Paul Menel is a former singer with prog rockers IQ and released a very enjoyable solo album ‘Into Insignificance I Will Pale’, and he has an unofficial England World Cup song out now with the Essentials…

Hi Jason
Firstly, thanks for the review of “Spirit”, possibly the only pat on the back an Englishman will get from a Scotsman for the duration of the tournament!

1. What are you currently up to? (e.g. recording, touring plans etc)

I went back into Magic Garden Studios at the end of last year; I’d written quite a few songs after the Paul Menel Band folded and I felt I had to get straight back on the horse. Some of the tracks had moody undercurrents which reflected the mindset I had when I wrote them and I knew Gav (Monaghan) would capture in his brilliant butterfly net!]

So we recorded a few songs and whist we were mixing I wrote some more so we recorded them and the songs kept coming and now there’s something like 3 albums worth of songs done and dusted! The writing and recording was the easy part, the hard bit comes in the selection for the album, so I know how Hodgson feels, excepting the songs that don’t get on the first team coach won’t sulk.

When Diment and Harris left the PMB I sat down with Tim and Steve and we discussed the game plan; losing your keyboard player and guitarist two weeks before a very important European show undermined the camaraderie which had become woven within the band and the manner of their departure will always rankle. But when the chips are down you realise who your true friends are and that’s why this brilliant rhythm section I’ve called The Essentials. Their loyalty has been unswerving, whatever curve balls I throw at them and I love them in a profound but non gay sense! I took over guitar duties along with Gav and I have some fantastic session players guesting.on the album. The overall sound is awesome, most of the rhythm tracks were recorded live by Tim, Steve and myself and I love the immediacy of the sound, warts and all.

2. What made you want to record a World Cup song for England? How do you decide on the mood of the lyrics as you have to mention 1966 whilst trying to keep the positivity that England can win it.

I didn’t sit down and think, ‘oh look, here come’s the World Cup Novelty Song bandwagon, I’d best hop aboard’. I was on holiday in Cornwall and at the risk of going all Heathcliffe on your ass there was something about the early morning walks with the dogs in the freezing and relentless driving rain across the harsh landscape that gave me the idea for a song about struggle and hardship, about being born with the burden of expected success; basically about being an England football fan!

I touched on the same theme on the “Insignificance” album in ”Failure’s All I Fear”, but of course that didn’t feature John Motson.

Remembering past triumphs and trying to rekindle the spirit that must have spurred them on is what keeps the flame alive isn’t it?

The only thing the England football team have to worry about is if their opponents do them the disservice of trying to win. That would be unsporting and, well, just not playing the game (that we invented)!

3. Of past England World Cup songs, official and non-official, which do you think have stood the test of time and the worst one?

I liked Wreckless Eric’s ditty, but let’s face it most of them are tummy rubbish. It’s just a McDonalds meal to tide you over in the cab to The Ivy. They’re windbreaking, not groundbreaking but we had a laugh recording “Spirit” and doing the video was great fun and I hope people take the project with a shovel full of salt as intended!

4. When you release a single like this that is very time and event driven, what for you would mean it was a success?

The paradox is of course the very unlikely yet fingers crossed just in case event that England win the cup. That would end the songs shelf life in one fell swoop, which the man who manages my burgeoning overdraft facility at the not listening bank would hate. On the other hand I could claim that the song had obviously instilled a confidence not seen within an England team since 1966 and then I’d feel my job here was done.

5. Were you pleased with the reaction to the ‘Into Insignificance I Will Pale‘ album? Is there a follow-up planned?

Let’s just say what I bring to the table will not always be palatable to the audience I played to in my IQ days, and I’m pleased with that because my internal filter won’t let me regurgitate or rehash, unlike some others of that musical genre. I write what I write and all I can hope is the audience will attune. What’s the old saying, if you throw enough sh*t some is going to stick? It’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it!

6. How far do you think will go in the World Cup? Has Roy Hodgson got it right with his squad selection?

I like the balance of the side, and I’m delighted my team Liverpool are well represented, but the defence remains a white knuckle ride for me. All I ask is that the other teams play fair and let us win. It’s time they showed us their (losing) Spirit of 66!

Anything else to add…

The new album, “Spare Parts For Broken Hearts” will be out hopefully in September.

The unofficial England World Cup Song, “Spirit of 66” is available to buy from all major online retailers now. This will coincide with the red carpet arrival of the big budget video of the song on You Tube.

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