At the peak of their powers, Mansun were one of the UK’s most renowned rock exports – inspiring undying devotion in their fans with a sound so bold it would influence a generation of misfits to pick up guitars and push the envelope. A number one debut album (Attack of the Grey Lantern), a hugely acclaimed boundary pushing follow-up (Six) and numerous radio-hugging singles (brought together on the peerless Legacy collection). Then in 2003, while recording their fourth album Kleptomania, the band split amid great tension and musical differences. Years of legal battles and strife would follow, but having been in bands since he was 10-years-old, Draper kept on writing.

“We were a Britpop version of the Sex Pistols,” says Draper. “Great while it lasted but then imploded magnificently.”

Debut solo album: Spooky Action
Kscope, released August 11th 2017.
3CD deluxe booklet/2 x 12”/CD/digital

FIRST EVER SOLO TOUR IN SEPTEMBER

Paul Draper releases his long awaited debut solo album, Spooky Action, on Kscope this summer. Hear the first track from the album – Don’t Poke The Bear – here

Paul Draper was the frontman of Mansun – one of the most iconic bands of the late ’90s. Over the course of three albums (a fourth issued posthumously), they achieved something unique – after fostering a fervent cult following, they managed to maintain critical and commercial success with a series of intensely radio friendly yet increasingly experimental records. Off the back of their biggest radio record, Mansun imploded in 2003 and Paul all but disappeared from view.

Released on Kscope on August 11th, Spooky Action is the result of a decade of thinking, tinkering, writing, recording and focusing.

Lyrically, it’s biting and brutally honest – an autobiography set to captivating, addictive melody across eleven songs that peak then peak again, then peak again. Taking its cue from 2016’s two EP releases and recorded in collaboration with Catherine AD (the Anchoress) and long time Mansun collaborator PDub, The record’s eleven tracks veer from warped voodoo psych (Don’t Poke the Bear) to glistening synthetic soul (Things People Want); from warped, razor wire rock’n’roll (Grey House) to glorious widescreen analogue pop music (Jealousy Is A Powerful Emotion). Collectively, they represent Paul’s strongest, most consistent set of songs to date – half a lifetime’s work condensed into just over an hour of perfectly formed music.

Spooky Action tracklisting:

Don’t Poke The Bear
Grey House
Things People Want
Who’s Wearing The Trousers
Jealousy Is A Powerful Emotion
Friends Make The Worst Enemies
Feeling My Heart Run Slow
You Don’t Really Know Someone ‘Til You Fall Out With Them
Can’t Get Fairer Than That
Feel Like I Wanna Stay
The Inner Wheel
Pre-orders are now available on all formats here
(with digital pre-orders receiving “Don’t Poke The Bear” as an instant download)

Paul Draper plays a previously announced, sold out tour of the UK in September with a full live band that includes regular studio collaborator Catherine AD (the Anchoress). These are his first solo live dates. Paul will play at:

Thu 14th Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Fri 15th Manchester, Gorilla
Sat 16th Glasgow, King Tuts
Thu 21st London, Scala
Fri 22nd Bristol, Thekla
Sat 23rd Birmingham, Institute 2

Paul Draper online:
Official site: http://pauldraperofficial.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pauldraperofficial
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3dIKM8eLSgfOV9sd43VywG
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulDraper
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/pauldraperofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pauldraper1970/