Paul Uttley, best known as vocalist with UK rockers Lost Weekend, expands on his singing career and what the future holds with regard to new music and live gigs.
Who were your influences in the early days and have you always wanted to be a singer in a band?
Queen,The Beatles, Elvis, really any genre of music as you can gain from all of them.
Before Lost Weekend had you had any singing experience?
I have worked in bands from being fifteen. Some covers bands and others writing original material always with a rock edge to it. With varying degrees of quality ha.
Have you ever auditioned for the vocal spot in any other bands?
I’ve never really been asked to audition I have just been invited to join them. We have a large musical community in Halifax so at various times I seem to have worked with most of them over the years. I did audition for Jan Cryka and his band but apart from that just invited as I have said.
I see from social media that you perform occasional gigs with your band Acoustic Dogz. Do you still get the same buzz out of singing live as you did in the past?
The Acoustic Dogz are just great fun with two of my closest musical friends. We have worked together on and off for 40 years. It’s just classic rock covers stripped back and delivered with a lot of fun. We are mad busy with that and just keeps on gaining momentum.
Having been together for over 30 years on and off, and having released 6 albums so far, the latest being Evermore in 2013, do you see Lost Weekend releasing another album? I thought Evermore contained a very good set of strong songs.
I really love Evermore. I agree I think there are some strong songs on the album also getting Martin Kronlund to produce it again really made it that more special. I wish he had produced them all. He did Fear and Innocence another great album I think. I guess you should never say never, but Dave is busy with Rhabstallion, his heavy rock band. We do get asked to perform but normally myself and Dave will perform an acoustic show. But if an offer came up to write another album I am sure me and Dave would have a chat.
Have you ever thought of releasing a solo album?
I have always written with other people so never really thought about it.
Are there any musicians that you have not worked with, but would like to in the future?
I have always admired Paul Hodson as a writer and musician and Gary Hughes I would love to work with them.
With the live circuit opening up again, is there a possibility that we could see Lost Weekend performing some live shows?
It really is a hard one to answer. Lost Weekend takes some getting together logistically and with us all involved in other commitments at the moment I don’t think it possible to be honest but again never say never it’s a funny old business as you know.
Interview by Stuart Dryden
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