Paul from Stourbridge, West Midlands
🎩 2795
PAUL
from Stourbridge, West Midlands

“I started growing a beard during lockdown and just kept it going. It represents a return to type of sorts, as when I was young I was a bit of a hippie. Lockdown changed my perspective on so many things and I'm now a proud old hippie.

“I love the associations of freedom and challenging the status quo of bearding, as well as the natural aspect (man!). My 3 kids love it as well, which is a bonus!

“Challenges are: wife hates it; doesn't take long for it to look a real fuzzy mess.

“Other interests are music. I've been really into music since forever. Always listened to music as a child, then started playing drums at 15. Moved to guitar at around 18, as I was fed up with putting up/taking down kit whilst bandmates were already at the bar. Also, always loved lead guitarists. Mildly obsessed with watching their fingers on the fret board. Was in quite a few bands, then been a bedroom noodler ever since. During lockdown, went right back to basics and started properly learning my scales etc.

“Sobriety: I'm an alcoholic and addict. Clean and sober since December 2003. Sweet freedom. Worst day in sobriety beats best day drinking, hands down every day of the week. Was absolute misery. Ending up sleeping in car park. Since sober, I've got a BA, an MA and a PhD. Lovely house in lovely village. Good job, three amazing kids and cutest puppy in history.

“I love 60s/70s blues rock, but mainly strange and interesting music; Frank Zappa, Tool, all sorts in all genres, jazz, prog, country, electronica. I absolutely love Radiohead, love their late 20th century alienation.

“Also really love interesting movies, that don't tell you what to think/feel. Indeed, where you're not quite sure what's going on. Nicolas Winding Refn, Safdie Brothers, Jim Jarmusch, Kubrick, Wes Anderson and especially Yorgos Lanthimos.

“Life is beautiful and endlessly fascinating.”