- Paul Samson
Paul Samson (born Paul Sanson,
4 June 1953 , died9 August 2002 ) was a guitarist closely associated with theNew Wave Of British Heavy Metal .After a period in several obscure bands, Samson formed his own eponymous outfit, Samson, in 1978, consisting of Chris Aylmer on bass, and
Clive Burr on drums. Burr left, and eventually joinedIron Maiden , and was replaced by the controversialThunderstick , who wore a gimp mask on stage. At a time when the also masked Cambridge Rapist was making the news, he became a target for criticism. In 1979, the line-up was expanded to a four piece with the addition of Bruce Bruce on vocals.The band enjoyed a strong cult following in the best years of the
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal releasing the albums Survivors, Head On and Shock Tactics, until 1981 when Thunderstick left, and Bruce Bruce, who changed his name back to his real surname of Dickinson at this point, left to joinIron Maiden .The talented vocalist Nicky Moore was recruited as replacement and
Mel Gaynor then Pete Jupp took over drums, and this line-up released the commendable albums "Before the Storm" and "Don't Get Mad Get Even". These two albums sold in higher quantities than the first three, and the band toured more countries and played to bigger audiences than the Bruce/Thunderstick lineup, although theNew Wave Of British Heavy Metal was by now said to be a spent force. The band finally threw in the towel in 1984.Samson spent the subsequent years in a variety of solo and group projects, including various temporary reformations of Samson, and had success as a producer, and also as a
blues player, spending a year in Chicago. He played on the recording of theRam Jam 1977 rock hitBlack Betty .In 2002 he died of
cancer , whilst recording a new Samson album with Nicky Moore.External links
* [http://www.paulsamson.co.uk/ The Official Paul Samson Website]
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