Paul Cook

For other people named Paul Cook, see Paul Cook (disambiguation).
Paul Cook

Cook playing with the Sex Pistols in Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands on 6 January 1977.
Background information
Birth name Paul Thomas Cook
Born (1956-07-20) 20 July 1956
Hammersmith, London, England
Origin London
Genres Punk rock
Occupation(s) Drummer
Instruments drums, vocals, vibraphone
Labels Virgin Records, Warner Bros.
Associated acts Sex Pistols (1975–1978, 1996, 2002–2003, 2007–2008)
The Professionals (1979–1982, 2015–present)
Chiefs of Relief (1984–1988, 2010)
Man Raze (2004–present)
Vic Godard & Subway Sect (2010–present)
Website Sex Pistols Official Sex Pistols web site, Vic Godard & Subway Sect Official web site of Vic Godard & Subway Sect

Paul Thomas Cook (born 20 July 1956 in Hammersmith, London) is an English drummer and member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols.

Early life and career

The Sex Pistols in Amsterdam in 1977.

Cook was raised in Hammersmith and attended the Christopher Wren School, now Phoenix High School, London in White City Estate, Shepherds Bush, where he met Steve Jones. In 1972–1973, Cook and Jones, along with their school friend Wally Nightingale, formed a band, The Strand.[1] Paul Cook first met Steve Jones at Christopher Wren Secondary School in Shepherds Bush. The pair became good friends and while bunking off school in 1972 decided to form a band along with Wally Nightingale. Within the next three years The Strand evolved into the Sex Pistols.

Later career

After the Sex Pistols suddenly broke up after their final concert in San Francisco on 14 January 1978, Cook and Jones initially worked on the soundtrack to Julien Temple's film, The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. The two also recorded a few songs using the Sex Pistols name, Cook singing lead on the album version of the song "Silly Thing". The pair then started a new band, The Professionals, with Andy Allan. Allan caused some legal problems; he played bass on "Silly Thing" and the first few Professionals recordings, but had no recording contract and had been neither credited nor paid. Consequently, the Virgin Records compilation album Cash Cows, which featured The Professionals' track "Kick Down the Doors", was withdrawn. Cook and Jones played together on Johnny Thunders' solo album, So Alone.[2]

They released four singles, recorded a self-titled LP that was shelved until 1990, and released I Didn't See It Coming in November 1981.[3] The band's American tour to promote the album was cut short when band members Cook, Paul Myers, and Ray McVeigh were injured in a car accident.[4][5] While The Professionals did return to America in the Spring of 1982 after recovery, Jones and Myers' drug problems further hampered the band's prospects.[6] They declined an opening spot offer on tour for The Clash, and broke up.

In the early 1980s, Cook, along with Jones, discovered the English new wave girl-group Bananarama. Cook helped the trio record their debut single, "Aie a Mwana", and acted as a producer on their 1982 debut album Deep Sea Skiving.[7]

In the late 1980s, Cook surfaced with the group Chiefs of Relief with former Bow Wow Wow guitarist Matthew Ashman, and, after a period out of the music industry, played with Phil Collen in the 1990s. He reunited with the surviving Sex Pistols in 1996 for the Filthy Lucre world tour.

The Sex Pistols, including Paul Cook, played a gig for the 30th anniversary of Never Mind The Bollocks at the Brixton Academy on 8 November 2007. Due to popular demand, two further gigs were announced on 9 and 10 November, and four further dates were added.

In 2008, the Sex Pistols appeared at the Isle Of Wight Festival as the headlining act on the Saturday night, the Peace and Love Festival in Sweden, the Live at Loch Lomond Festival in Scotland, and the Summercase Festival in Madrid.

Cook drummed with Man-Raze,[8] which also featured Phil Collen from Def Leppard and their friend Simon Laffy who used to play in Collen's pre-Leppard band, Girl. They released a debut album Surreal in 2008, and toured throughout the UK in late 2009.

In 2011, Cook joined Vic Godard and Subway Sect,[9] and renewed his collaborations with Paul Myers from The Professionals. Cook has worked with Godard, on and off, for the past two decades. They toured throughout 2012 and, in March 2012, recorded 1978 Now with Edwyn Collins.

In celebration of the release of a three disc set (The Complete Professionals) by Universal Music Group for October 16, 2015, Cook, with Tom Spencer filling in for Steve Jones, reunited with The Professionals for a concert at the 100 Club.[10][11] In January 2016, the band announced a three show tour for March 17 to 19.[12] A joint headline show featuring Rich Kids has also been announced at London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire for May 16.[13]

Personal life

Cook lives in Hammersmith with his wife, Jeni Cook, formerly of Culture Club, and their daughter, Hollie Cook, a solo musician. He works as a session musician for Edwyn Collins.[14] Cook also played football for Hollywood United.[15]

References

  1. ↑ ::THE LOOK – adventures in rock and pop fashion:: » Tom Salter joins the dots between Strummer and the Pistols. Rockpopfashion.com (19 February 2008). Retrieved on 2012-05-12.
  2. ↑ Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers | Bio, Pictures, Videos. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2012-05-12.
  3. ↑ "The Prague Post Online: Night & Day: Still Packing Heat". Praguepost.com. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  4. ↑ "Paul Cook | New Music And Songs | MTV". Vh1.com. 1956-07-20. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  5. ↑ "Paul Myers Interview 25th March 2007". plus.com.
  6. ↑ "Paul Myers Interview 25th March 2007". plus.com.
  7. ↑ The Agency Group | Shakespears Sister. Theagencygroup.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-12.
  8. ↑ Manraze. Manraze. Retrieved on 2012-05-12.
  9. ↑ Vic Godard & Subway Sect Homepage – New live dates, Interviews, pics & music from 1976 – 2011. Vicgodard.co.uk (10 March 2012). Retrieved on 2012-05-12.
  10. ↑ "God Save The Sex Pistols - Paul Myers Interview 30th July 2015". Philjens.plus.com. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  11. ↑ "The Professionals: 100 Club". Louder Than War. 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  12. ↑ "The Professionals announce short tour in March: Southampton Cardiff & Milton Keynes". Louder Than War. 2016-01-26. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  13. ↑ "Rich Kids and The Professionals - Joint Headline Show Announced For The First Time EverWithGuitars". Withguitars.com. 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  14. ↑ Hooper, Mark. (21 May 2008) The miraculous tale of Edwyn Collins | Music | guardian.co.uk. Guardian. Retrieved on 2012-05-12.
  15. ↑ Hollywood United. Cookandjones.co.uk. Retrieved on 2012-05-12.

External links

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