The Man Who Left Wings Seeks Peace From Within (1981)

 The Man Who Left Wings Seeks Peace From Within

By Joe Edwards

Associated Press

February 14, 1981

    Joe English forsook the renown and riches as a drummer-vocalist for former Beatle Paul McCartney and Wings to search for peace within himself as an obscure gospel singer. English, who was with the widely acclaimed British rock and roll group from 1975 to 1977, is now recording what he calls "message music" with gospel overtones. 

    "The Lord was knocking at the door," the stocky English, 31 says, explaining why he left the choice position with Wings. "We had done a lot of tours, albums, and been the number one band in the world," he says. "I wanted a break to come home and air my head out."

     After more than 20 gold and platinum albums and a tour that carried him before 3 million people, he still wasn't satisfied. "There was no falling out, and I didn't get fired," English says. "When I told Paul, he told me to go home and think about it. I ended up retiring from the ranks of superstars."

     English, formerly of Macon, Georgia, remembers McCartney for his hard work and musical genius. "He was friendly and really hardworking," he says. "I stayed at his house when I went over there, and he made it easy for me. He tried to be my friend and made it easy to adjust. He was a square shooter and a genuine good person. He was real witty and a family man too. He can write catchy melodies, songs with hooks that really grab you, and he has boundless energy. We would be burned out, and he'd go, go, go.

     "I learned a lot from being with him and the band," English says. "I learned how to play songs, the art of playing a tune. It was more regimented than the Rock and Roll work I had done earlier." The bearded, black-haired English plays on Wings albums Venus and Mars, Speed of Sound, and Wings Over America.

     "It was all good," he said, recapping his experience with McCartney. "You couldn't ask for more-- million-selling records, sold-out tours. I'd have grossed a million if I stayed." English was living in a mobile home in Macon when he got the job with Wings through the help of an arranger friend, Tony Dorsey, who recommended English to McCartney.

     "I was not in awe of him," English says of McCartney, recalling when he got the job. "He was a nice guy who got a fantastic break and wrote good songs. I've never been around anybody with as much talent, not anybody in Nashville, Los Angeles, anywhere."

     After leaving Wings, English took several months off and joined the rock group Sea Level. He moved from Macon to Nashville last year to form his own band to play Christian music. He recently released an album, Lights in the World, on Refugee Records. "This album is as good as any I've done,: he says. "I'm really happy with it."