TRIBUTES have been paid to original Half Man Half Biscuit drummer Paul Wright who has died aged 64.

Paul, who passed away earlier this month, played with the Birkenhead band from 1984-86 before they split up.

He then rejoined when they reformed in 1990 before vacating the drum stool in 1993.

The drummer, who was from Woodchurch, originally played in a band called Attempted Moustache who released a single on Skeleton Records in 1980.

He then joined Nigel Blackwell (singer, guitarist, songwriter) and Neil Crossley (bass) in Half Man Half Biscuit alongside Simon Blackwell (lead guitar) and David Lloyd (keyboards).

Paul played on Half Man Half Biscuit's classic debut album, 1985's Back in the DHSS, which topped the UK Indie Chart.

The band, who were favourites of Wirral-born DJ John Peel, gained a cult following with their satirical, sardonic, and sometimes surreal songs full of references to TV, football and pop culture. 

The band's first single, The Trumpton Riots, topped the UK Indies Singles Chart in 1986, and they went on to perform at Glastonbury Festival. The second single, Dickie Davies Eyes, also topped the indie chart.

Paying tribute, David, Half Man Half Biscuit's keyboardist, said: "Paul was always full of energy and enthusiasm, even when we had to make him to drum outside the recording studio in Liverpool for one of our early sessions, because he couldn’t fit inside it. Didn’t make any difference. He played with such energy they could have heard it in Wrexham. 

"And then there was the time we played on Lindisfarne Island for a TV show, and by the time the tide came in, he’d lost his drumsticks, so he had to play with a couple of birch twigs. I’m surprised that didn’t catch on. Didn’t phase him at all."

Manager of Birkenhead's Skeleton Records, Ben Savage, also paid tribute to Paul.

"Paul hadn't been well for a while," added Ben. "He was part of gang who always hung around in the shop around 40 years ago.

"That was how he got to know the owner John Weaver who signed Attempted Moustache. John always described him as a 'tub thumping' drummer!"