Paul Roessler
Encyclopedia
Paul Roessler was a prominent member of the L.A. punk scene during the late 1970s and '80s. He played keyboards in bands such as The Screamers
, Twisted Roots, 45 Grave
, Nervous Gender
, SAUPG, Geza X
and the Mommymen, Mike Watt
and the Secondmen, Nina Hagen
and The Deadbeats. Paul has also put out solo recordings such as "Abominable" and "Curator" and a rock opera entitled "Burnt Church" with Jeff Parker. He currently works as a producer at Satellite Park Studio in Malibu, CA, with Geza X. Gedeon and singer Josie Cotton
. He is the brother of Kira Roessler
, formerly of Black Flag
, and the son of Carl Roessler, world-renowned underwater photographer.
. In 1974, he moved to West Los Angeles. Here he met and befriended soon-to-be members of The Germs
, Darby Crash
and Pat Smear
at University High. After graduating from high school, Paul went on to study classical music at California State University, Northridge
, for a few semesters before leaving in early 1978 to join innovative synthpunk
band, The Screamers
. After a successful two years, The Screamers
found themselves rapidly disintegrating as a band, causing Paul to leave in January 1980, and go on to play with Nervous Gender
(with ex member of The Germs
, Don Bolles
) and Geza X
and the Mommymen. After a few months of going between bands, Nina Hagen
finally tracked Paul and asked him to join her in New York to practice for an upcoming European tour. He agreed. After touring Europe and America with Nina, they recorded Nunsexmonkrock
. Before Paul's second tour with Nina, Pat Smear
from The Germs
joined the band. Later, when Pat left the band, Paul left also. In 1981, he formed the band Twisted Roots with Pat Smear
and Kira Roessler
. During this time, he was playing with 45 Grave
, Josie Cotton
, DC3
(with Dez Cadena
of Black Flag
) and Crimony (with Mike Watt
) also. Paul was also doing sessions with many other bands such as the Dead Kennedys
and Saccharine Trust
. Paul has continued to work with Nina Hagen
and Josie Cotton
. Since 1998, Paul has been working at Satellite Park Studio with Geza X
. In 2006, Paul put out an autobiographical poetry book entitled "Eight Years". He continues to write his own music and is currently recording a new album.
In 2010, Roessler produced and played keyboards on Nina Hagen
's gospel album "Personal Jesus" (Universal).
The Screamers
The Screamers were a punk rock group active in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1970s. The Screamers were pioneers of a genre now known as "synthpunk," and can also be classified as art punk....
, Twisted Roots, 45 Grave
45 Grave
45 Grave are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1979. The original group broke up in 1985 but vocalist Dinah Cancer subsequently revived the band. 45 Grave are noted as one of the first bands to mix punk rock with horror-themed lyrics, thereby positioning them as...
, Nervous Gender
Nervous Gender
Nervous Gender is a punk band founded in Los Angeles, California in 1978 by Gerardo Velazquez, Edward Stapleton, Phranc and Michael Ochoa.Their use of heavily distorted keyboards and synthesizers made them, along with The Screamers, one of the original innovators of what is today called...
, SAUPG, Geza X
Geza X
Geza Gedeon, professionally known as Geza X was a personality in the Los Angeles punk scene in the late 1970s. Geza produced records for a number of early California punk bands including the Dead Kennedys, The Germs, Black Flag, The Avengers and The Weirdos...
and the Mommymen, Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
and the Secondmen, Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen is a German singer and actress.-Early years:Hagen was born as Catharina Hagen in the former East Berlin, East Germany, the daughter of Hans Hagen , a scriptwriter, and Eva-Maria Hagen, an actress and singer...
and The Deadbeats. Paul has also put out solo recordings such as "Abominable" and "Curator" and a rock opera entitled "Burnt Church" with Jeff Parker. He currently works as a producer at Satellite Park Studio in Malibu, CA, with Geza X. Gedeon and singer Josie Cotton
Josie Cotton
Josie Cotton is an American singer/songwriter, best known for her minor hits "Johnny Are You Queer" and "He Could Be the One" from 1982...
. He is the brother of Kira Roessler
Kira Roessler
Kira Roessler is an American bass guitarist, singer and Emmy award-winning dialogue editor. She is best known for her membership in the punk rock group Black Flag.-Biography:...
, formerly of Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, and the son of Carl Roessler, world-renowned underwater photographer.
Biography
Paul Roessler was born on August 27, 1958, in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. In 1974, he moved to West Los Angeles. Here he met and befriended soon-to-be members of The Germs
The Germs
The Germs are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1977 to 1980. The band's early lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom, and their most consistent drummer Don Bolles. Germs have since reformed in 2005 with Shane...
, Darby Crash
Darby Crash
Darby Crash was an American punk musician who, along with long time friend Pat Smear , co-founded The Germs...
and Pat Smear
Pat Smear
Pat Smear is a rock musician who has been a guitarist in several well-known bands including The Germs and Nirvana. He is currently a guitarist for the Foo Fighters...
at University High. After graduating from high school, Paul went on to study classical music at California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
, for a few semesters before leaving in early 1978 to join innovative synthpunk
Synthpunk
Synthpunk is a music genre combining elements of electronic music and punk rock. The term was coined by Damian Ramsey in 1999 as an attempt to retroactively identify a small sub-genre of punk music from 1977 to 1984 that involved musicians playing synthesizers in place of electric...
band, The Screamers
The Screamers
The Screamers were a punk rock group active in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1970s. The Screamers were pioneers of a genre now known as "synthpunk," and can also be classified as art punk....
. After a successful two years, The Screamers
The Screamers
The Screamers were a punk rock group active in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1970s. The Screamers were pioneers of a genre now known as "synthpunk," and can also be classified as art punk....
found themselves rapidly disintegrating as a band, causing Paul to leave in January 1980, and go on to play with Nervous Gender
Nervous Gender
Nervous Gender is a punk band founded in Los Angeles, California in 1978 by Gerardo Velazquez, Edward Stapleton, Phranc and Michael Ochoa.Their use of heavily distorted keyboards and synthesizers made them, along with The Screamers, one of the original innovators of what is today called...
(with ex member of The Germs
The Germs
The Germs are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1977 to 1980. The band's early lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom, and their most consistent drummer Don Bolles. Germs have since reformed in 2005 with Shane...
, Don Bolles
Don Bolles
Don Bolles was an American investigative reporter whose murder in a bombing is linked to the Mafia.-Biography:...
) and Geza X
Geza X
Geza Gedeon, professionally known as Geza X was a personality in the Los Angeles punk scene in the late 1970s. Geza produced records for a number of early California punk bands including the Dead Kennedys, The Germs, Black Flag, The Avengers and The Weirdos...
and the Mommymen. After a few months of going between bands, Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen is a German singer and actress.-Early years:Hagen was born as Catharina Hagen in the former East Berlin, East Germany, the daughter of Hans Hagen , a scriptwriter, and Eva-Maria Hagen, an actress and singer...
finally tracked Paul and asked him to join her in New York to practice for an upcoming European tour. He agreed. After touring Europe and America with Nina, they recorded Nunsexmonkrock
NunSexMonkRock
NunSexMonkRock is the first solo album by punk singer-songwriter Nina Hagen after the two albums she made with the Nina Hagen Band.-Track listing:All tracks written by Nina Hagen, except where indicated.# "Antiworld" 4:41...
. Before Paul's second tour with Nina, Pat Smear
Pat Smear
Pat Smear is a rock musician who has been a guitarist in several well-known bands including The Germs and Nirvana. He is currently a guitarist for the Foo Fighters...
from The Germs
The Germs
The Germs are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1977 to 1980. The band's early lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom, and their most consistent drummer Don Bolles. Germs have since reformed in 2005 with Shane...
joined the band. Later, when Pat left the band, Paul left also. In 1981, he formed the band Twisted Roots with Pat Smear
Pat Smear
Pat Smear is a rock musician who has been a guitarist in several well-known bands including The Germs and Nirvana. He is currently a guitarist for the Foo Fighters...
and Kira Roessler
Kira Roessler
Kira Roessler is an American bass guitarist, singer and Emmy award-winning dialogue editor. She is best known for her membership in the punk rock group Black Flag.-Biography:...
. During this time, he was playing with 45 Grave
45 Grave
45 Grave are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1979. The original group broke up in 1985 but vocalist Dinah Cancer subsequently revived the band. 45 Grave are noted as one of the first bands to mix punk rock with horror-themed lyrics, thereby positioning them as...
, Josie Cotton
Josie Cotton
Josie Cotton is an American singer/songwriter, best known for her minor hits "Johnny Are You Queer" and "He Could Be the One" from 1982...
, DC3
DC3 (band)
DC3 was an American rock and roll band formed by singer, songwriter and guitarist Dez Cadena in 1983 and active until 1988....
(with Dez Cadena
Dez Cadena
Dez Paul Cadena is an American punk rock singer and guitarist. He was the third vocalist and later rhythm guitarist for hardcore punk band Black Flag. Since 2001 Cadena has played guitar with the Misfits...
of Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
) and Crimony (with Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
) also. Paul was also doing sessions with many other bands such as the Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
and Saccharine Trust
Saccharine Trust
Saccharine Trust is a post-hardcore band from California that was started in 1980 by singer Jack Brewer and guitarist Joe Baiza.The band would frequently perform with SST labelmates Minutemen and Black Flag. Drummer Rob Holzman appeared on their 1981 debut Paganicons but left the band to play in...
. Paul has continued to work with Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen is a German singer and actress.-Early years:Hagen was born as Catharina Hagen in the former East Berlin, East Germany, the daughter of Hans Hagen , a scriptwriter, and Eva-Maria Hagen, an actress and singer...
and Josie Cotton
Josie Cotton
Josie Cotton is an American singer/songwriter, best known for her minor hits "Johnny Are You Queer" and "He Could Be the One" from 1982...
. Since 1998, Paul has been working at Satellite Park Studio with Geza X
Geza X
Geza Gedeon, professionally known as Geza X was a personality in the Los Angeles punk scene in the late 1970s. Geza produced records for a number of early California punk bands including the Dead Kennedys, The Germs, Black Flag, The Avengers and The Weirdos...
. In 2006, Paul put out an autobiographical poetry book entitled "Eight Years". He continues to write his own music and is currently recording a new album.
In 2010, Roessler produced and played keyboards on Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen
Nina Hagen is a German singer and actress.-Early years:Hagen was born as Catharina Hagen in the former East Berlin, East Germany, the daughter of Hans Hagen , a scriptwriter, and Eva-Maria Hagen, an actress and singer...
's gospel album "Personal Jesus" (Universal).