Paul Wilson (musician)
Encyclopedia
Paul "Pablo" Wilson is a Scottish musician, who is best known as the bass guitar
ist for Northern Irish
alternative rock
band Snow Patrol
. He previously played guitar in Glasgow
band Terra Diablo
from 2000–2005. In March 2005, he replaced bassist Mark McClelland
in Snow Patrol and switched instruments to bass. Wilson has been friends with the band years before he joined them and even Terra Diablo, and had contributed guitar and keyboards as an unofficial live member. He plays left-handed and generally uses a black Rickenbacker
on-stage. He is a multi-instrumentalist and is trained in piano.
and attended the Kinlochleven High School. He always wanted to be a musician and has said that its the only thing "he's ever done". He has said that if he couldn't be a musician, he would have worked as a music producer or teach children how to be in a band. Wilson is a multi-instrumentalist, and can play instruments such as piano, guitar, bass, drums and banjo. He went to music school to learn the piano, and in his own words, can "play most things unless they have to be blown into". He has been friends with members of Snow Patrol
since 1995, during their "wilderness years".
In 2000, he joined Glasgow band Terra Diablo
as guitarist. Whenever Terra Diablo supported Snow Patrol on tours, Wilson joined Snow Patrol on-stage as an unofficial member, contributing guitar and keyboards. He once joked that he agreed to tour with Snow Patrol only the condition that Terra Diablo could tour with them. Wilson left Terra Diablo in mid-February 2005, the reasons for which were not made public. On 16 March 2005, Snow Patrol bassist Mark McClelland
was fired from the band. Vocalist Gary Lightbody
asked Wilson to replace him. He accepted, and switched to the bass guitar when he joined the band. He played his first show as permanent member in Dingle
on 1 April 2005. In October 2006, during the Eyes Open Tour
, he injured his left arm and shoulder. Though wanting to continue, the band thought better and six concerts were subsequently cancelled.
Apart from his work with Snow Patrol, Wilson also guested on Film School
's 2007 album Hideout
.
guitarist David Gilmour
his "hero". His favorite instrument is the guitar, which he played for nineteen years, before switching to bass. He found the transition difficult, as he felt that one could "get away with more" playing the guitar. He finds the bass a difficult and challenging instrument to play and "express" oneself. But he enjoys playing it and likes the potential of the instrument: "By changing one note, you can make the whole thing sound a lot better". Apart from writing bass-lines for the band, Wilson occasionally contributes guitar and piano parts. He writes bass-lines based on the song's rhythm and at times teams up with drummer Jonny Quinn
to come up with a basic riff or simple chord changes
. He believes in the philosophy of "less is more
", and adds small bits over the basic lines only if he thinks its suitable. He has said that he writes music "24 hours a day", and during tours, he carries his laptop with him to record his compositions. He plays the bass left-handed, and prefers using a pick
. On-stage, he generally uses a black Rickenbacker
4000 bass and names the Fender Jazz Bass
his favorite. He also likes the Fender Precision
On Snow Patrol's Reworked Tour of November–December 2009, Wilson played double bass.
, and owned toys of all characters. Wilson owns a house in Los Angeles
and likes vintage American cars. Wilson is a smoker. He has been trying to give it up for a long time and was successful for three months in 2006, but couldn't drop it entirely. He finds the idea of sports "pretty stupid" but enjoys swimming. He has the name of his previous band "Terra Diablo" tattooed on the inside of his left arm.
Amplifiers
Other equipment
with Snow Patrol
Notes
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist for Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
. He previously played guitar 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...
band Terra Diablo
Terra Diablo
Terra Diablo is a Scottish rock band currently signed to Nocturnal Records.They have been managed by Jez from Swervedriver since early 2006.Supported the likes of Biffy Clyro, Snow Patrol, Hundred Reasons, Six by Seven, Idlewild and played at Reading and Leeds Festivals and T in the Park.As of...
from 2000–2005. In March 2005, he replaced bassist Mark McClelland
Mark McClelland
Mark Peter McClelland is a musician from Northern Ireland, known best as the former bass guitarist with the band Snow Patrol. McClelland is a recipient of the Ivor Novello Award for his work on the album, Final Straw...
in Snow Patrol and switched instruments to bass. Wilson has been friends with the band years before he joined them and even Terra Diablo, and had contributed guitar and keyboards as an unofficial live member. He plays left-handed and generally uses a black Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
on-stage. He is a multi-instrumentalist and is trained in piano.
Career
Wilson, was born and grew up in KinlochlevenKinlochleven
Kinlochleven is a village in Lochaber, in the Scottish Highlands and lies at the eastern end of Loch Leven, a sea loch cutting into the western Scottish Highlands. To the north lie the Mamores ridge; to the south lie the mountains flanking Glen Coe...
and attended the Kinlochleven High School. He always wanted to be a musician and has said that its the only thing "he's ever done". He has said that if he couldn't be a musician, he would have worked as a music producer or teach children how to be in a band. Wilson is a multi-instrumentalist, and can play instruments such as piano, guitar, bass, drums and banjo. He went to music school to learn the piano, and in his own words, can "play most things unless they have to be blown into". He has been friends with members of Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
since 1995, during their "wilderness years".
In 2000, he joined Glasgow band Terra Diablo
Terra Diablo
Terra Diablo is a Scottish rock band currently signed to Nocturnal Records.They have been managed by Jez from Swervedriver since early 2006.Supported the likes of Biffy Clyro, Snow Patrol, Hundred Reasons, Six by Seven, Idlewild and played at Reading and Leeds Festivals and T in the Park.As of...
as guitarist. Whenever Terra Diablo supported Snow Patrol on tours, Wilson joined Snow Patrol on-stage as an unofficial member, contributing guitar and keyboards. He once joked that he agreed to tour with Snow Patrol only the condition that Terra Diablo could tour with them. Wilson left Terra Diablo in mid-February 2005, the reasons for which were not made public. On 16 March 2005, Snow Patrol bassist Mark McClelland
Mark McClelland
Mark Peter McClelland is a musician from Northern Ireland, known best as the former bass guitarist with the band Snow Patrol. McClelland is a recipient of the Ivor Novello Award for his work on the album, Final Straw...
was fired from the band. Vocalist Gary Lightbody
Gary Lightbody
Gary Lightbody is an Northern Irish musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band Snow Patrol.- Early life :...
asked Wilson to replace him. He accepted, and switched to the bass guitar when he joined the band. He played his first show as permanent member in Dingle
Dingle
Dingle is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. The only town on the Dingle Peninsula, it sits on the Atlantic coast, about 49 kilometres southwest of Tralee and 71 kilometres northwest of Killarney....
on 1 April 2005. In October 2006, during the Eyes Open Tour
Eyes Open Tour
The Eyes Open Tour was a concert tour by the Northern Ireland alternative rock band Snow Patrol. It was launched in support of the group's 2006 album Eyes Open. The band visited numerous international venues from 2006 through 2007. The tour is the collective name of many smaller tours and festivals...
, he injured his left arm and shoulder. Though wanting to continue, the band thought better and six concerts were subsequently cancelled.
Apart from his work with Snow Patrol, Wilson also guested on Film School
Film School (band)
Film School is a five-piece indie rock band from San Francisco, California.-History:The band was formed in the late-1990s by lead singer Greg Bertens [aka Krayg Burton]. Initially the band only consisted of Bertens working with members of Fuck and Pavement when they released their debut album...
's 2007 album Hideout
Hideout (album)
Hideout is the third album by San Francisco-based indie rock band Film School, released on September 11, 2007. The album features a guest appearance by Colm O'Ciosoig from My Bloody Valentine...
.
Style
Wilson considers Pink FloydPink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
guitarist David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
his "hero". His favorite instrument is the guitar, which he played for nineteen years, before switching to bass. He found the transition difficult, as he felt that one could "get away with more" playing the guitar. He finds the bass a difficult and challenging instrument to play and "express" oneself. But he enjoys playing it and likes the potential of the instrument: "By changing one note, you can make the whole thing sound a lot better". Apart from writing bass-lines for the band, Wilson occasionally contributes guitar and piano parts. He writes bass-lines based on the song's rhythm and at times teams up with drummer Jonny Quinn
Jonny Quinn
Jonathan Graham "Jonny" Quinn is a Northern Irish drummer, born in Bangor. He is best known as the drummer for alternative rock band Snow Patrol, and was previously a member of bands like The Mighty Fall, The New Brontes and Disraeli Gears. As drummer for Snow Patrol, he has played on all releases...
to come up with a basic riff or simple chord changes
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
. He believes in the philosophy of "less is more
Minimalist music
Minimal music is a style of music associated with the work of American composers La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. It originated in the New York Downtown scene of the 1960s and was initially viewed as a form of experimental music called the New York Hypnotic School....
", and adds small bits over the basic lines only if he thinks its suitable. He has said that he writes music "24 hours a day", and during tours, he carries his laptop with him to record his compositions. He plays the bass left-handed, and prefers using a pick
Guitar pick
A guitar pick is a plectrum used for guitars. A pick is generally made of one uniform material; examples include plastic, nylon, rubber, felt, tortoiseshell, wood, metal, glass, and stone...
. On-stage, he generally uses a black Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
4000 bass and names the Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
his favorite. He also likes the Fender Precision
Fender Precision Bass
The Fender Precision Bass is an electric bass.Designed by Leo Fender as a prototype in 1950 and brought to market in 1951, the Precision was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use. A revolutionary instrument for the time, the Precision Bass has made an immeasurable impact on...
On Snow Patrol's Reworked Tour of November–December 2009, Wilson played double bass.
Personal life
As a child, Wilson was a huge fan of Star WarsStar Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
, and owned toys of all characters. Wilson owns a house in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and likes vintage American cars. Wilson is a smoker. He has been trying to give it up for a long time and was successful for three months in 2006, but couldn't drop it entirely. He finds the idea of sports "pretty stupid" but enjoys swimming. He has the name of his previous band "Terra Diablo" tattooed on the inside of his left arm.
Musical equipment
Bass guitars- RickenbackerRickenbackerRickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
4000 (Black) - Rickenbacker 4003
- Fender Jazz BassFender Jazz BassThe Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
Amplifiers
- Ampeg SVTAmpeg SVTThe Ampeg SVT is a bass amplifier made by Ampeg. The SVT, which stands for "Super Valve Technology", was designed by Bill Hughes and introduced in 1969. The SVT bass head produced 300 watts at a time when most amplifiers made less than 100. The SVT has been through many design changes over the...
–2PRO, SVT–4PRO - Orange AD200
Other equipment
- Ampeg SVT–810E (Bass cabinet)
- Big Muff (distortion pedal, 2×)
- Line 6 Bass PODPod (amp modeler)Pod is a series of digital guitar amplifier modelers from Line 6. Pods are designed to digitally simulate amplifiers. Most Pods also include cabinet models, and all Pods include effects models. All Pod variants include headphone ports and recording ports, and can be used to feed a signal into an...
XT Pro
Discography
with Terra Diablo- 2001 – "The Way Things Are and How They're Meant to Be"
- 2002 – "The Smoke"
- 2004 – "Satellites"
- 2004 – "Swings & Roundabouts"
- 2004 – Terra Diablo
with Snow Patrol
- 2006 – Eyes OpenEyes OpenEyes Open is the fourth album by Northern Irish/Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol. It was released in the UK on 1 May 2006, and 9 May 2006 in the US. The first European single, "You're All I Have", was released on 24 April 2006; the first U.S. single was "Hands Open" and the first...
- 2008 – A Hundred Million SunsA Hundred Million SunsA Hundred Million Suns is the fifth album by alternative rock band Snow Patrol. The album was written by Snow Patrol and was produced by long time producer Jacknife Lee who has previously produced albums for Bloc Party, R.E.M., and U2. The songs were recorded through the summer of 2008 in Hansa...
- 2009 – Up to NowUp to NowUp to Now is the first compilation album by alternative rock band Snow Patrol. The album features tracks spanning Snow Patrol's fifteen year music career, including tracks from The Reindeer Section, a side-project/supergroup involving musicians from all over Scotland...
- 2011 - Fallen EmpiresFallen EmpiresFallen Empires was the ninth Magic: The Gathering set and the fifth expansion set, released in November 1994. Out of the set of 187 cards, 102 were functionally unique, with the remainder being variant illustrations of other cards in the set. The mechanics of Fallen Empires include a tribal...
Notes
- A: When credited.