One of the Northwest's busiest bass players, Paul DeLano can be found on any given night either playing live with one of his four bands, recording in one of several world-class Northwest studios, or writing original music in his home project studio. Sometimes all three.

Paul DeLano has been playing bass guitar in the Pacific Northwest for over 25 years, eighteen of those years with the band T.C. Blues. Originally a Heavy Metal player in the '80s, a chance offer to play bass in a one shot Blues gig led to what Paul credits as his single most career-influencing move to date.

"T.C. Blues started out as a one-time gag. We were all members of the same sports car racing organization. At each year's awards banquet there were several short breaks to relieve the monotony of handing out trophies and introducing new officers. These were usually filled in a 'talent show' fashion. We just thought it would be fun to play a song or two. I think it was 'Louie Louie' and 'The Wanderer'. The music was so well received that the band was asked to return the following year, and the year after that the other entertainment was dropped,we were it, and the rest is history.

We think the first performance was in 1990, but we don't count the first two banquets as part of the "real" band since we only played two or three songs and then disbanded until the following year. We're calling 1992 the official start of the band as that's the year we first got paid to play outside the club's own banquet facilities."

 

At the same time, Paul was still active in the local rock scene, playing and recording with the bands Mannheimer Park, a southern rock quartet, and Twist of Fate, a progressive metal band featuring Steve Berry on drums and Diana Smith on keyboards. Twist of Fate was one of the last bands to play Tres Shannon's quirky, but well loved X-Ray Café.

 

In 1995, a devastating accident left Paul without the use of his left hand for over six months. Twist of Fate disbanded, and Paul missed several shows with T.C. Blues. At this time, Paul also left racing for good, except as a spectator and fan, opting to focus his energies on not only recovery, but music.

To the surprise of his doctors and physical therapists, Paul was back on the music scene in just over a year, playing first with T.C. Blues, and then forming the roots-rock/blues group Shark Bait. Shark Bait featured Ron Wood on drums and Julie Uomini on guitar. Within the first year it was apparent that the trio was going places fast. Julie Uomini was catching both eyes and ears all over town, and with the addition of Dan Collins on harmonica and vocals the group changed its name to Guitar Julie and The Rumblers. The Rumblers were the first band to play at Hoppers Blues Club, and could often be seen at the Buffalo Gap, and Laceys in Lake Oswego. It was during this period that Paul purchased his first Conklin seven string bass, which led to the madness you see today.

In 1999 Guitar Julie and The Rumblers decided to call it quits. No problems, no ugliness, it was just time to move on. Julie Uomini married Andy Strange of the Terraplanes and the couple is now performing with their new band The Strangetones all over the Northwest. It's not uncommon to see a spontaneous reunion of the three original members of Shark Bait at a gig or party.
 

Near the end of The Rumblers, Paul was invited to record with Yesterdaze Child. The recording went well, the CD was released, and Paul played live with the band for over two years until the singer/songwriter, Steve Hadjopolous had to move back to Tennessee for family reasons. The six-piece band continued on as the quartet Bad Kitty with Rex Beard on Guitar, Diana Daniels on Lead Vocals, and Troy Stutzman on drums. In time, Troy left to pursue his parallel commitment with Northwest favorites King Black Acid. Former Rumblers drummer Ron Wood was called in to fill out the lineup. When Diana Daniels left in 2004, former Yesterdaze Child lead singer Keri Fletcher was called to once again complete the band.

Through several name changes, (Bad Kitty, 60 MPH, 5 Alarm Fire, Paparazzi Killers) the band has remained solid and now appears as Lip Service, playing to packed houses all over the Northwest.

 

As of May 2004, Paul is also playing with European Pop singer Levon Levan. Levon has just released his first full length CD in English featuring Paul DeLano on seven string bass, Kita Montgomery leading the vocal trio, Eric Olson of Poison Idea and Dave Jaber of Stunt Doubler on guitars, and Troy Stutzman of Yesterdaze Child and King Black Acid on drums.

Levon is an entertainer in the classic sense. He sings songs of love and romance, of passion and desire. He not only sings the songs, but lives them, and his live performance is not to be missed. Levon combines the energy and showmanship of Elvis Presley and Tom Jones with the solid punch of his all-star backing band to deliver a show of incomparable intensity.

 

 

Paul also appears at the NAMM show in Los Angeles, California each year as an endorsing artist for Bee Basses, the builders of his Signature Bass line.