Profile of Paul Draper on Famous Like Me

Mansun were a rock music band formed in Chester in 1995 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, lead guitarist/back vocalist Dominic Chad, and bassist Stove King, with drummer Andie Rathbone, and disbanded in May, 2003.

Often derided as clingers-on to the tail end of Britpop, Mansun are considered by a loyal fanbase to be one of the finest rock bands of the 1990s.

Early independent singles were followed upon their signing to Parlophone with a run of excellent singles, initially released as EPs but later with the titles of the singles in question (they will always be known as the One EP and onwards to the fanbase).

The early singles showcased a sound heavily influenced by the prog stylings of the 70s, but with much more reference to pop. Certainly singles like Take It Easy Chicken owed a great deal more simply to the desire to produce a good pop song than to any genre of rock.

The early singles were followed by the critically acclaimed album Attack Of The Grey Lantern which showcased a very complicated concept, heavily debated by fans whilst following it all with a hidden track (An Open Letter To The Lyrical Trainspotter, previously featured on Three EP) proclaiming 'The lyrics aren't supposed to mean that much,' ensuring that nobody thought they took themselves too seriously.

The second album Six was preceded by the single Legacy, driven by a memorable riff and lyrical references to the Marquis de Sade. The album was a suite of connected song segments, ranging from the musically intricate to the plain weird. The album included a guest monologue by cult icon Tom Baker. Several more singles followed, including the first two minutes of the closing eight-minute epic Being A Girl, and a remix of the album's title track, Six by legendary producer/DJ Arthur Baker.

Mansun's third studio album, Little Kix, recorded in a studio on a boat, was plagued by the record company's desire to release it quickly, and internal schisms in the band. While containing several memorable songs (initial single I Can Only Disappoint You and Electric Man among them) the album left many people cold.

The inevitable end came after a UK tour in April/May 2002, when the band tested out new material, and was followed in 2004 by the release of the sessions for their fourth album along with the non-album singles and a selection of B-sides (chosen by Draper from the Top 20, as voted for by fans on the band's website) and rarities, which filled out Mansun's career in a three-CD box set entitled Kleptomania - reuniting many fans with the non-album singles Take It Easy Chicken and Closed for Business.

While unlikely to be remembered as the 90s' finest band, Mansun produced a series of records that will not be forgotten. In the minds of their obsessive fanbase, they will endure for a long time.

Members

Paul Draper

Vocals, rhythm guitars. Main songwriter and arranger, the 'soul' of Mansun.

Dominic Chad

Lead guitars, backup vocals. 'Chad' (as he is often referred) was a talented song writer, co-writing several of Mansun's songs with Paul Draper, and writing (and performing) some himself.

After the release of Six rumour spread of a solo album, it was to be called 'Parrot', unfortunately it never saw the light of day, apparently due to the bad press the band was already receiving (perhaps unfairly?). However Mansun fans/obsessives could console themselves with a taster of Parrot sessions appearing on Kleptomania. Chad also took lead vocals on some of Mansun's songs, most notably "Golden Stone" a B-Side to "I Can Only Disappoint U".

Stove King

Bassist. Stove never had any music experience before joining Mansun, he was simply asked to play bass because he was friends with the lead singer Paul Draper. Stove was fired from the band shortly before the recording sessions for "Kleptomania".

Andie Rathbone

Drummer. He was drafted into the band after the previous drummers left due to internal conflict. After originally turning down the band for "sounding like Brit-Pop" He later had a change of heart and joined the band shortly before the debut album Attack of the Grey Lantern was recorded.

Rathbone quickly became a pivotal part of the band, bringing excellent drumming skills to their sound. An example of his versatility and skill is the album Six.

His first actual gig with the band was a televised appearance on TFI Friday, where the band performed "Stripper Vicar"

Discography

UK Albums

• Attack of the Grey Lantern (17 February 1997, Parlophone Records)
• Six (7 September 1998, Parlophone Records)
• Little Kix (14 August 2000, Parlophone Records)
• Kleptomania (27 September 2004, Parlophone Records)

UK Singles

• "Take It Easy Chicken" (Sci-Fi Hi-Fi)
• "Skin Up Pin Up" (Regal Records)
• "Egg Shaped Fred [One EP]" (25 March 1996, Parlophone Records)
• "Take It Easy Chicken [Two EP]" (3 June 1996, Parlophone Records)
• "Stripper Vicar [Three EP]" (9 September 1996, Parlophone Records)
• "Wide Open Space [Four EP]" (25 November 1996, Parlophone Records)
• "She Makes My Nose Bleed [Five EP]" (3 February 1997, Parlophone Records)
• "Taxloss" (28 April 1997, Parlophone Records)
• "Closed For Business [Seven EP]" (1 September 1997, Parlophone Records)
• "Legacy [Eight EP]" (18 June 1998, Parlophone Records)
• "Being A Girl (Part One) [Nine EP]" (24 August 1998, Parlophone Records)
• "Negative [Ten EP]" (26 October 1998, Parlophone Records)
• "Six [Eleven EP]" (1 February 1999, Parlophone Records)
• "I Can Only Disappoint U" (31 July 2000, Parlophone Records)
• "Electric Man [13 EP]" (6 November 2000, Parlophone Records)
• "Fool [Fourteen EP]" (29 January 2001, Parlophone Records)
• "Slipping Away" (20 September 2004, Parlophone Records)

External Links

• Official Site
• Six review from allmusic.com
• All about the Six artwork
• Main Fan Site, lots of information

This content from Wikipedia is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Paul Draper