Paul Yeskel passed away on December 23, 2007 at 56 years old. He died in his sleep.
Paul was an independent record promoter who specialized in classic rock. After many years of working for major labels, he forged out on his own as a guy who record companies and artists alike would hire to help get the word out on new projects of all kinds. Songs, CDs, DVDs, Box Sets, Soundtracks, and many other sorts of new releases from classic rock artists. Many of these projects included new and original music; Paul was instrumental in helping to get exposure for lots of classic rock acts.
Many of my mentors and former co-workers back in Boston spoke highly of Paul, who was first introduced to me by Marc Young, the first PD at 105.9 when I got here. Marc was from the Lavarock days and the earliest period of The Big Kahuna – a great guy. Marc told me to get to know Paul, that Paul knew a lot of my old friends from Boston, and that he was passionate about classic rock – a true believer, and a guy I’d like.
Marc sure was right about Paul. I became very good friends with him, and we soon realized how many guys we knew in common from throughout the industry. Paul had some great stories of hanging with rock stars, too. My favorite was always having a snowball fight in New York city with Robert Plant – after flying with him from Syracuse, of course, where he’d seen Phil Collins, and at the end of the show, from the side of the stage, watched Robert Plant walk onto the empty concert stage, just before the encore, wave, and snap a picture. They all flew together to New York, and while they waited for the check-in, had an impromptu snowball fight there in front of the hotel… That’s how it was with Paul. Lots of up-close encounters with major stars.
Paul’s company was AIM Strategies, and the web component Classics De Jour, were among the most important defenders of classic rock in the last several years. New releases featuring original work by classic rock artists have rarely been in better or more capable hands. Paul was key in the success of “current classic” projects by countless rock icons, including Heart, Styx, The Scorpions, Bruce Springsteen, Queen with Paul Rodgers, Def Leppard, The Who, Peter Frampton, Eric Clapton, Bob Seger, John Fogerty, Ozzy Osbourne, Stephen Stills, and many others.
It was through Paul that many of my most entertaining and rewarding interviews came to me: Ann and Nancy Wilson, Pete Townshend, Peter Frampton, Tommy Shaw, George Thorogood, Joe Satriani, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America, and other memorable times.
Most of my time talking to Paul was spent on the phone, with he in New Jersey and me thousands of miles away here in Hawaii. We’d talk for a really long time at least once a week, sometimes more if I needed advice or there was something going on. Those talks always meant a lot to me. We got to hang out a few times in New York City, and those were moments that are priceless. My favorite time was just this past August, when I was on the east coast, and drove up to his house in New Jersey. He and his wife Sharon took very good care of me, and Paul and I rode the train into New York City to see the original Vanilla Fudge with Deep Purple at Radio City Music Hall. The whole idea of our visit to NY was that I was trying to pay him back for all the nice stuff he’d always done for me. I wanted to take him out to dinner, and get tickets/passes for us to see a cool show. Purple and Fudge would be that show. Before the concert we had the best Italian dinner at this place across the street from Carnegie Hall. After our dinner, we got to hang out in Ian Gillan’s dressing room, and I recorded an interview with him while Paul took the photos. As I recall, Paul had never been backstage at Radio City, and so we were both amazed at the organization when seen from that vantage point. After the interview, we went and saw Vanilla Fudge from our seats. When their set was done, my buddy Leslie Gold called and told us to go to the Fudge dressing room to meet she and Carmine Appice, so I got to see my buddies who shared many times with me on the air at 105.9. It was surreal to hang out with them and Paul at the same time in the dressing room. We ended up watching the show from the side of the stage and just having the best time. I will always cherish that incredible time with Paul. We went to Port Authority and took a bus back to New Jersey after the show. On the ride back I remember him telling me all about promoting concerts in college, some of his earliest music industry experiences. I believe Bruce Springsteen was one of the first he got to meet and work with, ironically on a bill with Pete Seeger, a long time ago.
Paul was one of my best friends in the world, one of my most trusted allies in the business, and a confidant I’d let in very close. I wish his wife Sharon and daughters Allison and Katie only good things, and know they’re aware of how much he meant to so many people who loved him dearly. To say he’ll be missed is an understatement.
