Paul Thomson
Encyclopedia
Paul Thomson is the drummer
for the Glasgow
based band
, Franz Ferdinand
.
Thomson has always been interested in music
, able to play various instruments
such as guitar
, keyboard
and bass guitar
in addition to the drums
.
During late 1990s he was drummer of The Yummy Fur and was at one point part of The Purple Bajengas and Pro Forma. It was in The Yummy Fur that Thomson would meet Alex Kapranos Huntley
. When The Yummy Fur broke up, Thomson had various odd jobs DJ
-ing and working as a nude model
at the Glasgow School of Art
.
In 2001 Thomson joined Franz Ferdinand, originally playing guitar. He later switched to drums, on the condition that he would not be hidden by his drum kit
. He also does backing vocals
, and sang lead on the German
version of "Tell Her Tonight" from B-side
of the "Michael
" single
. The English
version is from Franz Ferdinand
.
His record label
, NEW! (which started in 2005), only releases material on vinyl records
.
Thomson currently resides in Glasgow
, with his wife Esther (DJ and lead singer of Cash Machine). Together they DJ as Polyester (Paul and Esther). They had a baby boy named Georgie in July 2006, and on the 19 September 2008 (while Franz Ferdinand were supposed to be headlining a concert
) they had another boy and named him Ronnie. Because of Thomson's absence, Franz Ferdinand played a semi-acoustic
set and swapped the headlining spot with The Ting Tings
. Thomson also has a show on Subcity Radio called "they're only records paul" which runs fortnightly on Thursdays.
According to Alex Kapranos' "Soundbites" articles, Thomson keeps a burger chart. He rates hamburger
s based upon appearance, condiments, texture, and novelty.
On 12 June 2008 it was announced that Thomson was now endorsing Highwood Drums, a UK custom company becoming a Highwood artist.
Thomson is reported to choreograph many of the Franz Ferdinand's videos, including "Do You Want To
" and "The Dark of the Matinee
", having tap-danced and performed as the Artful Dodger in a West End production of Oliver!
as a child.
Paul Thomson is the son of Bert and Ellen Thomson. He has one sister named Hazel Thomson. Paul is a supporter of Celtic FC. In 2009, Paul Thomson was voted Scotland's Greatest Ever Drummer by the readers of Dear Scotland
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
based band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (band)
Franz Ferdinand are a Scottish post-punk revival band formed in Glasgow in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos , Bob Hardy , Nick McCarthy , and Paul Thomson .The band first experienced chart success when their second single, "Take Me Out", reached #3 in...
.
Thomson has always been interested in music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, able to play various instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
such as 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...
, keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in addition to the 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 ....
.
During late 1990s he was drummer of The Yummy Fur and was at one point part of The Purple Bajengas and Pro Forma. It was in The Yummy Fur that Thomson would meet Alex Kapranos Huntley
Alex Kapranos
Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley , commonly known as Alex Kapranos, is a United Kingdom-based musician who is the lead singer and the guitarist of the Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand.-Early life:...
. When The Yummy Fur broke up, Thomson had various odd jobs DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
-ing and working as a nude model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
at the Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.-History:It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. In 1853, it changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art. Initially it was located at 12 Ingram...
.
In 2001 Thomson joined Franz Ferdinand, originally playing guitar. He later switched to drums, on the condition that he would not be hidden by his drum kit
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 ....
. He also does backing vocals
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
, and sang lead on the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
version of "Tell Her Tonight" from B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of the "Michael
Michael (Franz Ferdinand song)
"Michael" is a song by Franz Ferdinand and was the fourth single released from their debut self-titled album. The song was notable for its homoerotic lyrics such as "stubble on my sticky lips" and "beautiful boys on a beautiful dancefloor"....
" single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. The English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
version is from Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (album)
Franz Ferdinand is the debut album by Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, released in early 2004. It entered the United Kingdom album charts at number three in February 2004 and contains three UK top ten singles: "Take Me Out", "This Fire" and "The Dark of the Matinée"...
.
His record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, NEW! (which started in 2005), only releases material on vinyl records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
.
Thomson currently resides in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, with his wife Esther (DJ and lead singer of Cash Machine). Together they DJ as Polyester (Paul and Esther). They had a baby boy named Georgie in July 2006, and on the 19 September 2008 (while Franz Ferdinand were supposed to be headlining a concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
) they had another boy and named him Ronnie. Because of Thomson's absence, Franz Ferdinand played a semi-acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
set and swapped the headlining spot with The Ting Tings
The Ting Tings
The Ting Tings are an English music duo comprising Jules de Martino and Katie White . They formed in December 2007 while based at Islington Mill Studios in Salford...
. Thomson also has a show on Subcity Radio called "they're only records paul" which runs fortnightly on Thursdays.
According to Alex Kapranos' "Soundbites" articles, Thomson keeps a burger chart. He rates hamburger
Hamburger
A hamburger is a sandwich consisting of a cooked patty of ground meat usually placed inside a sliced bread roll...
s based upon appearance, condiments, texture, and novelty.
On 12 June 2008 it was announced that Thomson was now endorsing Highwood Drums, a UK custom company becoming a Highwood artist.
Thomson is reported to choreograph many of the Franz Ferdinand's videos, including "Do You Want To
Do You Want To
"Do You Want To" is the lead single for Franz Ferdinand's second album, You Could Have It So Much Better. It was released 19 September 2005 and charted at number four in the UK Singles Chart . The video, directed by Diane Martel, was released on August 23 and was played every hour on MTV2 on the...
" and "The Dark of the Matinee
The Dark of the Matinée
"The Dark of the Matinée", also known simply as "Matinée" is a song by Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand. It was released as the fourth track on the self-titled album Franz Ferdinand on 9 February 2004...
", having tap-danced and performed as the Artful Dodger in a West End production of Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
as a child.
Paul Thomson is the son of Bert and Ellen Thomson. He has one sister named Hazel Thomson. Paul is a supporter of Celtic FC. In 2009, Paul Thomson was voted Scotland's Greatest Ever Drummer by the readers of Dear Scotland