Paul Cook

{{Infobox musical artist

| image = Glasto2023 (171 of 468) (53008351882) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Cook performing with Generation Sex in 2023

| name = Paul Cook

| birth_name = Paul Thomas Cook

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1956|7|20}}

| birth_place = Shepherd's Bush, London, England

| origin =

| occupation = Drummer

| genre = {{flatlist|

Punk rock

}}

| years_active = 1975–present

| current_member_of = {{flatlist|

Sex Pistols
Generation Sex

}}

| past_member_of = {{flatlist|

}}

| website = {{unbulleted list|[http://www.sexpistolsofficial.com/ Official Sex Pistols web site]|[http://www.vicgodard.co.uk/ Official web site of Vic Godard & Subway Sect]}}

| associated_acts =

}}

Paul Thomas Cook (born 20 July 1956){{cite web|url=https://www.sexpistolsofficial.com/bio/paul-cook/ |title=Paul Cook – Sex Pistols | The Official Website |website=Sexpistolsofficial.com |access-date=26 April 2020}} is an English musician, best known as the drummer and a founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. He is nicknamed "Cookie" by friends in the punk music scene.*Billy Idol called Paul Cook "Cookie" in his autobiography Drugs, sex & rock'n'roll.
Steve Jones also called Cook as Cookie in his autobiography Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol.

Early life and career

File:CookCropped.jpg in Paradiso, Amsterdam in 1977]]

Cook was raised in Hammersmith and attended the Christopher Wren School, now Phoenix High School, London in White City Estate, Shepherd's Bush, where he met Steve Jones. The pair became friends, and while skipping school, in 1972–1973, Cook and Jones, along with their school friend Wally Nightingale, formed a band, the Strand.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100623035937/http://rockpopfashion.com/blog/?p=56 ::THE LOOK – adventures in rock and pop fashion:: » Tom Salter joins the dots between Strummer and the Pistols]}}. Rockpopfashion.com (19 February 2008). Retrieved on 12 May 2012. Within the next three years the Strand evolved into the Sex Pistols.

Cook's early influences included Motown, ska and glam rock acts like David Bowie,{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/get-bigger-gigs-with-this-essential-guide-to-growing-your-audience|title = Get bigger gigs with this essential guide to growing your audience|date = 24 June 2021}} T. Rex, Roxy Music and Slade, in addition to drummers Kenney Jones of the Faces, Paul Thompson of Roxy Music, Al Jackson Jr. and Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.{{Cite web|url=https://ink19.com/2011/11/magazine/interviews/an-interview-with-drummer-paul-cook-of-sex-pistols-and-manraze|title=An Interview with Drummer Paul Cook of Sex Pistols and Manraze| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160416005450/https://ink19.com/2011/11/magazine/interviews/an-interview-with-drummer-paul-cook-of-sex-pistols-and-manraze | archive-date = 16 April 2016 | last = Worley | first = Gail | location = Melbourne, FL | work = Ink 19 |date=14 June 2022}}

Cook is portrayed by Jacob Slater in the 2022 Craig Pearce – Danny Boyle FX biographical drama miniseries Pistol.

Later career

After the Sex Pistols suddenly broke up after their final concert in San Francisco on 14 January 1978, Cook and Jones initially worked on the soundtrack to Julien Temple's film, The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. The two also recorded a few songs using the Sex Pistols name, Cook singing lead on the album version of the song "Silly Thing". The pair then started a new band, the Professionals, with Andy Allan. Allan caused some legal problems; he played bass on "Silly Thing" and the first few Professionals recordings, but had no recording contract and had been neither credited nor paid. Consequently, the Virgin Records compilation album Cash Cows, which featured the Professionals' track "Kick Down the Doors", was withdrawn. Cook and Jones played together on Johnny Thunders' solo album, So Alone.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120625210457/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/johnny-thunders-and-the-heartbreakers/biography Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers {{!}} Bio, Pictures, Videos]. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 12 May 2012.

They released four singles, recorded a self-titled LP that was shelved until 1990, and released I Didn't See It Coming in November 1981.{{cite web|url=http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2006/12/06/still-packing-heat.php|title= Still Packing Heat| work =Praguepost.com| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071104050724/http://www.praguepost.com/articles/2006/12/06/still-packing-heat.php | archive-date = 4 November 2007 |date = 6 December 2006 | last = Scanlon | first = James | location = Czech Republic | access-date=7 April 2008}} The band's American tour to promote the album was cut short when band members Cook, Paul Myers, and Ray McVeigh were injured in a car crash.{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/cook_paul/bio.jhtml |title=Paul Cook | format = All Music Guide |date= 2004 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041022023628/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/cook_paul/bio.jhtml | archive-date = 22 October 2004 | last = Prato | first = Greg | work = VH1.com | publisher = National Amusements | location = New York |access-date=7 December 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.philjens.plus.com/kickdown/paul_myers_interview07_2.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070531092641/http://www.philjens.plus.com/kickdown/paul_myers_interview07_2.htm | archive-date = 31 May 2007 | access-date = 14 June 2022 |title=Ray McVeigh, "All Washed Up", the car crash, America, the drugs. | date = 25 March 2007 | last1 = Myers |first1 = Paul | last2 = Singleton | first2 = Phil | work = Part 2 | publisher = www.cookandjones.co.uk | location = UK | format = Interview |quote = I remember I was in the back seat and I thought our American driver.... for the last week prior to that there were a few near misses, and I remember it was about 2am in the morning and suddenly I saw these head-on lights coming towards us, and I shouted at the driver "you're on the wrong side of the road!" and then the impact. He wasn't on the wrong side of the road, the car crashed into us and the guy killed himself. But I was conscious all the way through it. My leg was really badly fractured. I remember a Police motorcyclist turning up saying "Don't worry about that guy, he just needs a hearse." What really angered me was there seemed to be a massive delay in cutting the car in half }} While the Professionals did return to America in the Spring of 1982 after recovery, Jones and Myers' drug problems further hampered the band's prospects.{{cite web|url=http://www.philjens.plus.com/kickdown/paul_myers_interview07_3.htm|title=Escape from Leeds, the break-up, "I Didn't See It Coming", and Paul Myers today |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070508204720/http://www.philjens.plus.com/kickdown/paul_myers_interview07_3.htm | archive-date = 8 May 2007 | access-date = 14 June 2022 | date = 25 March 2007 | last1 = Myers |first1 = Paul | last2 = Singleton | first2 = Phil | work = Part 3| publisher = www.cookandjones.co.uk | location = UK | format = Interview }} They declined an opening spot offer on tour for the Clash, and broke up.

In the early 1980s, Cook, along with Jones, discovered the English new wave girl-group Bananarama. Cook helped the trio record their debut single, "Aie a Mwana", and acted as a producer on their 1982 debut album Deep Sea Skiving.[http://www.theagencygroup.com/artist.aspx?ArtistID=5827 The Agency Group {{!}} Shakespears Sister]. Theagencygroup.com. Retrieved on 12 May 2012.

In the late 1980s, Cook surfaced with the group Chiefs of Relief with former Bow Wow Wow guitarist Matthew Ashman, and, after a period out of the music industry, played with Phil Collen in the 1990s. He also played on the Edwyn Collins song A Girl Like You, beginning a longstanding association with Collins as a session musician.Hooper, Mark. (21 May 2008) [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2008/may/21/markhooperwedspmpic The miraculous tale of Edwyn Collins {{!}} Music {{!}} guardian.co.uk]. Guardian. Retrieved on 12 May 2012. Cook reunited with the surviving Sex Pistols in 1996 for the Filthy Lucre world tour.

The Sex Pistols, including Paul Cook, played a gig for the 30th anniversary of Never Mind The Bollocks at the Brixton Academy on 8 November 2007. To meet demand, six further gigs were added, including two on 9 and 10 November.

In 2008, the Sex Pistols appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival as the headlining act on the Saturday night, the Peace and Love Festival in Sweden, the Live at Loch Lomond Festival in Scotland, and the Summercase Festival in Madrid.

Cook drummed with Man-Raze,[http://www.manraze.com/index.php Manraze]. Manraze. Retrieved on 12 May 2012. which also featured Phil Collen from Def Leppard and their friend Simon Laffy who used to play in Collen's pre-Leppard band, Girl. They released a debut album Surreal in 2008, and toured throughout the UK in late 2009.

In 2011, Cook joined Vic Godard and Subway Sect,[http://www.vicgodard.co.uk/ Vic Godard & Subway Sect Homepage – New live dates, Interviews, pics & music from 1976–2011]. Vicgodard.co.uk (10 March 2012). Retrieved on 12 May 2012. and renewed his collaborations with Paul Myers from the Professionals. Cook has worked with Godard, on and off, for the past two decades. They toured throughout 2012 and, in March 2012, recorded 1978 Now with Collins.

In celebration of the release of a three disc set (The Complete Professionals) by Universal Music Group for 16 October 2015, Cook, with Tom Spencer filling in for Steve Jones, reunited with the Professionals for a concert at the 100 Club.{{cite web|url=http://www.philjens.plus.com/pistols/pistols/paul_myers300715.html | title= The Professionals are back! |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070508204720/http://www.philjens.plus.com/kickdown/paul_myers_interview07_3.htm | archive-date = 8 May 2007 | access-date = 14 June 2022 | date = 30 July 2015 | last1 = Myers |first1 = Paul | last2 = Singleton | first2 = Phil | publisher = www.sex-pistols.net | location = UK | format = Interview and photos |work =God Save The Sex Pistols}}{{cite web|url=http://louderthanwar.com/professionals-100-club-london-live-review/ |title=The Professionals: 100 Club |publisher=Louder Than War | first = Ian | last = Canty | format = Review, photo, set list |date= 18 October 2015 | archive-date = 20 November 2015 | location = UK | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151120093023/http://louderthanwar.com/professionals-100-club-london-live-review/ |access-date = 14 June 2022}} In January 2016, the band announced a three show tour for 17 to 19 March.{{cite web|url=http://louderthanwar.com/the-professionals-announce-short-tour |title=The Professionals announce short tour in March: Southampton Cardiff & Milton Keynes |publisher=Louder Than War | first = Ian | last = Canty | format = Feature about upcoming micro-tour |date= 26 January 2016 | archive-date = 24 February 2016 | location = UK | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160224123601/http://louderthanwar.com/the-professionals-announce-short-tour/ |access-date= 14 June 2022}} A joint headline show featuring Rich Kids was announced at London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire for 16 May,{{cite web|url=http://www.withguitars.com/rich-kids-professionals-joint-headline-show-announced-first-time-ever |title=Rich Kids and The Professionals – Joint Headline Show Announced for the First Time EverWithGuitars |website=Withguitars.com |date=3 February 2016 |access-date=28 March 2016}} then rescheduled for 23 June at the Academy Islington, due to the ongoing structural work at the venue.{{cite web|url=https://m.facebook.com/events/155214768214146/ |title=Rich Kids & The Professionals |website=M.facebook.com |access-date=26 April 2020}}

On 30 October 2018, Cook and Steve Jones joined Billy Idol and Tony James, formerly of Generation X, for a free entry performance at The Roxy in Hollywood, Los Angeles, under the name Generation Sex, playing a combined set of the two former bands' material.{{Cite web |title=Generation Sex |url=https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/music/generation-sex |access-date=18 June 2021 |website=Timeout.com|date=29 October 2018 }}{{Cite web |date=1 November 2018 |title=Generation Sex: King Rockers and Silly Things at the Roxy | L.A. Weekly |url=https://www.laweekly.com/music/generation-sex-king-rockers-and-silly-things-at-the-roxy-10017678 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101141654/https://www.laweekly.com/music/generation-sex-king-rockers-and-silly-things-at-the-roxy-10017678 |archive-date=1 November 2018 |access-date=3 September 2021}} The band reunited in 2023 for a European tour that included several festival appearances.{{Cite web |last=louderthanwar |date=2023-06-11 |title=Generation Sex: Announced More Tour News |url=https://louderthanwar.com/generation-sex-more-tour-news-announced/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Louder Than War |language=en-GB}}

Personal life

Cook lives in Hammersmith with his wife, Jeni Cook, formerly of Culture Club, and their daughter, Hollie Cook, a solo musician. Cook also played football for Hollywood United.[http://www.cookandjones.co.uk/hollywood_utd.htm Hollywood United]. Cookandjones.co.uk. Retrieved on 12 May 2012.