Paul Rutherford (singer)

Paul Rutherford (born 8 December 1959) is an English singer, musician and dancer. He is best known as the dancer, keyboardist, and backing vocalist of the synth-pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood.^[1]

Paul Rutherford
Rutherford in 1985
Background information
Born	(1959-12-08) 8 December 1959 (age 65) Liverpool, England
Genres	Hi-NRG dance-rock new wave synth-pop dance-pop
Occupations	Singer musician dancer
Instruments	Vocals keyboards tambourine
Labels	ZTT Island
Formerly of	Frankie Goes to Hollywood The Spitfire Boys

Early life

Rutherford was born on 8 December 1959 in Liverpool, but moved to the Cantril Farm district as a child during the 1960s. He attended St Dominic's Roman Catholic school in Huyton along with his twin sister.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Rutherford emerged from the 1970s punk scene in Merseyside, finding initial fame with St Helens' band the Spitfire Boys, with Budgie (musician), later of Siouxsie and the Banshees. The Spitfire Boys released the single "British Refugee/Mein Kampf". The 'A'-side of the single, opening with the line 'He came from Northern Ireland with hate in his heart', describes the life of a Northern Irish immigrant in England who escaped from the British occupation of his country, and lived in poor working-class conditions.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Rutherford, then member of Hambi and the Dance, joined Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1982 after he met them performing at "Pickwicks, a pub in the centre of Liverpool".^[2] He sang backing vocals to Johnson and also danced,^[3] and provided some keyboard parts to the band's recordings. The band ended five years later, and Rutherford attempted a solo career which was short-lived.^[4]

After Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Rutherford's 1988 song "Get Real", a collaboration with ABC, reached No. 47 in the UK and remained on the charts for four weeks.^[5]

Rutherford released a single, a cover of the Chic track "I Want Your Love", and an album, Oh World, in 1989, which were unsuccessful commercially.^[6] He released another single, "That Moon", as Paul Rutherford with Pressure Zone in 1991, and worked as a stylist for bands. He appeared in the music videos for "Walking on Broken Glass" (1992) by Annie Lennox and "Give In to Me" (1993) by Michael Jackson.^[6]

In late 2010, he released the album The Cowboy Years under the name Paul Rutherford/Butt Cowboys.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Rutherford and his civil union partner Perry live in New Zealand.^[7]

Discography

Solo albums

• Oh World (1989)
• The Cowboy Years (2010)

Extended plays

• That Moon (with the Pressure Zone) (1989)

Singles

• "Get Real" (1988) - UK #47
• "I Want Your Love" (1989) - UK #82
• "Oh World" (1989) - UK #61