Paul Thompson
Paul Thompson (born 13 May 1951) is an English drummer, who is best known as a member of the rock band Roxy Music. He is a member of Andy Mackay's project with the Metaphors and joined Lindisfarne in 2013. He was also the drummer for Oi!
Paul Thompson

Mark Kent · Lindisfarne - Paul Thompson 2 · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Name
- Paul Thompson
- Born
- 13 May 1951
- Birthplace
- Newcastle upon Tyne, England
- Occupation
- Musician
- Nationality
- United Kingdom.
- Fields
- rock music.
- Languages
- English.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Paul Thompson (born 13 May 1951) is an English drummer, who is best known as a member of the rock band Roxy Music. He is a member of Andy Mackay's project with the Metaphors and joined Lindisfarne in 2013. He was also the drummer for Oi!
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Note VALÉORINE
Paul Thompson (born 1951) is a drummer, economist and musician, of British nationality. The drummer was born in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The work spans rock music. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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In this article
Biography
Biography
Band Angelic Upstarts and the American alternative rock band Concrete Blonde.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Paul Thompson • Instrument — Drums • Born — 13 May 1951 • Birthplace — Newcastle upon Tyne, England • Genre — * Glam rock • rock • art rock • Occupation — Musician • Years Active — 1970–present • Current Member Of — * Roxy Music • Andy Mackay's Metaphors • Past Member Of — * Angelic Upstarts • Concrete Blonde • Lindisfarne • Website — pauldrum.com
Early life and education
Early life and education
Thompson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. He lived in Jarrow, north-east England from the age of six months and attended West Simonside Infants and Junior School.
Career
Career
In 1965, Thompson joined The Tyme who played at local youth clubs. His next group was a local band called The Urge which he joined when 17 years old. Fatigue from performing with them seven nights a week in local clubs and pubs led him to fall asleep on his job as an apprentice metalworker, resulting in his dismissal. Alongside John Miles he became a member of The Influence. Thompson joined Roxy Music in 1971 and was credited as drummer on six albums, as well as touring and performing on solo records with his bandmates Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, and Andy Mackay. In 1980, Thompson took leave from Roxy Music due to an arm injury. Later that year he left the band, owing to musical differences between himself and Bryan Ferry. Thompson was also a member of Concrete Blonde from 1989 until 1991, and again from 1993 until 1996, playing on their albums Bloodletting and Mexican Moon. • Illustration — Thompson with Roxy Music in 2011 In 2001, he reunited with fellow Roxy Music band members for a tour. He also toured with Ferry, supporting his Frantic album in 2003 and appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival 2005 on 11 June 2005 with Ferry. During this period Thompson played live gigs with Andy Mackay and The Metaphors and was credited on their self released live CD London! Paris! New York! Rome! in 2009. He joined the Newcastle upon Tyne Lindisfarne in 2013. Thompson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 as a member of Roxy Music.
Identity
Identity
Paul Thompson is recorded with the occupation economist. Classed in the genre rock music. Recorded as musician, drummer and economist.
Influence and following
Drummer Roger Taylor of the new wave band Duran Duran has stated that Thompson's drumming was a big influence over his development. Fans of Thompson nicknamed him "The Great Paul Thompson", because of his drumming skills. Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols is also a fan.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Paul Thompson biography. www.roxyrama.com. 25 May 2011.
- 2.The Official Roxy Music Tour 2001 Paul Thompson Biography. Manzanera.com. 2001.
- 3.Chronicle Live. Interview: Roxy Music's Paul Thompson. 6 February 2009.
- 4.Carson, Stephen Burgess, Mark Jangra Bimal Townsend, Richard. John Miles. john-miles.16mb.com.
- 5.Paul Thompson credits. allmusic.com.
- 6.Paul Thompson. discogs.com.
- 7.Evening Chronicle Northeast. Interview: Roxy Music's Paul Thompson. 6 February 2009.
- 8.Budofsky, Adam. Friday Nuggets: Paul Thompson's Trip From Roxy Music to Lindisfarne. www.moderndrummer.com. November 2005.
- 9.Roxy Music on Isle of Wight bill. News.bbc.co.uk. 18 March 2005.
- 10.Roxy Music inducted into Rock and roll hall of fame. ultimateclassicrock.com. 29 March 2019.
- 11.www.journallive.co.uk. Interview: Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor.
References
Citations
References
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authority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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