F E AT U R E
Soul Man
As Teesside success stories go, they don’t get much better than
Paul Smith’s. Lead singer of much-lauded band Maximo Park, the
Billingham-born musician has stayed true to his northern roots...
WO R D S: J U L I E B U R N I STON
PI CT U R E S: C HR I S B OOT H
F
He admits: “Just by remaining in the North-East, I’m
or those who don’t know him or his music, Paul
defined as an outsider in my industry. Local musicians like
Smith is the frontman and mouthpiece (his
Sting, Bryan Ferry and The Pet Shop Boys have all moved
words) of rock band Maximo Park, a massively
away but I wasn’t going to let being northern-based hold me
successful indie group whose six albums have all
back from success.
graced the top 20.
“I’m not disputing the fact that London is a wealth of
Their debut, A Certain Trigger, was nominated for
inspiration and culture, but it’s also full-on and hectic, and
a Mercury Prize and this, along with their follow-up,
quite frankly it’s just as stimulating up here.
Our Earthly Pleasures, went Gold. Paul has also found
“Look at Middlesbrough. Places like Baker Street with
considerable success as a solo artist.
its pop-up bars; the pubs that are full of gigging bands and
Not that this has changed the down-to-earth Billingham
there’s even mima - a major modern art gallery. Brilliant!”
boy one bit. His parents still live on Teesside, and though
So what did the young Paul
Paul now has his base in
do to occupy his time as a kid in
Newcastle, he’s a Teessider through
“I’ve never moved
Billingham? “I’d get £10 a week
and through.
pocket money which I used to
A massive Boro fan, he’s known
away, it’s never even
buy CDs from Woolworths and
to wear his red socks with pride.
been discussed. I feel
cassettes when they were on
When I ask, during our phone
sale in Debenhams - they had
chat, if he’s wearing his Boro socks,
comfortable here.”
this little outlet called Foreplay,”
he laughs and says: “No, but I have
– PAUL SMITH
he laughs. “For cooler stuff I’d
my Boro shirt on under my coat!
end up at Alan Fearnley's in
Everyone says it’s cold up north,
Middlesbrough or Playback.”
but I’m not afraid to put my hat and scarf on and don’t
Paul studied at Cleveland College of Art and Design in
mind having a big coat!”
Middlesbrough and later went on to briefly teach drawing
Unlike the vast majority of successful North-East
and painting at Stockton Riverside.
musicians, Paul has never felt the urge to move away.
“Yeah, I’d definitely be involved in the arts if I hadn’t
“Why not the North-East?’ is his response when I ask
fallen into music,” he reflects. “Either that or I’d be a
why he’s never been tempted by the bright lights of London.
“I’ve never moved away, it’s never even been discussed. I feel librarian because I love books.”
Since Maximo Park’s first release in 2005, they’ve enjoyed
comfortable here. I love the pace of life and can just sort of
the kind of cool, in-the-know cult success that has led to
disappear a bit, stay out of the spotlight.
longevity in a very fickle industry.
“There’s no stress, no financial pressure the way there
I ask Paul about the time Maximo Park covered The Fall’s
would be down south, just time to be creative and that’s the
Edinburgh Man, renaming the track Middlesbrough Man (I
most important thing to me - to be a good songwriter and
don’t mind being by myself, don’t wanna be anywhere else,
to be able to come up with things, not be swayed by trends.
just wanna be in Middlesbrough). “The band are massively
“I do what I want to do and I have a bit more time. I’m
not looking over my shoulder worrying about paying a huge into The Fall and Edinburgh Man was our favourite track
so we thought we’d cover it and have a bit of a laugh with it.
mortgage.”
tees-life.co.uk
15