Paul Quinn (guitarist)

Paul Anthony Quinn (born Dec 26, 1951, in Maltby, South Yorkshire). is an English guitarist. He is best known as founding member, songwriter, and guitarist of the English heavy metal band Saxon and a member of a blues trio called 'The Cards'.
==Early life==
Paul Quinn was raised in a 'typical working-class family'. His father had a job as a surveyor planner in the mining industry . In his teens, Quinn had a job in a university language laboratory where he worked as an electronics and recording technician. That would come in handy later Paul Quinn declares in an interview .
Quinn is a self-taught musician and learned to play listening to artists like Elvis and the Beatles. In an interview he mentioned that his style is closer to artists like Hendrix, Clapton, and Green to name a few . Quinn plays multiple instruments: electric guitar, accoustic guitar, harmonica, bass, and drums. 
When Quinn grew up in the fifties, he preferred playing outside than being into music . In his younger years, Quinn played first an Elvis Presley plastic guitar and a book called Bert Weedon's 'Play in a Day' tutor . After he bought a cheap and nasty steel strung Spanish guitar and after a Rosetti. As a kid, Quinn always dreamed of owning a Fender Stratocaster and a Gibson Les Paul but he ended up with a Fender Jazzmaster and a Gibson SG Junior . His favourite guitar is a Gibson Les Paul Axcess . 
The typical process for Quinn of creating a solo is "to get melody and blues and shred it all in to the one solo" . The album 'Beano' of 'John Mayall Bluesbreakers' was highly influential in Quinn's appreciation of the UK's version of Chicago Blues . 
==Awards and Honors==
Quinn has won numerous awards with Saxon, including 4 Silver and 2 Gold BPI certified albums . In the 80's, Quinn had with Saxon a total of 8 UK Top 40 albums, which include 4 UK Top 10 albums and 2 UK Top 5 albums . Between 1980 and 1988, Quinn had with Saxon a total of 16 singles which entered the charts . In 2012, Quinn won with Saxon also the 'Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards' as best UK band . 
==Guitar style and techniques==
Paul Quinn guitar style can be best described as fusion blues shred. Fusion is when two or more styles are blend together combined with different shred guitar techniques to create a new style and genre. Paul uses some elements of country shred and pedal steel licks among the rocky blues and Memphis soul with jazzy overtones, and funk elements. 
A Country shred example can be found in the solo in 'This Town Rocks' from Power and the Glory album. The song "Red line' from the same album has a rocky blues solo. The song 'Ride Like the Wind' from the Destiny album has fusion jazz influences. The song 'Grind' on Forever Free album has the funk and Jeff Beck influence in the solo 'Forever Free' on the same album. A Memphis soul is in the Hendrix oriented solo the 'Hungry Years' from the Strong Arm of the Law album. 
==Guitars and equipment==
Paul Quinn uses a numerous of guitars, such as: VGS Eruption, Caparison: Dellinger & Horus (various), Gibson: Firebird and Les Paul Axcess & Studio, ShredXplorer, Explorer, 12&6 Double SG, Ibanez S Series, Fender MIJ Stratocaster, MusicMan and Peavey Wolfgangs, Fret King Country Squire and Vintage SG . 
Paul also uses different fretting system: Gibson Humbuckers and P90s; Fender, Bill Lawrence and Dimarzio single coils; FGI, EMG, Mighty Mite, Reflex, Roswell, Fishman & Seymour Duncan humbuckers, piezos and single coils are in some guitars still. Other fretting systems used are 'True Temperament Fretting' System (the squiggly frets enable a mixed chord of fretted and open strings to play in tune) and 'Bare Knuckle' (these are replacement pickups to bring out his favourite frequencies). Bare Knuckle are not in every guitar, but most of them. 
Additional equipment used to enhance sound are mostly a Kemper sampler with mixed Marshall and Peavey sounds, WahWah and Fulltone Plimsoul into the return circuits of 2 JV Marshall amplifiers with 4 cabinets. 
==Musical career==
Quinn played in different bands in his long career. In an interview in 2016 he defined the key elements of success in the music business: You need to have passion and focus and never count working hours . The only bands to write their own songs were Coast, SOAB, Saxon, and the Cards. The other were cover bands with a rock/bluesy edge, except for Pagan Chorus who would play Chicago, Neil Diamond, or Elvis songs . Next to that, Paul Quinn made significant contributions to many side projects (see discography section). 
===Blue Notes (1968)===
At the age of 17, the first band Quinn played in was the 'Blue Notes' which he joined in 1968. It had Christopher Mewis on drums, Bill Thorpe on lead guitar, and Paul Quinn on rhythm guitar. There was no bass player and this adventure didn't last long . 
===Impact Sound (1969)===
Quinn helped to form the band 'Impact Sound' in 1969. The band had Stuart Benson on vocals and rhythm guitar, Paul Quinn on lead guitar, Michael Williams on drums, and Gary Walker on bass. Also this adventure didn't last long . 
===C.P. Watson band (1970)===
Soon after, Paul Quinn (guitar) and Michael Williams (drums), 2 previous band members of 'Impact Sound', helped to form the 'C.P. Watson band' in 1970. Other members were David Watson (vocals and keys), and Gary Walker (bass) . 
===Mighty Mouth (1971 - 1972)===
At the age of 20, Quinn helped establishing the band 'Mighty Mouth'. It had David Watson on vocals and keys, Stuart O'Connor on drums, Paul Quinn on guitar, Alan Falkingham (or Gareth Eilledge or Kevin Kitchen) on bass, and Robert Ward on Saxophone. There were various Mighty Mouth lineups, but some joined afterwards a new band called 'Pagan Chorus' in 1972 . 
===Pagan Chorus (1972 - 1973)===
The band 'Pagan Chorus' was the turning point in the career of Quinn when he started to earn good money by gigging professionally. By this time, Quinn had quit his daily job and was trying to become a full time professional musician . The original 'Pagan Chorus', before Quinn joined, morphed from black RnB (when they were called 'Detroit Soul Sound') into a rock, cabaret-style and a top twenty/classic pop cover band. It had Brian Heywood (later David Watson, later still Pete Brooke) on vocals, Kevin Kitchen on keyboard, Stuart O'Connor (then David Cowley) on drums, Robert Barraclough on bass, Robert Ward on sax, Carl Fuelop (then Glynn Thompson) on trombone . 
===Coast (1974 - 1975)===
Coast originally was a 3 piece band with Biff Byford on vocals and bass, Chris Morris on guitar, and Alan Dodd (later Peter Billingsley) on drums. Byford had formed Coast in 1973 after he had quit the group 'Iron Mad Wilkinson' . Byford met Quinn at a gig of 'Pagan Chorus' (Quinn's band) in Barnsley in December 1973. Byford advised Quinn that he could do better, which led to Quinn joining the band 'Coast'. With Paul, Coast became a 4 piece band .
In 1974, they start to gain popularity and played the pub venue 'Changes' 8 times that year . They also were a support act for 'Cockney Rebel' at the 'Civic Hall' in Barnsley. Coast also reached the semi-final of a contest (Tetley Brewery Sound), but finally lost during the finals. They also start to play at some colleges and Universities across the country . 
In February 1975, Coast recorded a demo cassette, with some new songs, at a studio in Wakefield. Later that year in April, there was also a set-back when Chris Morris left the band. This led to Biff and Paul spending a few months looking for new band members . Around August 1975, they announced a new lineup with both Peter Billingsley (drums) and an unknown keyboard player. This led to a first concert at the Victoria Hotel in Cudworth. At this venue, they announced new material and revamped some oldies. They also played a gig early October at the Centenary Rooms in Barnsley However, this adventure came to an end late1975 .
===SOAB (1976 - 1978)===
End November 1975, Quinn helped fledgling Son of a Bitch (SOAB) when the 2 bands Coast (Paul Quinn - guitar and Biff Byford - vocals) and SOB (Graham Oliver - guitar, Steve Dawson - bass, and John Walker - drums) merged . The first jammed practice sessions took place late 1975 around Christmas at the 'Dickens Inn' in Rotherham . They played their first gig on February 6th 1976 at the 'Centenary rooms' (Small Civic venue) in Barnsley. During that year, they played regular gigs in places like Barnsley, Nottingham, London, and Derbyshire. The last concert of drummer John Walker probably took place on December 1 in 1976 at the 'Adam & Eve' in Chesterfield (which was also John's hometown) . 
Then SOAB had to look for a new drummer. Dave Cowley only did one gig at the 'Penny farthing' in Ulverston and finally declined to join. That's when Pete Gill auditioned and got the job. Late September in 1977, they participate in the 'US talent competition' and won that heat which led to supporting Ian Gillan early October in Manchester. However, SOAB came second as the band 'Marseille' finally won the competition. SOAB toured relentlessly in 1977 - 1978. Many of these venues were the so called Working Men's Clubs of which many are nowadays closed or demolished . 
In 1978, they also made a demo tape at the Luxembourg sessions in London. This 5-track demo included Big Teaser, Stallions of the Highway, Backs to the Wall, Rainbow Theme, and Frozen Rainbow. On July 17 (1978), they played a concert at the 'Doggy club in Cornforth. That same day, SOAB changed their name to Saxon after a discussion with Fred Cannon (Carrere Records) at the Newcaste station hotel. They signed a five-figure record deal for 2 years with Carrere records. On December 11 (1978), they played a concert in Barnsley. After this concert, they further continued as Saxon but for the local Barnsley fans, they would always be SOAB. In May 1979, they returned to the 'Civic Hall' in Barnsley to play a special concert for the local fans . 
===Saxon (1979 till present)===
Quinn was a founding member of the heavy metal band Saxon (1979 - present), as they originally started as SOAB from late November in 1975 to present. They made an impressive total of 23 studio albums and sold over 15 million albums worldwide. In this timespan (1979 - present), they played approximatelly a total of 2265 concerts . Around 9 March 2023, Paul Quinn announced on his personal Facebook page that he has decided to stop touring with Saxon but will finish the remaining shows . This news item was later removed from the page. One day later, on the official Saxon Facebook page, this news was confirmed . It was declared that Paul Quinn will continue to record and may play some special selected gigs in the future. However, the remaining shows were cancelled . 
===The Cards (2018 till present)===
The Cards are an international blues/rock power trio featuring Paul Quinn (guitars and harmonica), Harrison Young (vocals and bass), and Koen Herfst (drums and background vocals) . In 2019, they released their debut album entitled 'the Cards' . In 2020, they also released a very limited edition (100 copies) CD single named 'The Gamble' 
The first ever live concert took place on May 18 in 2020 at the HPC Café TheHague Netherlands and was a free concert. That same year, they also played at the 2 festivals: Arkhangelsk blues festival in Russia and at the 'Den Haag Jazz Festival' where they played 4 sets at different locations on a boat tour 
In January 2019, they did a small and very succesful mini tour in the Netherlands. They played in Den Haag, Amersfoort, Bergen, and Rotterdam. Due to this success, there followed another mini tour in the Netherlands which took place in May and August. In December that same year, they also played a concert in Germany . In 2020, they started their first European tour which had some difficulties due COVID-19 and later on had to be cancelled . In 2022, the Cards released 7 live songs on the double album of Harrison Young (Live at Paard) .e 
In 2023, the Cards release their second study album Generation 'Jukebox' . They also announced to go on tour with 'Phil Campell and the Bastards Sons' to promote their new album . 
===Collaborations and Guest appearances===
Over the years, Paul Quinn has recorded many songs with other artist. These songs were released as singles and on albums. The disography included on this page provides an extensive overview. Besides these recordings, Paul Quinn occasionally joined different artist on stage as a special guest. Examples of such events was a 2019 show with Ulrich Roth and friends. Together Graham Oliver (also a founding member of Saxon), he played the Saxon classic Denim and Leather . In 2022, Paul Quinn joined Harrison Young (also a member of the rock trio The Cards) on a special concerts, among many other artist, for a live show in Denhaag . In 2023, Paul Quinn joined the band Graham Olivers Army for 2 concerts in Japan . Paul Quinn also joined Graham Oliver's Army for a concert in Barnsley (UK) on December 29 in 2023 . In May 2024, the Cards went on a mini tour in the Netherlands supporting the new album . In 2024, Paul joined Graham Olivers Army again for 2 concerts in Japan . 
==Charity==
Quinn has contributed to different charity events. In 2019, Quinn joined a special all star band to record the single 'You're the Voice' to raise money for mental health. in 2002, Paul Quinn and Klaus Vanscheidt (Doro) participate in an environmental activist movement in Germany to protect a specific area in Neukirchen-Vluyn against gravel mining to avoid an ecological disaster. On Februari 2022, Quinn and Vanscheidt gave a free concert to support the so called 'DASPINKEKREUZ' initiative 
==Discography==
===Saxon===
Saxon discography
Studio albums
* 1979: Saxon
* 1980: Wheels of Steel
* 1980: Strong Arm of the Law
* 1981: Denim and Leather
* 1983: Power and the Glory
* 1984: Crusader
* 1985: Innocence is no Excuse
* 1986: Rock the Nations
* 1988: Destiny
* 1991: Solid Ball of Rock
* 1992: Forever Free
* 1997: Unleash the Beast
* 1999: Metalhead
* 2001: Killing Ground
* 2002: Heavy Metal Thunder (Re-recording compilation album)
* 2004: Lionheart
* 2007: The Inner Sanctum
* 2009: Into the Labyrinth
* 2011: Call to Arms
* 2013: Sacrifice
* 2015: Battering Ram
* 2018: Thunderbolt
* 2021: Inspirations (Cover album)
* 2022: Carpe Diem
* 2023: More Inspirations (Cover album)
* 2024: Hell, Fire and Damnation
Live albums
* 1982: The Eagle Has Landed
* 1989: Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies
* 1990: Greatest Hist Live
* 1996: The Eagle has Landed Part II
* 1997: Donington: The Live Tracks
* 1998: BBC Sessions / Live At Reading Festival '86
* 2006: The Eagle Has Landed Part III
* 2012: Heavy Metal Thunder Live: Eagles over Wacken
* 2013: Live in Haarlem (Official bootleg release included the Sacrifice boxet)
* 2014: St. George's Day Sacrifice: Live In Manchester
* 2015: EMI BBC in Concert, Hammersmith Odeon '85
* 2016: Let Me feel Your Power
* 2016: The Vinyl Hoard (Boxset with 4 double live albums)
* 2018: Loud, Proud, and Live (Official bootleg release included in the Thunderbolt boxset)
* 2019: The Eagle Has Landed 40: Live
Videos
* 1983: Live
* 1985: Live Innocence
* 1989: Greatest hits live
* 1990: Power & the Glory - Video Anthology
* 2003: The Saxon Chronicles
* 2003: Live Innocence - Power & the Glory
* 2007: To Hell and back Again
* 2010: Heavy Metal Thunder: Live
* 2012: Heavy Metal Thunder - Live: Eagles over Wacken
* 2014: Warriors of the Road - The Saxon Chronicals part II
* 2015: the Saxon Chronicals
* 2016: Let Me Feel Your Power
Singles
* 1979: Big Teaser (7 "single)
* 1979: Backs to the Wall (7 "single)
* 1980: Wheels of Steel (7 " single)
* 1980: 747 Strangers in the Night (7 " single)
* 1980: Suzy Hold On (7 " single)
* 1980: Motorcycle Man (7 " Japanese single)
* 1980: Saxon / Ottawan - Wheels of Steel / You're O.K. (7 " Jukebox single) Italy
* 1980: Strong Arm of the Law (7 "single)
* 1981: Heavy Metal Thunder (7 "Japanese single)
* 1981: Saxon / Ronnie Bond - Heavy Metal Thunder / Fly on the Wall (7 "Jukebox single) Italy
* 1981: Double Dealer / To Hell and Back Again (7 " Green label, Juke box single) Italy
* 1981: Double Dealer / To Hell and Back Again (7 " White label, Jukebox single) Italy
* 1981: And the Bands Played On (7 "single)
* 1981: Never Surrender (7 "single)
* 1981: Princess of the Night (7 "single)
* 1981: Dupri / Saxon - Stain Con Me / Princess of the Night (7 "Jukebox single) Italy
* 1981: Play it Loud (12 " Promo single) Brasil
* 1983: Power and the Glory (7 " single)
* 1983: Warrior (7 " Promo single) Spain
* 1983: The Eagle has Landed / Power and the Glory (7 " single) Mexico
* 1983: Power and the Glory (12 " promo single) USA
* 1983: Nightmare (7 " single)
* 1983: Nightmare (7 " Jukebox single) Italy
* 1984: Do it all for You (7 " single)
* 1984: Just Let me Rock (12 " Maxi single) Mexico
* 1984: Sailing to America (7 " single)
* 1984: En Espana (7 " Promo single) Spain
* 1984: Bad Boys (12 " promo single)
* 1985: Back on the Streets (7 "single)
* 1985: Rockin' Again (7 " single)
* 1985: Broken heroes (7 " single)
* 1986: Rock 'N' Roll Gypsies (7 " single) France
* 1986: Waiting for the Night (7 " single)
* 1986: Northern Lady (7 " single)
* 1986: Rock the Nations (7 " single)
* 1988: Ride Like the Wind (7 " single)
* 1988: I Can't Wait Anymore (7 " single)
* 1990: Requiem (We Will Remember) (7 " single)
* 1992: Iron Wheels / Forever Free (CD singles)
* 1995: Dogs of War (CD single)
* 1997: Absent Friends (CD promo single)
* 1997: Unleash the Beast (Video single)
* 2001: Killing Ground (Video single)
* 2004: Lionheart (Video single)
* 2004: Whitchfinder general (Video single)
* 2004: Beyond the Grave (CD single)
* 2007: I've Got To Rock (To Stay Alive) (CD single)
* 2007: If i Was You (CD single)
* 2009: Live To Rock (7 " single)
* 2009: Battalions of Steel (Video single)
* 2011: Call To Arms (CD promo single)
* 2011: Hammer of the Gods (Digital download single)
* 2013: Sacrifice (Video single)
* 2015: Battering Ram (Video single)
* 2015: Queen of Hearts (Video single)
* 2015: Kingdom of the Cross (CD promo single)
* 2019: Thunderbolt (7 "single Thunderbolt boxset)
* 2019: Secret of Flight (7 "single Thunderbolt boxset)
* 2019: Predator (7 "single Thunderbolt boxset)
* 2019: Nosterafu (7 "single Thunderbolt boxset)
* 2019: They Played Rock and Roll (7 "single Thunderbolt boxset)
* 2020: Paint it Black (7 "single)
* 2021: Speed King (Video single)
* 2021: Paperback Writer (Video single)
* 2021: Carpe Diem (Video single)
* 2022: Remember the Fallen (Video single)
* 2022: Pilgrimage (Video single)
* 2022: Super Nova (Video single)
* 2022: Black is the Night (Video single)
* 2023: Dambusters (Video single)
* 2023: The Faith Healer (Video single)
* 2023: Razamanaz (Video single)
===The Cards===
* 2019: The Cards (Debut album) 
* 2020: The Gamble (Single - 100 copies pressed) 
* 2023: Generation Jukebox
* 2023: King Kong (Digital single)
===Collaborations and guest appearances===
* 1977: Kevin Kitchen - Silver dream (Single)
* 1989: Air Pavillion - Kaizoku, guitar on 'She's hot stuff' (Compilation album with various artist)
* 1995: Sargant Fury - Turn the page, guitar on Turn the Page
* 1996: A tribute to Judas Priest, guitar on 'Another Thing Comin' (Tribute album with various artists)
* 2007: Ugly Mother - Don't mess with me (Single)
* 2007: Ugly Mother - Gun of the outlaw (Single)
* 2010: Evidence - Sinsation (Album)
* 2010: Pharao - Road to nowhere (On 'We are', Quinn sings in the choir and play guitar on 'seven sees')
* 2011: Paul di'Anno - Tribute to Iron Maiden (Album)
* 2013: Cayne - Cayne - guitar on 'Black liberation'
* 2013: Reuben Archer project - Personal Sin, guitar on 'Ace Cafe'
* 2013: Reuben Archer project - Personal Sin, guitar on 'Blues' 
* 2017: Little Neon - All That Glitters, guitar on 'Dead horizon'
* 2018: Jim Creard - Like a Swift in the Sky
* 2019: You're the Voice - Charity Single
* 2019: Koen Herfst - Leo & Isolation Sessions
* 2020: Harrison Young - One Billion Voices of Reason
* 2020: Drum Demons - Four Horizons
* 2021: Primitai - Violence Of The Skies - guitar on 'Put to the Sword' 
* 2022: Harrison Young - Live at Paard
* 2023: Kevin Kitchen - Breaking all my promises
* 2023: Amon Amarth and Saxon - Saxons and Vikings (Video single) .
Category:1951 births
Category:People from South Yorkshire
Category:English guitarists
Category:English people