Owen Paul

Owen Paul

Owen Paul is a Scottish singer, producer and co-writer from Glasgow, United Kingdom. He is best known for the 1986 UK and European hit “My Favourite Waste Of Time”, which brings him to prominence as a pop artist. His work is generally described as pop rock and rock.

Early profile and breakout single

Paul first reaches wider attention with “My Favourite Waste Of Time”, a summer hit in 1986. The song establishes him as a singer and co-writer, and it remains the recording most closely associated with his name.

Work in music, theatre and radio

After his initial success, he takes on a range of other work. He plays a leading role in a major musical theatre production, tours the UK and Europe with Phil Collins as part of Mike & the Mechanics, and also works as the band’s vocal arranger on their album Rewired. He also appears in the MTV programme The Osbournes in the “noisy neighbours” episode involving Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne.

Outside performance, Paul works as a comedy script writer for a leading UK FM radio station. He also runs a West End theatre in London’s Leicester Square for ten years, and operates a ballroom and Latin dancing club.

Production and songwriting work

Paul produces a triple platinum album for the Japanese band Buck-Tick, which reaches number one in Japan. He also co-produces the UK Eurovision entry for Lindsay Dracass in 2001, and the song reaches the UK top 20.

Later solo and group activity

In 2001, Paul returns to the studio with new material and releases his second solo album, About Time. In 2009, he returns to live performance with the Scottish supergroup Four Good Men. He later becomes lead vocalist for XSM, described as Ex Simple Minds, alongside original Simple Minds members Derek Forbes and Brian McGee. The group tours the UK, the Philippines, Holland and Germany.