Original Outlaw’ Paul King Passes

Veteran UK concert promoter and artist manager Paul King died Oct. 12 after a long battle with cancer.
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King, who had looked after some of the most influential bands in UK history, had been fighting cancer for years while still promoting a wealth of major shows.

King’s Outlaw Artists made a splash in the ’80s and early ’90s with acts like Julian Cope, Level 42, The Police and Tears For Fears joining the family. He promoted the first live music show at Hampden Park, Scotland’s National Stadium, featuring Genesis in aid of The Save The Children Fund.

More charity work included the co-promotion of “Live At Knebworth,” bringing Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Cliff Richard, Dire Straits and Genesis to the picturesque British village and raising £6 million for Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy charity.

According to a statement released by the King family, “he helped his artists to more than 32 million record sales.”

King was convicted of fraud in 2004 and sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison, after, by his own admission, the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle had sent him “completely off the rails” and brought about a most spectacular fall from the heights he had scaled, as the statement continues.

Although battling cancer, the “original Outlaw” spent the last years promoting more than 40 shows, with some of the biggest names in the world. King will be laid to rest at Morriston Crematorium, Swansea, Friday Oct. 23.