» Paul Green's Band of Monkeys
It all started in 1998 within private jam sessions and performances in coffee bars and at exhibition openings. Out of it came an unbelievable story of success. With a seed money of 7,000 dollars Paul Green, student of philosophy, founded a rock school. His aim was to develop the potential of young talented musicians. But there shouldn’t be only theory and practical lessons on the schedule, in fact the skills of the kids and youngsters live on stage and before audiance should have been encouraged. That’s the philosophy of Paul Green’s School of Rock Music: learning by doing it on stage!
Their first gig during Zappanale #14 lead downright to a hype. The initially 18 students have grown to a number of more than 200 by now. What began with one school developped now to approx. 60 ones, spread all over the US and there’s also one existing in Mexico.
We know Paul from his years with the School of Rock as a former event at Zappanale. Besides pure Zappa gigs they also play concerts of The Stones, Yes of Pink Floyd. Exceptionally impressive was their performance at the truck stage at Zappanale #20. They played and jammed across each and every style of music for all one’s worth. Country, rock, metal as well as ballads fascinated the mass of the audience. It’s been a real highlight of this Zappanale. Even just before the upcoming event of Terry Bozzio the onlookers didn’t think about going to the main stage but kept on celebrating with the kids. Now he brings his Band of Monkeys, a select group of former students and associates.
I had the opportunity to talk to Eric Slick, one of the first students of PGSOR and meanwhile a hot drummer with the real great ones (like Adrian Belew). He’s thinking high about Paul Green. “I seldomly had lessons by him, since he is playing guitar, but he is a big motivator who knows how to bring out the best out of the students. It’s a lot of fun with him.
For special concerts they establish two “All-Stars-Ensembles” with outstanding talented pupils. One of them can be seen and heard at Zappanale #21. Talk to them, they are looking forward to each chat, each photo that you want to take with them. You will meet them time and again in town, where they might jam on the sidewalk, or at the festival ground. They enjoy their stay at Bad Doberan - not only on stage.