Frankie Poullain
 | This article has an unclear citation style. (April 2024) |
Frankie Poullain | |
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 Frankie Poullain performing with The Darkness at the Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, 11 December 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Francis Gilles Poullain-Patterson |
| Born | 15 April 1967 |
| Genres | Hard rock, glam metal, heavy metal |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument | Bass |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Member of | The Darkness |
Francis Gilles Poullain-Patterson (born 15 April 1967), better known as Frankie Poullain, is a Scottish bass player, best known for playing with The Darkness. He was raised in Milnathort, then Edinburgh, Scotland.[1][2]
Early life
His father was Austin Patterson, a classical violinist, who played with The Edinburgh Quartet and BBC Concert Orchestra in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He uses his French mother’s Poullain surname as she brought him up from the age of 7, when his father left him to live in the Caribbean.
He attended the Royal High School, leaving in 1985.[1]
He is the step-brother of comedian, Phil Kay.[2]
He undertook a succession of menial jobs and played in local west country bands, before moving to London in order to become a serious musician.
Biography
Poullain began a BA Honours in English literature at Bath University in 1986 but left in his second year, becoming disillusioned with the teaching and intent on becoming a writer or musician in his own right.
Poullain's book Dancing in the Darkness was published in November 2008.
Music career
In 1996, Poullain founded the band Empire which the Hawkins brothers Justin Hawkins and Dan Hawkins joined in 1997, and which later became The Darkness.
With The Darkness he has won 3 Brits as well as MTV, Kerrang and Classic Rock awards. The band were nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2003. He won an Ivor Novello award, along with his fellow band members in 2004, for ‘Songwriters Of The Year’.
Poullain left the band on 23 May 2005 citing "musical differences".[3] He was replaced by Richie Edwards, the band's former guitar technician.[citation needed]
In 2011 The Darkness announced that they were to reunite with all four original members. Poullain described this as being "just like old times".[4]
Poullain co-wrote songs such as "Love Is Only a Feeling", "Heart Explodes", "One Way Ticket" and "Rock 'n' Roll Deserves to Die". He composed the music for the first ever Darkness song, "I Love You 5 Times", in 1996, which was later recorded at Abbey Road Studios and released as the B-side to the band's Christmas single ‘"[Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)]]" in 2003.
In 2016, Poullain sang lead vocals on "Conquerors", the final song on the album Last of Our Kind. The song was featured in Simon Emmett's 2023 documentary about the band, Welcome to the Darkness.
Equipment
Poullain’s bass of choice is the Gibson Thunderbird which is used almost exclusively on the band’s various albums. He plays through a Hiwatt 200 bass head and an 8x10 speaker. He also uses an Aguilar Tone Hammer to define his sound.
He plays cowbell on various songs but most famously on the band’s single ‘One Way Ticket’ which features an extended live intro showcasing his skills.
References
- ^ a b "Frankie's dark secret; ROCKER'S GUILTY PAST Brits winner, 32, revealed as a Frannie, 37. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ a b "Let there be Darkness". scotsman.com.
- ^ "Poullain Quits The Darkness". Contactmusic.com. 23 May 2005. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ "INTERVIEW: Frankie Poullain". Retrieved 11 April 2025.
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