Paul leaves young look behind

A cheer goes up from behind the door of Paul Young's dressing room where members of his new band, Los Pacaminos, are preparing for their gig.

"The tequila's arrived," he said. Dressed in cowboy hat and boots, the 52-year-old has set aside his eighties heart-throb look in favour of a Tex Mex act.

There would be no sign of his big hits like Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) or Love Of the Common People at Bilston's Robin 2.

Last night's gig was meant to have happened in October last year but had to be postponed after Young strained the muscles in his throat.

"It was nothing to do with the act, if anything these songs are easier to sing", he said, still wearing a scarf around his neck right up until he went on stage."I think the problem was because there were more of us crammed into the dressing rooms I kept going out into the cold air and that probably didn't help.

"But we made sure the tickets were still valid and I'm delighted that everyone's chosen to stay with us rather than get a refund. I really like playing The Robin, it's a great place."

While Young has visited the Mount Pleasant venue several times with his solo hits, for many of the 200-strong audience it was the first time they had seen him as part of the six-man Los Pacaminos here.

"We couldn't play any of my other songs, we don't have the kit for it for a start.

"Even if we did they wouldn't fit in with the ones we're doing as Los Pacaminos.

"The nice thing about it is people are coming to see me and giving the band a try", he said, "but at the same time there are people out there who would never want to go to a Paul Young concert but have been promised that it will be nothing like that, so they're willing to try it as well."

With a studio album and a live record already under their belts Los Pacaminos are considering getting back into the studio.

Meanwhile Young is going to Germany this month along with Rick Astley, Bananarama and ABC as part of the Here and Now tour, a celebration of the 80s.

"People do seem to be really into the 80s at the moment, I keep hearing it said that that was the best decade with the best music. Still it's nice to do something different like this. I love Mexican music and food, when you hear it or taste it you feel like you're there."

Mexican food featured heavily in Young's appearance on Marco Pierre White's Hell's Kitchen, where he finished in fourth place.

"I don't have any more plans to do reality TV now though", he said. "It was fine while I needed to rest my voice but I'd much rather be doing this."

by Daniel Wainwright