From Paul Collins to Donallop via Steven Munar

A few days ago I met the American musician Paul Collins. 
He came to Can Monroig accompanied by his friend Paco.
A few days later, at the concert that Paul Collins Beat gave in Pollença, those of us who were there witnessed how the song he dedicated a few years ago to Paco, Juan, Mariano and the Plaza Mayor “Paco & Juan” has become an anthem for this Mallorcan town. At the concert he performed the song accompanied by the town's drum band.
Without a doubt, Paul and Pollença love each other.
Robert and I invited him to record at the tank from Can Monroig and we scheduled an acoustic concert with him in the “underground”.

Like many other summers, Paul is spending a few days in Mallorca at Paco's house.
I discovered a kind and attentive man with others, not at all a diva; full of gratitude for his friends, for the people of Pollença; he exudes kindness.
I have an uncontrollable desire to know who he is. Paul Collins, what is your story and I found this….

Paul Collins, Underground icon

Power Pop. This is the label that is inevitably associated with Paul Collins (New York, 1956), leader of a legendary band, The Beat, which served as a reference for countless Spanish and international groups. Without massive record sales but with a solid reputation forged in hundreds of concerts, Collins has managed to maintain for years the aura of an underground icon.
“You can't start talking about Paul Collins without going back to the beginning of the moved mAdriana, early 80s, when he gave life to power pop (a subgenre of rock) in different bands, such as The Nerves and The Beat, and the first rockers that emerged in Spain took him as a reference. Many years have passed since the musician performed for the first time in Madrid, but since then he continues to be enthralled by a Madrilenian and the atmosphere of this city.”

“It took me 12 years to make Flying High “For a number of reasons, one was that the 90s were a terrible time for this kind of music and towards the end of the decade I could hardly get work because I fell into a moment where I had no inspiration and I felt that maybe I had already made my contribution to music and that it would be best to retire before making a fool of myself. I opened a bar in Madrid and spent two years working and listening to a lot of good jazz music and beats that I had never made before… Then, one day I picked up my guitar again and saw that I still had something to say, this made me very happy.”
Years ago - and as far back as the 80s - what surprised him most when he arrived in Madrid during the movida was the little importance given to money. Miguel Gallardo (father of the comic strip “Makoki”) in Jotdown: “Nobody had any money, nobody had a cent. We went to eat at restaurants that gave you a plate of lentils for ten pesetas. If you didn’t have any, they would lend them to you. If you were doing badly, then lentils for starters and lentils for main course. We were 20, 21 years old, money was the least of our concerns.”
In a recent interview Paul says: “I am not rich in money but I am rich in stories.”
I tell myself: Some people remain true to themselves… they are the minority.
Looking for more information about La Movida madrileña we remembered Antonio Gaston, another reference of those years. Founder of the Sol nightclub - an emblematic place of that time where Paul Collins has played countless times - Antonio, uncle of Maria Gaston Lopez, cousin of Robert. This touches our hearts... it's for you Maria!!!
I fall in love with this handsome, bohemian man, with an overwhelming personality, a bit decadent... I'm hooked.

And back to the present…
Paul Collins, closer to 60 than 50 - sorry Paul, I had to say it - has an enviable energy on stage. Many young musicians would like to have that strength when playing. Seeing him perform in Pollença I understand why they call him “The king of power pop”.

From Donallop to Paul Collins through Steven Munar…..

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Our Can Monroig's Underground Club encompasses history, architecture, art, naughty decoration and the unknown interior of Mallorca -inside Mallorca-. 
During these August days it is a meeting point for Mallorcan, Anglo-Mallorcan and American musicians.
Some like Steven Munar They have years of experience in music behind them; Joana and Pere de Donallop They have the enthusiasm, youth and energy to keep going; others like Toni Verd and Kiko Barrenengoa have musical creativity.
Paul Collins comes to remind us that it is worth fighting for what we love. As he says: “Whenever things go wrong, other proposals appear that take the reins. It is like when a big tree falls and life grows from its roots.”
Then I remember Antonio Gazcón, La Movida, underground music, the 80s... and I think: How much we have changed!!!
Marie-Noëlle Ginard, August 2, 2013.
Paul Collins live in Can Monroig, Saturday, August 10th at 9:30 p.m.