at number 43.
Third solo album
In Autumn 2009 Paul teamed up with Manchester musicians Jonny Lexus (aka Jonny Wrong), Jonny Wright and Pete Marshall, and set about working on his third solo album "Acid Country"The album was recorded in Colne, Lancashire at Modern English Studios with The Earlies
The Earlies
The Earlies are a band formed by Christian Madden and Giles Hatton from Lancashire, England, and Brandon Carr and John Mark Lapham from the United States...
members Christian and Nicky Madden and mixed by Tom Dalgety
In May 2010 Paul and his band headed off on there "Pedals and Pumps" tour, playing local pubs in an attempt to promote the local pub. Paul combined this tour with another passion of his, cycling. He cycled from show to show, accompanied by the support act and long term friend, Gus Devlin, covering nearly 1000 miles.
Heaton and his band played in the Left Field Tent at Glastonbury 2010, closing the stage on the Sunday evening with a duet with tent-curator and old Go! Discs cohort Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
.
His third solo album, Acid Country
Acid Country
Acid Country is the third solo album by British artist Paul Heaton, following his debut album Fat Chance and second solo album as himself, The Cross Eyed Rambler....
was released in September 2010 and charted at number 51.
In November and December 2010 he supported Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
on their 'Do Not Adjust Your Nut Tour' performing mostly songs from Acid Country, as well as material from his second album. He also sang Housemartins hits Caravan of Love
Caravan of Love
"Caravan of Love" is a 1985 R&B hit originally recorded by Isley-Jasper-Isley, the second half of The Isley Brothers' 3 + 3 lineup of the 1970s.-Isley-Jasper-Isley version:...
and Me and the Farmer
Me and the Farmer
"Me and the Farmer" is a single by The Housemartins from the album The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death. It reached #15 in the UK singles chart the week of September 12, 1987.It featured Sandy Blair on the tuba....
and covered White Man In Hammersmith Palais by The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
.
The 8th
In between touring Acid Country, Paul and the band started work on putting together a series of demos Paul had recorded with fellow Beautiful South member, Dave Rotheray, and current guitarist Jonny Lexus.The piece, commissioned by The Manchester International Festival, was based around the concept of the 7 deadly sins, the 8th sin revealed by Heaton himself during the performance.
For the piece, each sin is given a section of the song, and is sung by a different singer representing that sin.
The guest singers featured on The 8th were London based soul singer Wayne Gidden (Lust), Scottish singer/songwriter Aaron Wright (Wrath), Scottish singer/songwriter King Creosote (Gluttony), Manchester singer/songwriter Simon Aldred from Cherry Ghost (Greed), former Beautiful South Singer Jacqui Abbott (Envy), Manchester based gospel singer Yvonne Shelton (Sloth) and Hull based country singer Mike Greaves (Pride).
The sections were linked together with a narration written by English actor/playwright/producer Che Walker.
It was narrated by American actor and star of The Wire Reg E. Cathey
The debut performance was in July 2011, in the Festival Pavilion Theatre in Albert Square, Manchester. This was the first time in over 10 years that Paul and Jacqui Abbott had shared a stage, and the first time Jacqui had sung publicly since leaving The Beautiful South in 2000.
Politics
Heaton is known for being a socialist which is reflected through his lyrics over the years. Also, during his time with the Beautiful South all money was split equally between all members of the band, making them one of the few co-operative bands ever. He is also a strong advocate of removing the British monarchyBritish monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
. Some of his lyrics also look at the injustice of world leaders sending ordinary people into combat while not getting their own hands dirty (Have You Ever Been Away
Welcome to the Beautiful South
Welcome to the Beautiful South is the debut album by The Beautiful South released in August 1989. Three singles were released from the album: "Song for Whoever" , "You Keep It All In" and "I'll Sail This Ship Alone" ....
and Poppy
Miaow (album)
Miaow is the fourth album by The Beautiful South. It was released in March 1994.As with most Beautiful South albums, the songs were written by Dave Rotheray and Paul Heaton. The songs reflect a depressing moment in Heaton's life, and this continues with the follow-up album Blue is the Colour...
). These are all common themes in his more political songs, but as well as this his songs have covered a range of topics from Feminism (Mini Correct
Miaow (album)
Miaow is the fourth album by The Beautiful South. It was released in March 1994.As with most Beautiful South albums, the songs were written by Dave Rotheray and Paul Heaton. The songs reflect a depressing moment in Heaton's life, and this continues with the follow-up album Blue is the Colour...
), Global Warming (Man's World), Globalisation (Big Coin
Quench (album)
Quench released in the UK in October 1998 is The Beautiful South's sixth original album. Including the compilation Carry On Up The Charts it was the band's third album in a row to reach the top of the charts....
) and the Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
(The Root of All Evil).
Drinking
Heaton has suffered from drinking problems at many times in his life. Heaton has on occasions referred to the Beautiful South as having a heavy drinking culture. Many songs by The Beautiful South, such as Woman in the Wall, Liar's Bar, I May Be Ugly, The Slide, Look What I Found in My Beer and most notably Old Red Eyes Is Back, have referred to alcoholism or drink-fueled violence.Other appearances
During the 1990s, Heaton regularly appeared on 'Football Italia', Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's coverage of Italian Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
football as a pre match guest and was frequently introduced by host James Richardson
James Richardson (television presenter)
James "AC Jimbo" Richardson is a television presenter and journalist. He is best known as a former presenter of Channel 4's Football Italia programme and co-presenter of Setanta Sports' The Friday Football Show and Football Matters...
as an 'Italian Football expert'.
In March 2010, Heaton set off on a cycle tour of British pubs, promoting his latest album, British pubs and cycling.
Personal life
Heaton is the father of three daughters. He now lives in WithingtonWithington
Withington is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies south of Manchester city centre, about south of Fallowfield, north-east of Didsbury, and east of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, near the centre-to-south edges of the Greater Manchester Urban Area; in the...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and supports Sheffield United. Heaton appeared on a BBC One talking heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
programme, Why we love the Royle Family along with Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
in his capacity as a fan of the television sitcom, The Royle Family
The Royle Family
The Royle Family is a popular, BAFTA award-winning television comedy drama produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000, and specials from 2006 onwards...
.