Despite his unexpected death at age 36, Paul Decolator was the epitome of the incurable and unquenchable optimistic spirit... the type of spirit that would always rebound from fate's lowest blows and come up smiling. Paul was one of those people you couldnt keep down... an ageless, indefatigable punk rocker... Dennis the Menace with tattoos and a cigarette, always plotting his next caper.
Best known for his role as an instrumental force in New Jersey's seminal 1980s punk-rock scene, Paul was primarily a player:
Pleased Youth, New Jersey's Finest (NJF), Blue Train, and Loose.
In addition to his own bands, Paul also found time to sit in with the likes of G.G. Allin and The Nils.
Not only was Paul a musician, he was also a promoter and a producer. Throughout the 80s, he worked tirelessly for bands like Youth Brigade, Government Issue, 76% Uncertain, P.E.D., The Blisters, The Bouncing Souls, and any other local band of the time.
As well as a master player, Paul was also a dedicated writer. While making music was Paul's life, he managed to find the time to work as a professional music journalist for a variety of publications, like "Tips and Tours," New York's "The Village Voice," Tim Yohanans Bay Area 'zine "Maximum RnR," and the North Jersey music paper "The Aquarian."
While located on the East Coast, Paul's influence stretched nation-wide. As a road manager, he piloted Post Ejaculation Depression's (P.E.D.) national tour (summer '88), along-side Dischord Records' bands Soul Side (later Girls vs. Boys), Swiz, and Bay Area legends Operation Ivy (later Rancid) and The Mr. T Experience.
In the end however, it seemed that life was never entirely fair to Paul. As good friend Jim Testa so frankly wrote in 2002... "Despite his obvious, monumental accomplishments, there was also "a dark side, of course, the side that drove him to drugs and alcohol, that dragged him through rehab time after time, that damaged his body and, one assumes, finally caused his untimely death. But those demons never conquered his spirit."
Paul's wicked sense of humor can be summed up in an oft-repeated story detailing a Rahway, N.J. Youth Brigade/A.O.D. show he had booked at an illegal venue: After the police raided the building, they eventually climbed up the long stairway that led to the show and knocked at the door to the gig. Paul calmly opened the door... after a minute... and told them... "That'll be six dollars each."
He shall not be forgotten.
"When I think of Paul Decolator, I think of these words: Musician. Writer. Optimist. Friend. And perhaps most of all, Punk Rocker...
and then I remember that smile."
Jim Testa - 2002Good friend and long-time WFMU DJ John Allen pays tribute to Paul with a three hour set of all things Decolator:
NJF, Pleased Youth, Loose, and lovingly sprinkled gems from the Hardcore Salad Days.
These songs were specifically played because they reminded John of Paul. You can stream them here:
http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/JA
Click Nov. 19, 2002
