Paul Roland

Paul Roland (born 6 September 1959) is an English singer-songwriter, author and music journalist. Roland typically writes his songs in the form of stories, often addressing historical figures, characters from literature and film, or his own creations. He has explored genres including gothic rock, psychedelic pop, folk and baroque.

Described by Music Week as a "psychedelic cult celebrity", Roland has enjoyed an underground career as opposed to mainstream success, gathering a stronger fanbase in mainland Europe than in his native UK. He has been credited with spearheading steampunk music.

Aside from his recording career, Roland has written for various music magazines, and has authored numerous books on subjects including popular music, crime, World War II, and the supernatural.

Early life Roland was born on 6 September 1959 in Kent, England. He is an only child. His father was a writer of short stories and TV comedy scripts and his mother an actress. Roland's earliest influences include the authors H. G. Wells, Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft and M. R. James. He also developed a love of classic horror films. Roland was "pretty much fixated" with rock musician Marc Bolan from the age of 14, and later became an adherent of composer Michael Nyman, whose work introduced him to classical musicians such as Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel.

Music career Roland's work is generally rooted in psychedelic pop and gothic rock, with influences from folk, jazz, blues, baroque, and 1950s rock and roll. His style has been described as "idiosyncratic". As well as being a singer, Roland plays guitar and keyboards.

Roland issued his first single, "Oscar Automobile", in 1979. In 1980 he released his debut album, The Werewolf of London (originally credited to the Midnight Rags), inspired by horror stories and Edwardian era concerns. Ian Canty of Louder Than War observed "a nice Garage Psych sound", adding that "at times this album could almost be superior New Wave pop like XTC or Magazine but it's always pulling in weirder directions".

1985's Burnt Orchids was characterised by Music Week as a "pleasing early [Pink] Floydish collection"; Roland considers it his first "authentic" or "real" album. Appraising Danse Macabre, Progs Kris Needs referred to "horror-psych masterworks" including "Witchfinder General", "Requiem", "Twilight of the Gods" and the "hallucinogenic waft" of the title track, as well as an "uncanny" cover version of Pink Floyd's "Matilda Mother".

Music & Media observed Victorian era themes throughout the "fascinating" Masque (1990), and suggested that "pop music in the Middle Ages" would have resembled 1991's Roaring Boys. Roland continued to write and record until 1997, when he halted his music career for seven years. This was due to the collapse of several record labels to which he was signed. During this hiatus he concentrated on his writing career and raising his children. Grimm (2011), based on tales by the Brothers Grimm, saw Roland play all the instruments by himself; it was described by Andrew Young of Ptolemaic Terrascope as "one of the strongest albums in Paul Roland's quite extensive catalogue". Recorded mainly in Italy, the album was well-received by Italian magazine Blow Up, who named it "album of the month". It was produced by Max Marchini (who also played bass), and includes guest appearances by several Italian artists. "Mambo Jo" also featured as the title track of a simultaneously released EP.

Roland has amassed an extremely large discography. Kris Needs referred to a "vast catalogue" representing a "creative maze which continues to expand". Cherry Red Records assumed responsibility for his catalogue in the mid 2010s.

Reception and legacy Roland is recognised as an "underground" artist within the psychedelic sphere; Music Week dubbed him a "psychedelic cult celebrity". In 2010, Marco Rossi of Record Collector described Roland as "a cherished figure on the gothic rock and psychpop periphery for 30 years", while praising his "impeccable narratives". Roland has been credited with inventing steampunk music; Vernian Process founder Joshua Pfeiffer asserted, "If anyone deserves credit for spearheading steampunk music, it is [Roland]. He was one of the inspirations I had in starting my project. He was writing songs about the first attempt at manned flight, and an Edwardian airship raid in the mid-80s long before almost anyone else." Roland was also influential on rock band Temples.

Roland's work has been generally well-received by critics throughout his career.

Writing career Roland has worked as a music journalist, and Hi-Fi News & Record Review. He has authored five books on musician Marc Bolan, and was a key contributor to the BBC documentary film Marc Bolan: The Final Word (2007). Aside from popular music, Roland's many books cover subjects including crime, World War II, and the supernatural.

Personal life Roland lived in Margate, Kent during the 1980s and 1990s. In 2006, he left England to live in Germany. He later returned to the UK and lives in Cambridgeshire with his wife and two sons.

Roland is a rugby fan.

Albums

1980 - The Werewolf of London (pubblicato come "Midnight Rags", Ace Record) 1986 - House of dark shadows (Pastell Records) 1987 - Danse Macabre (Bam Caruso) 1987 - A Cabinet of Curiosities (New Rose Records) 1988 - Happy Families (New Rose Records) 1989 - Duel (New Rose Records) 1990 - Masque (New Rose Records) 1991 - Roaring Boys (New Rose Records) 1992 - Strychnine (New Rose Records) 1994 - Sarabande (Gaslight Records) 1997 - Gargoyles (Gaslight Records) 2004 - Pavane (Gaslight Records) 2007 - Re-Animator (Syborgmusic) 2008 - Nevermore (Syborgmusic) 2011 - Grimm (Syborgmusic) 2013 - Bates Motel (Sireena) 2013 - Hexen (Palace of Worms) 2014 - Professor Moriarty's Jukebox (Sireena) 2015 - Bitter and Twisted (Sireena Records) 2016 - House of Dark Shadows 2016 - In the Opium Den The Early Recordings 2017 - White Zombie (Unifaun Productions) 2018 - Grimmer Than Grimm (Unifaun Productions) 2019 - 1313 Mocking Bird Lane (Unifaun Productions) 2020 - Liar Of The White Worm (Unifaun Productions) 2022 - Through The Spectral Gate with Mick Crossley (Unifaun Productions) 2023 - Wyrd Tales Of An Antiquary (Unifaun Productions) 2025 - Live at Raindogs House (Unifaun Productions) 2026 - Brighton Rock (Unifaun Productions)

Compilations House of Dark Shadows (1986) Confessions of an Opium Eater (1987) Waxworks (1995) Gaslight Tales (2003) Demos (2009) In Memorium 1980–2010 (2010) In The Opium Den - The Early Recordings 1980-87 (2016)