Paul Finnie – Power Quest official Update
It is with great sadness that we have to announce the tragic news of the passing of former Power Quest bassist Paul Finnie.
Paul was playing a show at the Robin 2 in Bilston on Sunday night with his Def Leppard tribute band “Hysteria”, and after the show, Paul suffered a fatal heart attack. He was just 44 years old.
As many of you will know Paul was the bassist in PQ between 2009-2018 and played on the Blood Alliance and Sixth Dimension albums as well as playing many live shows during this period as well including the trips to Japan and USA which meant the world to him personally.
What many of you may not know is that Paul was also involved with the band before he was an actual playing member. Along with his old friend Simon Burrell, Paul crewed with the band between 2005 -2009 as well primarily in the role of stage manager.
Bandleader Steve Williams commented:
“I’m absolutely devastated to hear this news. Paul’s mother phoned me on Monday night to inform me of what had happened and I’ve been in a state of shock since, to be honest. I didn’t want to write anything too soon out of respect for the family so I’ve waited until I was given the green light before putting pen to paper, so to speak.
Paul and I go way back and, thinking about it, we must have been friends for 25 years. For me personally, he was always the voice of sanity and clarity. Whenever something was getting on top of me and I needed advice or just a shoulder to lean on, Paul was always there. Whether it was in our capacity as bandmates or as friends it didn’t matter to Paul. He was always available no matter what the time or situation and it was always very much appreciated.
It’s been my privilege to have known Paul for over half of my life. To share a stage with him and travel the world together fulfilling those dreams that we talked about so many years ago but most importantly to call him my friend. They don’t make them like him anymore and that mould has well and truly been cast aside long ago.
I have so many memories and stories to look back on from our adventures together and it’s just so hard to believe that we won’t be adding any further chapters to that particular saga.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this particular time as I’m sure they do from all of us who knew him either personally or from his time with Power Quest. Also to his colleagues in Hysteria who I’m sure are feeling distraught after what happened.
Rest easy big man...my bandmate, my brother, my friend.”
Rich, Ash, Glyn. Brad, George, Andy K, Alessio, Andrea, Steve Scott and Francesco all held Paul in high regard and would like to express their sorrow and condolences at this awful time for Paul’s family.
As a tribute to Paul, we will be dedicating the Neverworld show in November to his memory.
Paul Finnie – Steve update
Well...what can I say? I’m still coming to terms with the tragic news about Paul Finnie.
His mother called me on Monday evening to let me know what had happened and I’m still reeling now so I can only imagine how difficult it is for the family. Josephine, Catherine, Melissa, Chiara and all the members of the family who I’ve not met personally. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this most terrible of times. The family asked me if I would contact as many people as possible personally in advance of any social media postings and I’ve tried my best to fulfil this obligation. I hope nobody was missed on that side of things and I apologise if so.
Although I’m devastated to the core of my being, I’m pleased that I was able to speak to Paul on the phone last Thursday. He was sounding so upbeat and positive about life and music, I was really happy to hear him in such fine fettle and then this happens...
There is no rhyme or reason to it all, no explanation, no warning. If anything there is a lesson for us all here. Don’t wait til tomorrow to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you...tell them now, tell them every day as we never know what fate has in store for us and what awaits us around the very next corner.
A light in the darkness and the voice of sanity in the sea of madness that we call life. Big man……you played it the right way with honesty and integrity. So proud to have known you and even prouder that we were the very best of friends for a quarter of a century. We are all better people for having had you in our lives, there’s no doubt about it.
It was always Paul’s dream to make a record and to go on tour. I’m thrilled that he more than managed to make that dream come true by recording 2 albums and touring as far afield as Japan and the USA along with trips to Sweden and Germany amongst others. To have been able to share that same dream with him makes me extremely proud. He was always so appreciative of all the opportunities and took nothing for granted and always had his feet firmly on the ground in these matters.
When Paul lived in Southampton my girlfriend Anna and I would often have Paul and his best mate from school days Simon Burrell round for dinner every month and those evenings were so much fun on every occasion with Paul often being the life and soul of the party, not always intentionally I’m sure he’d be the first to admit haha! We all have some very happy memories of that time in our lives. He certainly appreciated a good, home-cooked meal that’s for sure.
When we were in the US...as those who were in Atlanta will testify, I partied somewhat too hard on one particular night and it was Paul who came to my assistance, sorted me out and made sure I got back to the hotel in one piece. Things like that will always stand tall in my memory as much as anything else as it tells you the measure of the man. Someone who was always looking out for his brothers and friends.
I nearly always shared a room on tour with Paul and Rich Smith. As the elder statesmen of the band, we naturally had certain things in common and I have so many happy memories of those nights when we would stay up till 4 am chatting even though we had to be up at 6 am lol! Paul was always a difficult guy to get up in the morning as I’m sure those who have roomed with him will tell you ha ha! Makes me smile thinking of trying to wake him up on those occasions.
Paul was an avid football fan and followed Celtic and Crystal Palace closely. With him being a Scotsman and me being a Welshman we used to sympathise with each other when our respective national teams never quite reached the heights. We also used to have a bit of banter during the Six Nations Rugby as well, luckily in our time Wales usually had the better of things in that regard.
So many thoughts and memories flashing before my eyes right now that I’m in danger of not making too much sense I feel. I think maybe I’ll write some more another time once I’ve gathered my thoughts once again.
In the meantime, wherever you are and whatever your beliefs are, please remember my friend and brother Paul Finnie. Tell a story, share a memory and think of a guy who always put others first. That’s one of the reasons why his nickname in the band was and always will be “the legend”...because that’s exactly what he was and always will be.
