Paddy McAloon is regarded as one of the greatest British songwriters of the last half-century, and a man who inspires cult-like devotion amongst not just his fans, but composers, songwriters lyricists and music producers everywhere.
Prefab Sprout, the band he led as lead singer and songwriter since their formation in 1978, enjoyed moderate commercial success in the mid and late 1980s, but with their intricately crafted melodies, and deeply thought-out lyrics, they were never a band that were going to fill stadiums.
Critical acclaim, on the other hand, has always been widespread for Paddy and Prefab Sprout, and their 1985 masterpiece, Steve McQueen is regarded to this day as a pop music classic.
On Tuesday, June 7, Paddy McAloon turned 65. And to mark the occasion, Colm O'Callaghan took a look at the man from County Durham, England, his music, and his extraordinary legacy for RTÉ Arena - listen above.
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