
If this isn’t a sad story to make you realise that life is for living and we never know how long we have, then I don’t know what is. Power Quest bassist Paul Finnie has passed away suddenly at the age of only 44.
Full details from the band’s facebook post are reproduced below. Understandably our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly sad time and we’ll remember him with an example of his musical output. Time to get some Power Quest on the stereo and crank it up.
RIP Paul – enjoy a cold one with Dimebag!
It is with great sadness that we have to announce the tragic news of the passing of former Power Quest bassist Paul Finnie.
Paul was playing a show at the Robin 2 in Bilston on Sunday night with his Def Leppard tribute band “Hysteria”, and after the show Paul suffered a fatal heart attack. He was just 44 years old.
As many of you will know Paul was the bassist in PQ between 2009-2018 and played on the Blood Alliance and Sixth Dimension albums as well as playing many live shows during this period as well including the trips to Japan and USA which meant the world to him personally.
What many of you may not know is that Paul was also involved with the band before he was an actual playing member. Along with his old friend Simon Burrell, Paul crewed with the band between 2005 -2009 as well primarily in the role of stage manager.
Band leader Steve Williams commented….
“I’m absolutely devastated to hear this news. Paul’s mother phoned me on Monday night to inform me of what had happened and I’ve been in a state of shock since to be honest. I didn’t want to write anything too soon out of respect for the family so I’ve waited until I was given the green light before putting pen to paper, so to speak.
Paul and I go way back and, thinking about it, we must have been friends for 25 years. For me personally he was always the voice of sanity and clarity. Whenever something was getting on top of me and I needed advice or just a shoulder to lean on, Paul was always there. Whether it was in our capacity as band mates or as friends it didn’t matter to Paul. He was always available no matter what the time or situation and it was always very much appreciated
It’s been my privilege to have known Paul for over half of my life. To share a stage with him and travel the world together fulfilling those dreams that we talked about so many years ago but most importantly to call him my friend. They don’t make them like him anymore and that mould has well and truly been cast aside long ago.
I have so many memories and stories to look back on from our adventures together and it’s just so hard to believe that we won’t be adding any further chapters to that particular saga.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this particular time as I’m sure they do from all of us who knew him either personally or from his time with Power Quest. Also to his colleagues in Hysteria who I’m sure are feeling distraught after what happened.
Rest easy big man…….my bandmate, my brother, my friend”
Rich, Ash, Glyn. Brad, George, Andy K, Alessio, Andrea, Steve Scott and Francesco all held Paul in high regard and would like to express their sorrow and condolences at this awful time for Paul’s family.
As a tribute to Paul, we will be dedicating the Neverworld show in November to his memory.