Paul Crook

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

For the rugby league players, see Paul Crook (rugby league born 1974) and Paul Crook (rugby league born 1986).

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Paul Crook
150px
Paul, 2007, with his Brian May signature guitar
Background information
Birth name Paul Matthew Crook
Born (1966-02-12) February 12, 1966 (age 58)
Plainfield, New Jersey, USA
Genres Hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock
Occupation(s) Musician, producer, recording engineer, composer
Instruments Guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals
Years active 1993–present
Associated acts Meat Loaf, Sebastian Bach, Anthrax
Website www.paul-crook.com

Paul Crook (born February 12, 1966 in Plainfield, New Jersey) is an American guitarist currently recording and performing with Meat Loaf. He has also recorded and toured with Anthrax, Sebastian Bach and Marya Roxx.

Biography

Growing up in Green Brook Township, New Jersey, he started playing guitar at the age of 10 when his father, Dennis, bought him a cheap acoustic as a Christmas gift.[1] Crook took to the guitar quickly and found himself practicing hours-on-end. His father, after seeing this for a few years, then bought him his first "real" guitar: a black Gibson Les Paul Custom.

The 10th grade was when Paul found himself in "Triton", his first club band based in South Plainfield, New Jersey. A heavy metal cover band, members included Paul Crook (lead guitar), Mark Crook (bass guitar), Gary Columbus (drums), Andreas Weber (rhythm guitar) and Jack Scharniko (vocals). They rehearsed in Gary's basement, where most of Paul's gear remains. Currently Andreas's two sons are in a melodic death metal band of the same name.

Professional career

A few years later Paul teamed up with Jack Secret (aka Tony Geranios), the keyboard tech for Rush. They wrote and recorded several songs together. Jack introduced Paul to the members of Blue Öyster Cult, who took Paul out on the road in 1986 as a keyboard/guitar tech.

While in Germany with BOC, Paul met Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake fame). Bernie took Paul under his wing. The two began to work together, writing and recording in the UK, where Paul lived at Bernie's house. In the end, nothing was ever released but Paul learned a hell of a lot about REAL guitar playing.

In 1989 Paul met the guys in Anthrax through Rick Downey. Crook became guitar tech for Dan Spitz, and, in 1995, replaced Spitz (although not an official member). Crook toured with ANTHRAX for the rest of the decade and performed on two records: Stomp 442 and Volume 8: The Threat Is Real which he also co-produced and engineered.

In 1999, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row fame asked Paul to join his band. They did shows together, touring around the world (until 2004). Their only recording was "Rock Bottom", a KISS tribute record.

In 2000 Paul teamed up with Scott Metaxas from Prophet and Nuclear Assault fame. The two of them started producing local talent out of Scott's home studio in the Neshanic section of Hillsborough Township, New Jersey. Billy Milano's M.O.D. record The Rebel You Love to Hate was recorded at this location.

In 2001 Paul teamed up with Glenn Hughes. Together, they composed the ballad "Feels Like Home" for Glenn's solo record: "Building The Machine".

In 2003 Kasim Sulton asked Paul to join Meat Loaf's Neverland Express. Crook appeared in the music video "Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself" and then hit the road for a long world tour including television appearances.

A live DVD was filmed at the end of the tour (in Australia): "Bat out of Hell: Live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra".

In 2004 Paul auditioned for the smash hit musical We Will Rock You, featuring the music of Queen. He had to audition for Brian May, one of his main influences. May trained Paul personally for the position. Paul relocated to Las Vegas to perform his favorite Queen songs. After a 16-month run the show moved to Toronto, Canada. To this day Paul remains in Las Vegas and still calls it his home.

In 2006 Paul hit the studio with Meat Loaf and the Neverland Express to record "Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose". The album was produced by Desmond Child.

While touring Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose a camera crew was called in to record every move the band made. This footage later became known as the documentary film: "Meat Loaf In Search Of Paradise".

In 2007 (while on a ML tour break) Crook received a text message from famed producer Kevin Shirley, who asked Paul to play on a heavy metal record for Marya Roxx. Kevin assembled a solid band: Paul (guitars), Scott Metaxas (bass), Derek Sherinian (keys) and Brian Tichy (drums). They re-wrote and recorded 12 songs in 10 days at The Document Room in Malibu, CA.

2008 brought Paul out on the road for Meat Loaf's CASA DE CARNE tour.

2009 was a very busy year. After a tour of Europe with Marya Roxx, Paul jumped back in the studio with Meat Loaf. This time Rob Cavallo was called in to produce. They began recording on June 1 in Calabasas, CA. Many stellar musicians were brought in to create the massive sound. Sharing guitar duties alongside Paul were Brian May, Steve Vai, Justin Hawkins, Randy Flowers and Tim Pierce.

While recording the Meat Loaf's Hang Cool, Teddy Bear album Paul was asked by Rob Cavallo to record on a song with Adam Lambert from American Idol fame. The song was "Time for Miracles". It was released and went to #9 on iTunes. "Time for Miracles" was a part of the motion picture soundtrack "2012".

In 2010 Meat Loaf asked Paul to Produce the album Hell In A Handbasket. The album received stellar reviews.

Paul spent most of 2011/ 2012 on the road with Meat Loaf.

Meat Loaf then asked Paul to MIX the Guilty Pleasures From Sydney, Australia DVD/ CD.

In early 2013 Meat Loaf and Paul began song editing and video creation for the Last At Bat Tour. All of the video media used in the show was put together by the two of them. The tour mounted in April, 2013 and took them through the UK, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands. The Last At Bat Tour is considered[by whom?] to be Meat Loaf's greatest tour to date.

After the LAST AT BAT tour, Paul began working with Meat Loaf on song arrangements/ video production for a Las Vegas residency... Rocktellz And Cocktails had a successful run at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino that lasted 26 weeks!

Summer 2014, Paul began Production work on Meat Loaf's album BRAVER THAN WE ARE (still in progress).

While on break from recording BRAVER THAN WE ARE, Paul began Production with one of his favorite singers, Frank DiMino (ANGEL fame). The album is titled OLD HABITS DIE HARD. It is a solid sounding Hard Rock album. It'll be released on Frontiers Records in July, 2015.

Currently Paul is back in the studio with Meat Loaf, recording vocals on BRAVER THAN WE ARE.

Work

Bands

References

  1. ↑ Lamberg, Erica. "Green Brook people", Courier News (New Jersey), May 19, 2004. Accessed March 28, 2011. "Crook, 38, was raised in Green Brook and said much of his spare time growing up was spent playing guitar."

Sources

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Paul_Crook&oldid=432431"