Tribute concert to celebrate life of ‘one of world’s true good guys’
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AGENTLE giant of Widnes’s music scene who ‘inspired a generation’ is to be honoured with a concert celebrating his life and to raise funds for his funeral with legendary acts lined up including cult psychedelic rockers Poisoned Electrick Head and the lead singer of the Bonzo Dog DooDah Band who has organised the show.
Paul McCann, 50, passed away on January 27 after a short illness triggering a wave of support from his friends and gigging comrades.
The concert will take place one of his favourite old haunts, The Studio on Lacey Street, on Friday, March 9, and all proceed towards his funeral.
Mike Livesley, friend and the concert’s host for the evening as well as performing on the night, said the venue was picked due to its fond place in Paul’s life.
Organisers have recruited a bill of top talent, headlined by Poisoned Electrick Head, Mike Livesley himself – the present lead singer of cult 60s psychedelic favourites the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, along with Greg Oldfield, Clive ‘Mad Clive’ Little, Paul Dockerty, members of Slaughterhouse, Stephen Goodall and others to be confirmed.
Classics from The Damned, Hawkwind, AC/DC, Black Sabbath and more of Paul’s favourites are due to be belted out in his memory, capped off by songs penned by Paul himself.
The benefit concert is taking place to fund the funeral costs for Paul, who Mike said had been left struggling with his finances following the death of his father due to the bedroom tax when he decided to remain in the family home after the bereavement, having been his father’s carer for 20 years. Tickets are £5. Mike, who will be performing with others as ‘Mike and the McCann-ics’, said the bill comprises a ‘who’s who’ of the area’s live music scene and clued-up musos who Paul knew, performed and worked with. ●
He said Paul’s influence had led to him performing at the nation’s top venues and even alongside luminaries of UK entertainment such as Stephen Fry. A drunken raffle is also on the bill. Outlining what Paul meant to Widnes and why musicians were eager to rally to his cause, Mike said: “Paul was a gentle giant and also a musical powerhouse who inspired and encouraged a generation of Widnes musicians.
“Since we announced the show we have been inundated with messages from people who he inspired.
“I was one of those people myself. I first met him when I was 19 and joined the musicians workshop scheme run by Greg Oldfield.
“This was a fantastic initiative set up to nurture and develop the local music scene. It is a shame that such a thing no longer exists.
“Paul was already a veteran of the local music scene then and I ended up singing in his band called Temple Ball.
“We recorded a few demos and played a lot of live gigs at The Studio – this is why we chose the venue for this celebration of his life.
“A lot of Paul’s spirit will be in the bricks and mortar there.
“Paul was instrumental in me getting into this business that has since taken me to the heights of The Palladium and other world famous venues so I feel I owe him a lot.”
He added that there should have been more support for Paul during the transition following his father’s death.
He said: “As anybody who has been a carer knows, there is a vast hole in the system facing them once the person they are caring for has died.
“The bedroom tax delivers another crushing blow for ex carers as in their hour of grief they are forced to choose between leaving the safety and security of the home they have known all their lives or be penalised financially.
“Paul chose to stay in the family home and found that financially things got difficult over the last few years.
“In this day and age these things should not be happening.
“Nor should there be any need for raising money for basic human rights such as a funeral.
“But until things change that is the world we are living in, and so we, his friends, shall do the best we can to remember him and to put on a night of music and larks which he would approve of and have enjoyed himself.
“We want to celebrate the life of one of the world’s true good guys. It is a tragedy that he left the party so early.”