View source for Alan Hull

{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Alan Hull
| image            = Alan Hull on stage with Lindisfarne, 1991.jpg
| caption          = Alan Hull on stage with Lindisfarne in 1991
| image_size       =
| birth_name       = James Alan Hull
| alias            =
| birth_date       = {{birth date|df=y|1945|2|20}}
| birth_place      = [[Benwell]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], England
| death_date       = {{death date and age|df=y|1995|11|17|1945|2|20}}
| death_place      = [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], England
| origin           =
| genre            = [[Folk rock]]
| occupation       =
| instrument       = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|keyboards}}
| years_active     = Mid 1960s–1995
| label            =
| past_member_of   = [[Lindisfarne (band)|Lindisfarne]]<br>[[Skip Bifferty|The Chosen Few]]<br>[[Skip Bifferty]]
| website          =
}}
'''James Alan Hull''' (20 February 1945 – 17 November 1995)<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> was an English singer-songwriter and founding member of the [[Tyneside]] [[folk rock]] band [[Lindisfarne (band)|Lindisfarne]].
==Career==
Hull was born at 68 Sutton's Dwellings, Adelaide Terrace, [[Benwell]], [[Newcastle upon Tyne]].<ref name="ReferenceA">Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - Dave Laing</ref> He began piano lessons at the age of nine, and guitar lessons two years later.<ref>Obituary - The Times - 20 November 1995</ref> He attended [[Newcastle College|Rutherford Grammar School]], Newcastle after sitting the [[eleven-plus]] in 1956 and was given a guitar at the age of twelve. Hull wrote his first song soon afterwards.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
He became a member of the band The Chosen Few alongside keyboard player [[Mick Gallagher]]. He supported himself by working as a window cleaner,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.propergandaonline.com/howay-the-lad/ |title=On this day: Howay the lad &#124; Properganda Online |access-date=30 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208235112/http://www.propergandaonline.com/howay-the-lad/ |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> one year by working as a nurse at a [[mental hospital]] and as a driver for Newcastle Co-op TV Department while appearing as a folk singer and guitarist in local clubs before helping to form Brethren and Downtown Faction, which evolved into Lindisfarne in 1970. He also released a one-off solo single, "We Can Swing Together", which was re-recorded with the group on their first album, ''[[Nicely Out of Tune]]'', and became a regular favourite in their stage performances.<ref name=Independent>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-alan-hull-1582853.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220506/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-alan-hull-1582853.html |archive-date=6 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=OBITUARY: Alan Hull|date=20 November 1995|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|accessdate=9 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
As the group's most prolific songwriter and joint lead vocalist, Hull came to be regarded as its [[frontman|leader]]. In 1972, dissatisfied with the sound and critical reception of their third album ''[[Dingly Dell]]'', he considered leaving the group but instead he and joint lead vocalist [[Ray Jackson (musician)|Ray "Jacka" Jackson]] formed a new six-piece Lindisfarne the following year, leaving the three other original members to form [[Jack The Lad]]. He also released his first solo album, ''[[Pipedream (Alan Hull album)|Pipedream]]'', the same year and published a book of poems, ''Mocking Horse''.<ref name=Independent /> Alan Hull appeared in "Squire", an episode of the BBC's ''[[Second City Firsts]]'' drama series.
Lindisfarne disbanded in 1973 and Hull released a second solo album, ''Squire'', then formed the short-lived Radiator, which also included drummer Ray Laidlaw of Lindisfarne and Jack the Lad. In March 1977 the original line-up of Lindisfarne reformed after a well-received series of sold-out Christmas shows at the [[Newcastle City Hall]] in 1976 which was broadcast on local radio. Thereafter he combined his musical career as front man of the group with a solo career.
He was also a staunch [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] activist.<ref name=Independent /> For a time he was secretary of his local constituency Labour Party. He performed in Blackpool to coincide with the [[Labour Party conference]] in 1990, and played at numerous benefit concerts for striking or redundant miners and shipyard workers.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
In January 1994, he recorded ''[[Back To Basics (Alan Hull album)|Back to Basics]]'', a live all-[[acoustic music|acoustic]] survey of the best of his songwriting from 1970 onwards.
==Death==
On the night of 17 November 1995, Hull suddenly collapsed at his home in [[North Shields]] and was pronounced dead on arrival at [[North Tyneside General Hospital]] at 11.30pm.<ref name=Independent /> A post-mortem held on 20 November revealed his death to be the result of a [[coronary thrombosis]]. Hull's funeral was held on 24 November at North Shields Crematorium. Musician [[Chris Rea]] and actor [[Tim Healy (actor)|Tim Healy]] were among those to attend. Hull's ashes were later scattered at the mouth of the [[River Tyne]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
At the time of Alan’s death a new album, ''[[Statues & Liberties]]'', was being completed;<ref>{{cite web|url= https://archive.robertianhawdon.me.uk/sites/lindisfarne.co.uk/archives/discography/alanhull/statues.htm |title= Alan Hull - Statues & Liberties (1996) |publisher=Simon Jones, Folk Roots, quoted at archive.robertianhawdon.me.uk |accessdate=22 January 2022}}</ref> it was released in 1996.
On 19 July 2012, following a public campaign led by Barry McKay, Lindisfarne's manager during the 1970s, an Alan Hull memorial plaque was unveiled on the front of [[Newcastle City Hall]], at a ceremony attended by hundreds of fans, and broadcast and filmed by [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky]] and [[ITV Tyne Tees]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/LINDISFARNE+FOUNDER'S+MEMORY+HONOURED+AT+CITY+HALL.-a0296994236 |title=Lindisfarne Founder's Memory Honoured at City Hall. – Free Online Library |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |accessdate=12 December 2012}}</ref>
==Personal life==
He married Patricia Sharp on 22 August 1966, and they had three daughters.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
==Documentary film==
A [[BBC Four|BBC 4]] documentary on the life of Hull, called ''Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story'', was first broadcast on 26 November 2021.<ref>{{Citation |title=Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0011vbk/lindisfarnes-geordie-genius-the-alan-hull-story |language=en-GB |access-date=2022-07-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Four - Lindisfarne's Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011vbk |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the hour-long film [[Sam Fender]] follows the career and personal life of Hull. Archive footage of performances and interviews features in the programme, some of it previously unseen.  There are also tributes from fans of the songs including [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], [[Elvis Costello]], [[Mark Knopfler]], [[Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)|Dave Stewart]] and [[Peter Gabriel]]. Drummer Ray Laidlaw expressed the view that, despite Lindisfarne's success, Hull had not received sufficient recognition as "a 'world-class' songwriter", and he hoped to establish Hull's place in music history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Damian |date=2021-11-22 |title=Sam Fender to host BBC documentary on late Lindisfarne frontman Alan Hull |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sam-fender-to-host-bbc-documentary-on-late-lindisfarne-frontman-alan-hull-3101640 |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Geraghty |first=Hollie |date=2021-11-22 |title=Sam Fender to host documentary about late Lindisfarne singer Alan Hull |url=https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/sam-fender-to-host-documentary-about-late-lindisfarne-singer-alan-hull-6336/ |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=Rolling Stone UK |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Discography==
=== Studio albums ===
* ''[[Pipedream (Alan Hull album)|Pipedream]]'' (1973) [[UK Albums Chart|UK]] No. 29,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David
| last= Roberts
| year= 2006
| title= British Hit Singles & Albums
| edition= 19th
| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
| location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 262}}</ref> AUS No. 51<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=143}}</ref>
* ''[[Squire (album)|Squire]]'' (1975)
* ''Phantoms'' (1979)
* ''On The Other Side'' (1983)
* ''Another Little Adventure'' (1988)
* ''[[Statues & Liberties]]'' (1996)
=== Compilation albums ===
* ''[[When War Is Over|When War Is Over - The BBC Recordings 1973 & 1975]]'' (1998)
* ''[[We Can Swing Together - Anthology|We Can Swing Together: The Anthology 1965-1995]]'' (2005)
* ''Singing a song in the morning light/the legendary demo tapes 1967-1970 (2024)
=== Live albums ===
* ''[[Back To Basics (Alan Hull album)|Back to Basics]]'' (1994)
* ''Alright on the Night - Live at Clifton Poly 1975'' (2009)
===Singles===
* "We Can Swing Together" / "Obadiah's Grave"  (1970)
* "Numbers" / "Drinking Song" / "One Off Pat"  (1973)
* "Justanothersadsong" / "Waiting"  (1973)
* "Dan The Plan" / "One More Bottle of Wine"  (1975)
* "One More Bottle of Wine" / "Squire"  (1975)
* "Crazy Woman" / "Golden Oldies"  (1975)
* "I Wish You Well" / "Love Is The Answer"  (1979)
* "A Walk in the Sea" / "Corporation Rock"  (1979)
* "Malvinas Melody" / "Ode to a Taxman"  (1983)
===With Radiator===
* ''Isn't It Strange'' (1977)
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.lindisfarne.co.uk Lindisfarne's Website]
{{Alan Hull}}
{{Lindisfarne}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hull, Alan}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:English male singers]]
[[Category:English male songwriters]]
[[Category:Musicians from Newcastle upon Tyne]]
[[Category:Deaths from coronary thrombosis]]
[[Category:Rocket Records artists]]
[[Category:20th-century English singers]]
[[Category:Lindisfarne (band) members]]
[[Category:20th-century British male singers]]