Paul Hardcastle’s son has died in a motorcycle accident.
Paul Hardcastle’s son has died in a motorcycle accident
The 68-year-old musician – whose track 19 topped the UK Singles Chart for five weeks in 1985 – revealed the tragic news as he paid tribute to his “super talented son” Paul Jr, 35, in an Instagram post.
Hardcastle wrote on the social media platform: “Just to let you know that my super talented son Paul Hardcastle Jnr was in a fatal motorcycle accident earlier and has sadly died. RIP son love Dad.”
Paul Jr followed his father into music and was known for playing the saxophone and DJing.
He featured on his dad’s 2008 album Hardcastle 5 and performed the record’s final track Take 1.
Former The Only Way Is Essex star James Argent led tributes to Paul Jr.
He wrote: “I’m so sorry mate, thinking of you all. Heartbreaking.”
Presenter Hayley Palmer penned: “Paul, I don’t even have the words – I am so so sorry to hear this. Heartbreaking. Am thinking of you Paul xx.”
Sophie Dunne, a photographer and studio owner who worked with Hardcastle Jr at several events, said she was “trying to process the utterly heartbreaking news of the loss of one of the most talented, kind and energetic people I’ve ever had the privilege of working alongside”.
She added: “Every event we shared was electric – never a person on a seat, just joy, energy, and smiling faces in every moment I captured.”
Paul Jr’s father rose to fame during the 1980s when his breakthrough hit 19 – a reference to the average age of US soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War – went to the top of the charts in 13 countries.
The musician also wrote The Wizard – the theme tune for the BBC music show Top Of The Pops – in 1986 before he switched to production.
Hardcastle previously revealed how he had wanted to be a motorbike racer before turning his attention to music after being hospitalised for almost four months following a serious accident.
The star told Virgin Radio’s My 80s Playlist in 2024: “I came out, I had compound fractures on my femur, my tibia, and fibula. Half of it was my fault, because I was going too fast, but someone pulled out as well.
“I was in (hospital) for four months, I had nothing to do. I was just listening to the radio.
“I had done music with my dad, when I was about eight years old, I went around Berlin. We lived everywhere, anywhere that he was getting gigs.
“I was sort of a novelty because I could play the drums and do a little bit of sort of singing and play a little bit of guitar.”
