Frankie Poullain

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Frankie Poullain
Frankie Poullain December 2023.jpg
Frankie Poullain performing with The Darkness at the Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, 11 December 2023
Background information
Birth nameFrancis Gilles Poullain-Patterson
Born (1967-04-15) 15 April 1967 (age 57)
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Bass
Years active2000 – present

Francis Gilles Poullain-Patterson (born 15 April 1967), better known as Frankie Poullain, is the bass player for rock band The Darkness. He was raised in Milnathort then Edinburgh, Scotland. [1] [2]

His father was classical violinist Austin Patterson who played with The Edinburgh Quartet and BBC Concert Orchestra in the late 60’s and early 70’s. He uses his French mother’s Poullain surname as she brought him up from the age of 7 onwards when his father left him to live in the Caribbean

He attended the Royal High School, leaving in 1985. [1]

He is a step-brother of comedian Phil Kay. [2]

Poullain's tongue in cheek self help book Dancing in the Darkness was released in November 2008.

Music Career & Equipment

In 1996 Poullain founded the band Empire which the Hawkins brothers Justin Hawkins and Dan Hawkins joined in 1997, and which later became The Darkness.

With The Darkness he has won 3 Brits as well as MTV, Kerrang and Classic Rock awards. The band were nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2003. He won an Ivor Novello award, along with his fellow band members in 2004, for ‘Songwriters Of The Year’.

Poullain left the band on 23 May 2005 citing "musical differences". He was replaced by Richie Edwards, a former guitar technician for the band.

In 2011 The Darkness announced that they were to reunite with all four original members. Poullain described this as being "just like old times".

Poullain’s bass of choice is the Gibson Thunderbird which is used almost exclusively on the band’s various albums. He plays through a Hiwatt 200 bass head and an 8x10 speaker. He also uses an Aguilar Tone Hammer to define his sound.

He plays cowbell on various songs but most famously on the band’s single ‘One Way Ticket’ which features an extended live intro showcasing his skills.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Frankie's dark secret; ROCKER'S GUILTY PAST Brits winner, 32, revealed as a Frannie, 37. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Let there be Darkness". scotsman.com.