Alan Hull facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alan Hull
Alan Hull on stage with Lindisfarne in 1991
Background information
Birth name	James Alan Hull
Born	(1945-02-20)20 February 1945 Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Died	17 November 1995(1995-11-17) (aged 50) Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Genres	Folk rock
Instruments	Vocals guitar keyboards
Years active	Mid 1960s–1995

James Alan Hull (born February 20, 1945 – died November 17, 1995) was an English singer and songwriter. He was a founding member of the Tyneside folk rock band Lindisfarne.

Alan Hull's Music Journey

Alan Hull was born in Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne. He started learning piano when he was nine years old. Two years later, he began guitar lessons. He attended Rutherford Grammar School in Newcastle. Alan got his first guitar at age twelve and wrote his first song soon after.

Early Bands and Lindisfarne

Alan joined a band called The Chosen Few. He worked different jobs to support himself, like cleaning windows, working as a nurse at a hospital, and driving for a TV company. At the same time, he performed as a folk singer in local clubs.

Later, he helped form bands called Brethren and Downtown Faction. These bands eventually became Lindisfarne in 1970. Alan also released a solo song called "We Can Swing Together." This song was later re-recorded with Lindisfarne on their first album, Nicely Out of Tune. It became a popular song at their concerts.

Leading Lindisfarne and Solo Work

Alan Hull wrote most of Lindisfarne's songs and was one of their main singers. Many people saw him as the band's leader.

In 1972, Alan was not happy with their third album, Dingly Dell. He thought about leaving the group. Instead, he and singer Ray "Jacka" Jackson formed a new six-person Lindisfarne. The other three original members started a new band called Jack The Lad.

In the same year, Alan released his first solo album, Pipedream. He also published a book of poems called Mocking Horse.

Lindisfarne Reforms

Lindisfarne broke up in 1973. Alan then released his second solo album, Squire. He also formed a short-lived band called Radiator. This band included Ray Laidlaw, who was also from Lindisfarne.

In 1976, the original members of Lindisfarne played a series of successful Christmas shows. These shows were so popular that the band decided to reform in March 1977. After that, Alan continued his music career as the frontman of Lindisfarne. He also kept working on his solo music.

Supporting Workers' Rights

Alan Hull was a strong supporter of the Labour Party. He even served as the secretary for his local Labour Party group for a while. He performed at many concerts to help striking workers and those who had lost their jobs. For example, he played in Blackpool during the Labour Party conference in 1990.

In 1994, Alan recorded Back to Basics. This was a live album with acoustic versions of his best songs from 1970 onwards.

Alan Hull's Passing

On November 17, 1995, Alan Hull suddenly collapsed at his home. He passed away at North Tyneside General Hospital. Doctors later found that he died from a heart condition called a Coronary thrombosis.

His funeral was held on November 24 at North Shields Crematorium. Many people attended, including musician Chris Rea and actor Tim Healy. Alan's ashes were later spread at the mouth of the River Tyne.

At the time of his death, Alan was finishing a new album called Statues & Liberties. This album was released in 1996.

On July 19, 2012, a special memorial plaque for Alan Hull was put up on the front of Newcastle City Hall. Many fans attended the ceremony.

Family Life

Alan Hull married Patricia Sharp on August 22, 1966. They had three daughters together.

Documentary Film

A BBC 4 documentary about Alan Hull's life was shown on November 26, 2021. It was called Lindisfarne’s Geordie Genius: The Alan Hull Story. In the film, musician Sam Fender explores Alan's career and personal life. The documentary includes old performance videos and interviews, some of which had never been seen before.

Famous musicians like Sting, Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler, Dave Stewart, and Peter Gabriel also shared their thoughts on Alan's songs. Drummer Ray Laidlaw believed that Alan Hull was a "world-class" songwriter. He hoped the film would help Alan get more recognition in music history.

Discography

Studio albums

• Pipedream (1973)
• Squire (1975)
• Phantoms (1979)
• On The Other Side (1983)
• Another Little Adventure (1988)
• Statues & Liberties (1996)

Compilation albums

• When War Is Over - The BBC Recordings 1973 & 1975 (1998)
• 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 (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)