Paul Brown - Bass Paul began playing bass at the age of fourteen to join a less than impressive school band, and despite being all but pushed into the position, quickly developed a strong interest playing music. The band lasted about 2 years (which was 23 months too long), but in that time he had learned the basics to give him the confidence to find a more ‘serious’ band. Over the next couple of years he played in several bands which failed to get off the ground. One of these ill-fated bands was Event Horizon. Despite being doomed from the outset, it was here that he played alongside keyboard player Dave Boland, with whom he formed Hybrid soon after the band’s predictable demise. Hybrid were a progressive four piece heavily influenced by Rush, which gave Paul an opportunity to experiment with more complex and creative bass playing. The band briefly gigged and recorded a demo but fell apart after the departure of a key member (the band have since reformed with most of the original members and have recorded two albums with a third on the way). Before his departure from Hybrid, Paul was introduced to Clive Nolan by a singer who had auditioned for the band. Clive had just finished producing the first Medicine Man album in his studio and was aware they needed a bass player to play the material live. The position was offered to Paul, he accepted, and went on to play on the next two albums. During this time Paul was also introduced to another band who were recording at Thin Ice studios by the name of Janison Edge. He met with the keyboard player during a drum recording session (involving a certain Dave Wagstaffe) and after hearing the music quickly agreed to join, playing on the bands only album to date. It was through meeting Dave in this band that Paul was recommended to Oliver some six years later. As well playing in the Oliver Wakeman band, Paul is currently playing in Merchants Vice, a progressive rock band he was invited into by former Medicine Man guitarist Nick Martin. He has gigged and recorded one album with the band and is currently involved in the writing of the second album. BACK