Paul Carrack reflects on an extraordinary career

“That’s some fucking clever clogs up in the BBC isn’t it!” Paul Carrack chuckles dismissively when I remind him of his ‘official’ BBC title, The Man With The Golden Voice. “That’s embarrassing!” He laughs.

We’re sitting in the downstairs foyer of the Clayton Hotel in Dublin, and Carrack – having warned me that a long day of promo meant I wouldn’t get a second over 25 minutes with him – is happily enjoying a trip down memory lane. Indeed, when I surreptitiously glance at my recorder, it’s just passed the half-hour mark...

“You’ll have heard all this already,” laughs Paul, as he reminisces about his early days as a musician. “I left school at 15 and was already doing it semi-pro. I played with a couple of lads, and we went over to Germany and played as much as we could over there. We played up until the point we realised that we were completely shit. After that, we formed this little band called Ace, and played around all the pubs that we could – this is ’73, ‘74. We got ourselves a little record deal and recorded ‘How Long’, which turned into a big old smash.”

The story is often told that Ace suddenly went from pub rock obscurity to international success. Is that Paul’s memory of it?

“Sort of,” he says. “We had a big hit and it gradually got massive radio play. Before we knew it, we were off touring in America. This was in 1975 ‘austerity UK’, you know? And there was us heading to America.”

Given that Ace broke up in 1977, was there a sense of disappointment that the success wasn’t sustained?

“We weren’t ready for it at all,” Paul admits. “I mean we were scruffy, laidback, unprofessional, and yet this massive hit brought us our American initiation. We opened up for Yes in 20,000 seater arenas every night. I don’t know how we got away with it. So, maybe it was disappointing because it was a great opportunity. But as it turned out, it was just one little thing along the way.”

Despite having had an extraordinary career since the break-up of Ace – Carrack was part of some of the defining bands of the ‘80s, including Squeeze – he never considered himself a full member of any group with whom he subsequently played.

“There’s been a lot of different reasons why I never stayed with one band,” he reflects. “It’s never been because I didn’t get along with people – the problem is that I get on too well with people. I’ll go along to do a bit of work with a band, then next thing I know I’m part of the band! But I always thought of myself as a contributor. I was just happy to be involved and to be doing something that kept a roof over my family’s head. See I’ve been married all this time and have four kids. Same wife, same everything. And the home thing was more important for me than anything, you know? I was determined for my kids to have a secure upbringing. Not a rock and roll one.”

No wild parties then? Not even on tour with Elton John?

“I never went to Elton’s parties!” smiles Carrack. “Obviously in the early days with Ace, we were living out of each other’s pockets and there was a good bit of partying. I mean I’ve had my days, believe you me. On the road in my early career, with the likes of Nick Lowe and all those guys, that was a wild time. But I wouldn’t say I’m that way inclined, and certainly not now, with your Eltons, your Claptons, your Ringos.”

The last name on Paul’s list is often cited as being the weakest of the Beatles. Having played with him, does he care to weigh in?

“I won’t hear a bad word against any Beatle!” he counters. “Ringo is a fantastic drummer. I don’t think he’s a serious musician because he just does it for fun, but that’s great in my eyes. And for me, having seen the Beatles as a kid touring, then finally getting to play with one, that was brilliant.”

While his glittering CV as a guest performer attracts a lot of attention, Carrack has also had a steady solo career since the early ‘80s. He is keenly looking forward to his upcoming Dublin date in the Olympia.

“I’m always writing solo stuff and making music,” he notes. “This is just me doing what I normally do. I’m never trying to reinvent the wheel when I go to make an album. I have a nice studio, I’ve written about nine or ten songs for the next record, and I’ve been doing a bit of work with Chris Difford from Squeeze. Innovation for me comes from singing – that’s the creative side. That’s what I’ll enjoy showing when I go out performing again.”

Paul Carrack plays the Olympia, Dublin on October 18.