By DJ Monk

One of the true characters of the Northern Ireland glunk scene, Paul Rowan, has died, following a short battle with cancer.

He was the frontman with Stop Stop Start Again, and renowned for his camp demeanour both on and off stage, as well as his wicked sense of humour. The news of his death was broken on the band’s Facebook page yesterday evening.

Tributes to the singer/guitarist were led by his bandmates, Colin Fletcher and William Maxwell, who described him as “our wonderful frontman and more importantly friend of 40 years”.

Aidy Dunlop, guitarist with The Defects, said Paul was “a great frontman [and] a great person who could put feathers and shiny glitter into cut-throat rock ‘n’ roll”, a reference to his habit of wearing boas and make-up on stage, a trait which in itself was a tribute to his childhood hero, Marc Bolan.

Drummer Steve Shanks wrote: “A beautiful shining light has gone out and the world is a darker place without him in it. Camp as a row of pink tents with a wicked sense of humour Paul was a hugely talented and passionate musician. I’m so blessed to have shared a stage with him. A beautiful soul taken way too soon.” Guitarist Ian ‘Speedo’ Wilson described the charismatic frontman as “one of the best, nicest, lovely, talented human beings I ever had the privilege to know”.

Renowned Northern Ireland producer Frankie McClay, who worked with Stop Stop Start Again on many occasions, said: “He was the brightest shinniest star on the Northern Ireland music scene and had an effervescent glow around him at all times. Whenever SSSA booked into the studio, I counted the days in anticipation of seeing my three muckers again and having the best craic ever. I really loved this guy, and to think I’ll never see him again is just heartbreaking.”

The Belfast-born artist Dameon Priestley, who designed flyers for many of the city’s punk gigs in the early ’80s, penned a very personal message:

“Another quiet gentleman of talent, far surpassing the majority. I designed, cut and pasted posters for the band he was in in 1983, when I was still at school. I followed him when he gigged around Ireland with The Lunatic Fringe.

I remember DJing one night with my own record collection (much to the annoyance of the room), at their after-gig party. (The ‘booked’ DJ disappeared). I remember going to the Chinese next door to The Beaten Docket, for his 25th birthday and eating octopus for the first time. Most of all, I remember him coming to my mum’s house, New Year’s Eve, in the early ’80s, three years running, just to escape, play his guitar and laugh and eat and chat and take and give verbal abuse, underpinned and laced with the darkest of humour.

Paul- I’ll miss you mate, for so many reasons. A little for your individualism, a little for your distain of religion, a little for your ability to walk in heels- but mostly because you were genuinely one of the good guys. A personality to overwhelm, a smile to illuminate any room, a musical talent to shame the best, but for me- your sense of humour. You made me laugh in my darkest of days buddy.”

Another moving and eloquent testimonials was posted on a tribute page to The Harp Bar, the now demolished pub which as the home of Belfast’s punk movement in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s:

“In 1972, Britain joined the Common Market, Richard Nixon became president and The Godfather won the Oscar!

“Into this world came glam rock … and Paul Rowan grabbed his guitar, feather boa, mascara and ran with it to the early days of punk with Deja Vu and The Lunatic Fringe to banging on your door with Start Start Stop Again.

“Paul, always true to himself on stage performed with energy and passion whilst celebrating his glam rock roots and punk influences, with tributes to Bowie, Marc Bolan, Mick Ronson and of course not forgetting Frank ‘n’ Furter, looking as comfortably charged as Tim Curry himself complete with basque and high heels. What a star?

“Our own glam rocker has been taken too soon and we feel so very deeply for his family, band members Colin and William and all his friends … they say some types of stars expire with titanic explosions, called supernovae and can shine as brightly as an entire galaxy of billions of ‘normal’ stars.

“You Paul, will shine forever brightly like a supernova in our hearts and will be missed so very very much.”

  • PHOTO CREDIT: Photo courtesy of Stop Stop Start Again’s Facebook page.