Singer-songwriter Paul Carrack to play at Malvern's Forum Theatre

8:00am Monday 8th February 2010

By Philippa May

SINGER-songwriter Paul Carrack has a voice that is instantly recognisable – think The Living Years, Over My Shoulder and How Long by Ace – and a CV that bears testament to his reputation among fellow musicians, but, to his evident satisfaction, he has avoided the poisoned chalice of mega fame.

Although Paul, who plays Malvern’s Forum Theatre on February 18, has been involved with some of the biggest names, including Roxy Music, Squeeze and Elton John, he doesn’t have their recognition factor, but is happy with staying just under the radar.

“I’ve only ever wanted a little bit of fame to be able to survive,” he says. “It’s hard to survive without a bit of recognition, but I have that among my peers and a solid band of fans.

“Where I am now is where I’d always have loved to have been. It took a while to get there, but I couldn’t have planned it better.”

The Living Years is arguably the best-known and loved tracks Paul recorded with Mike and The Mechanics, the band formed by Genesis lead guitarist Mike Rutherford.

“It’s one of my claims to fame and I am proud to be associated with it,” says Paul.

It was written by Mike Rutherford and B A Robertson, inspired by the birth of Robertson’s son 12 weeks after the death of his father.

“I actually lost my dad when I was 11, and I don’t have the kind of issues referred to in the song. It was a massive, massive blow and possibly that enables me to draw on the experience of loss to deliver a convincing performance.”

Another of the tracks that’s followed Paul throughout his career is How Long (Has This Been Going On), a song that has endured and might have made Paul a richer man – “if I’d known what was actually in the contract we signed.

Everyone’s got one of those in their past” – recorded with his then band, Ace. While it may sound like a song about a relationship under threat, it is in fact about something rather more prosaic.

“We had this little band, Ace, that we were struggling to get going and another band tried to steal our bass player – that’s what it’s about,” Paul explains, adding that he doesn’t think the situation would inspire him to write a song nowadays. “But I still enjoy singing it.”

“I like the intimacy of smaller venues – it’s where I feel at home,” he says. “I’ve experienced stadiums, most recently with the Eagles – it’s good fun but a different beast. When the venues get bigger it becomes more about the production.

“I’m quite content in these small theatres where people can come and hear the music.”