Tributes pour in for Irish showband star Paul Lyttle

Tributes have come in from various music industry figures following the passing of former Chips guitarist and showband circuit icon Paul Lyttle.

The Bangor musician passed away peacefully on Saturday in Blanchardstown, and is survived by his wife Lesley and sons Joshua and Jason.

Paul Lyttle was one of the pioneers of Irish pop music throughout the Seventies and beyond, and was a talented songwriter, as well as a producer and guitarist. As the guitarist of Chips, Paul performed alongside Linda Martin, and the two were also in a relationship for many years.

Later Lyttle joined Music Maker, where he worked for many years. He also worked as a musician throughout.

Former X Factor judge Louis Walsh previously worked with Chips, said that he was lucky to meet Lyttle, and that he was "a great musician and a great songwriter".

"I learned so much from Paul. I learned more from him than anybody else in the business. There was nobody like him at the time in the showbands, although Chips weren’t really a showband, they were a vocal harmony band doing the showband circuit. They were absolutely ahead of their time."

"I loved Paul’s personality. He was funny, good fun and very cynical, a typical Nordie, and I loved that."

Credit: Andrew Bass

Hot Press editor Niall Stokes also remembers the former Chips guitarist as "a really talented musician".

“I remember when his band Chips first came to Dublin and he had the looks and the style as well as the musical chops. He completely dedicated his life to music – I remember after he joined the team at Music Maker, I’d call in and chat with him about the latest gadgets and gear. He was great company – and it was always a real pleasure dealing with him.

"At heart he was a musician, who never lost the youthful exuberance he had when he arrived in Dublin all those years ago. He will be greatly missed by everyone he worked, and played with, over the years."

Very sorry to hear of the passing of Paul Lyttle who inspired so many of us. A great guitarist and bandleader. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. pic.twitter.com/iE2J8z8VzN

— Stephen Travers (@MiamiShowband) May 13, 2023

Former Eurovision star Marc Roberts described Lyttle as “an inspirational musician” who raised the bar when it came to live performances.

“Chips were one of the most exciting pop bands on the Irish scene and I looked up to them,” Marc said. “When I went into the business myself it was always a pleasure to meet Paul. He was genuinely one of the nicest guys in the music scene.”

Chips stands out as one of the more innovative bands ever to tour the Irish ballroom scene. The band's roots date back to the mid-to-late 60s Belfast, although Paul Lyttle did not join until 1970.

The recruitment of Paul Lyttle proved to be a pivotal move for the band, as Paul became the driving musical force behind the band for rest of its career, and allowed the band to turn professional.