Paul Reynolds (musician)

Paul Reynolds (born 4 August 1962) is a British guitarist best known for being a member of the new wave band A Flock of Seagulls in the 1980s. He is highly praised for having a unique guitar sound that differentiated his band from others of the time.

Paul Reynolds
Birth namePaul Reynolds
Born (1962-08-04) 4 August 1962[1]
OriginLiverpool, England
GenresNew wave[2]
Occupation(s)
  • Guitarist
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1979–present
Associated actsA Flock of Seagulls

Biography

Reynolds joined A Flock of Seagulls at the age of seventeen, a few months after the band was formed, to replace original guitarist Willie Woo.[3] The group's popularity soared in the early 1980s with the release of "(It's Not Me) Talking," and in 1982 the song "I Ran (So Far Away)" was a hit in the US and at home. By the time he was twenty-one, the band had released an album, won a Grammy Award, got two more hit singles, and did a worldwide tour.[4] Reynolds, whose "textural wash" contributed significantly to the group's sound,[5] was praised for his "echo-laden" "unique guitar style", which differentiated A Flock of Seagulls from other synth-heavy bands of the period.[6]

Reynolds left the band in 1984, after the release of The Story of a Young Heart,[7] two years before the band broke up. When it was reformed in 1989 by singer Mike Score, Reynolds and the remaining members decided not to rejoin. Reynolds and his fellow ex-members did, however, reunite with Score for a one-off performance in London in 2003 for VH1's Bands Reunited television program. Before the performance, Reynolds was interviewed about why he left the band; he claimed that he was too young for the "rock 'n' roll lifestyle" and that he was exhausted from all of the performances.[7]

Reynolds rejoined the original lineup in 2018 for their first new album together since 1984: Ascension.[8]

Equipment

Reynolds played several guitars, including his 1980 Kramer XL-5, mostly used for performances between 1980 and 1984. His XL-5 was a uniquely shaped walnut-bodied electric with an aluminum-framed neck with wooden inserts. [9]

Another guitar that stood out was his red Gibson Firebird Studio, often used live to play songs like Wishing (If I Had Photograph You). It was also used in the clips for Wishing, Space Age Love Song and The More You Live The More You Love.[10]

Paul has recently been seen playing two different Fender Stratocasters. A black one was used in the Transfer Affection clip which he also played live during the band's return tours in 2004.[11] Reynolds used a naturally-finished Strat in the clip for Space Age Love Song with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra in 2018.[12]

Reynolds has also played a Roland G-808 guitar synthesizer in songs like What Am I Supposed To Do.

Discography

References
  1. Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard. pp. 141–42. ISBN 9780879306076.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Hal Leonard. p. 94. ISBN 9780898201741.
  3. Bogdanov, Vladimir (2001). All Music Guide to Electronica: The Definitive Guide to Electronic Music. Backbeat Books. p. 137. ISBN 9780879306281.
  4. Slotek, Jim (12 August 1983). "Flock of Seagulls Migrate to International Stardom". Ottawa Citizen. p. 49. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  5. Robbins, Ira A. "A Flock of Seagulls". Trouser Press. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  6. Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul. Hal Leonard. p. 417. ISBN 9780879306533.
  7. Tortoricci, Frank (4 August 1999). "A Flock of Seagulls' Paul Reynolds". MTV. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  8. Lynch, Joe (23 May 2019). "A Flock of Seagulls Talk Reunion, Orchestral Album & the Day They Wrote 'I Ran'". billboard. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  9. Inc, Equipboard. "Kramer XL5". Equipboard. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  10. Inc, Equipboard. "Gibson Firebird V". Equipboard. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  11. Inc, Equipboard. "Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar". Equipboard. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  12. "A Flock Of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song Orchestral".
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