Paul Collins

An important early figure on the Los Angeles power pop scene, Paul Collins has long been a master of hooky rock & roll songwriting, mixing engaging melodic hooks with a lean, propulsive attack. He was a key member of two bands that anticipated the "skinny tie" new wave explosion of the late '70s and early '80s, the Nerves and the Beat, and the latter's self-titled 1979 debut album is still hailed as a classic of its kind. After years of exploring different musical paths and stoking his fan following in Europe, Collins released a bracing return to form in 2010, King of Power Pop!, and 2014's Feel the Noise and 2024's Stand Back and Take a Good Look found him blending his classic style with a more mature lyrical outlook.