Paul Valentine saw a percussionist playing at a rave in ’89 and thought, “I’ll have some of that.” Having been a musical child and playing drum kit since the age of 11, Paul got himself a set of congas and practised in his bedroom whilst listening to KISS FM, at that time a pirate radio station. 2 years later Paul was resident percussionist at Legends, Old Burlington Street, playing live with Judge Jules. Paul signed a contract with KISS FM and played at their various clubbing events in central London including the ‘Wag Club’ and ‘Dingwalls’, performing alongside some of the biggest names in the industry, including Paul Trouble Anderson and Danny Rampling.

Paul then went on to play at Paul Trouble Anderson’s night at the ‘Loft’, Camden and many a time at the ‘Ministry of Sound’ with the likes of Fat Tony, Breeze and Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk. Paul also loved playing at ‘The Cross’ with Clockwork Orange and at ‘Bagley’s Film Studios’, Kings Cross.

Saturday nights Paul played a live set in the VIP lounge at ‘Spice’, Battersea. During his time there, Paul met a guy who always used to be at the club and who was a really wacky dancer, who always wore a crazy hat. The guy asked if Paul wanted to play in his band, and Paul gave him his number not thinking much more of it. Long story short – it turns out the guy in the funny hat was Jay Kay from Jamiroquai. Having played his biggest gig to date with Jamiroquai at the Fridge, Brixton, Paul decided that committing to a band at that time was not right for him, as he had just been accepted to study graphic design at the Oxford School of Art and Design and thought it was probably time to think about getting a proper job; about one month after that Jamiroquai was signed to Sony for 8 albums.

After a year of study in Oxford, missing the London scene and fed up with being skint, Paul went to stay with his folks in Essex. Whilst in the local boozer, Paul heard that ‘Hollywood’s’, Romford was hosting a night called ‘Culture Shock’ and was booking some pretty big named DJ’s. After a call and an audition, Paul secured a Friday night residency at ‘Hollywood’s’ and a Saturday night at ‘Club Art’, Southend. Paul played alongside some familiar faces, but also added to the list the likes of Robert Owens, Jon Pleased Wimmin, David Morales to Fat Boy Slim and every big-name in-between, not to mention resident DJ’s Tony Grimley and Gareth Cooke.

Paul then teamed up with Danny Rampling and his ’Millionare Hippies’ and went on to perform live on Channel 4’s ‘The Word’. Well, that seems a lifetime ago for Paul, he did get the proper job in the end, he also married and had two children. Paul says, “It’s been a long time – I am now very excited to come out of retirement and play alongside the talented line up for the ‘Belessa’ launch event, I just hope I don’t have a heart attack.”