Paul Cator (guitar)

Started off in Oulton Broad near Lowestoft in 1964, moving to Dersingham (near King's Lynn in Norfolk) 2 years later. First instrument was a Rosedale reed organ complete with chord buttons so I didn't have to learn to read music. I used this in the first band I was invovled in, called 'The Vampires', when I was about 10. Despite the gothic sounding name the main influence for the band was the Sweet and the glam movement (this was 1974 after all). Also in the line up were big brother Julian (later of Ivy, of course) on guitar, Tim Warnes (who joined me in various bands later on) on bass and his brother Frank on vocals. First gig was at Dersingham village hall in December 1976 when we did a massive 2 song set on behalf on the Dersingham 1st Scout movement.

Various name changes occurred ending up as Stranger Still in the early 80's and a single (Survivor / Solitude) was released in 1982, topping the prestigious King's Lynn chart for a week or so. Around this time Julian left to go to University, and it was about now that I decided to learn the guitar, thinking this would be far more glamorous than playing keyboards.

After 4 years at Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham (BSc Civil Engineering) I returned to King's Lynn and joined The Mysterons with Tim Warnes, and then we formed Shine! with Andy Bunting and Mark Coulson. We regularly appeared at the Norwich Arts Centre, supporting the Inspiral Carpets on one occasion (was a certain Mr Gallagher their roadie then?). A 12" single, Bite the Apple, was issued by the Wilde Club in Norwich jointly with the Bardots, which was played a number of times by John Peel. We frequently gigged around East Anglia, usually preceded by a mammoth poster campaign in the affected town, which no doubt upset the local authorities somewhat.

I moved to Norwich in 1990 and joined Ivy on 2nd guitar and stayed with them 'til the band split up. Me, Julian and Spence regrouped along with Tim from Shine! and the drum machine to form Doolittle for a few more years. Spence left and was replaced by Becky, who contributed some new material and significantly reduced the band's average age. The band ceased trading in 2001, and that was it for any musical activity on my part.

Until recently......