Alan Hull
The poetic voice of Geordie life, whose anthemic songwriting turned Lindisfarne into the sound of working-class Newcastle in the 1970s.
1945–1995 (age 50)·English singer-songwriter·Birthday: February 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
Alan Hull was the soul of Lindisfarne, a songwriter who painted vivid, unsentimental portraits of pub philosophers, lonely dreamers, and the gritty warmth of Tyneside. Before the band's breakthrough, he worked as a psychiatric nurse, an experience that deepened his empathy and sharpened his observational eye. His compositions, like 'Fog on the Tyne' and 'Lady Eleanor,' blended folk storytelling with rock energy, creating a uniquely regional sound that resonated nationally. Hull's solo work continued to explore social and political themes with a clear, compassionate voice. While the music industry shifted around him, he remained a steadfast chronicler of ordinary people, his songs becoming part of the fabric of Northeast England.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Alan was born in 1945, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1945
#1 Movie
The Bells of St. Mary's
Best Picture
The Lost Weekend
Alan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1945Born
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1950Started school
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1958Became a teenager
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Could drive
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1963Could vote
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Turned 21
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1975Turned 30
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 40
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 50
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
Key Achievements
- Wrote and sang lead on 'Fog on the Tyne,' which became a UK number-one album in 1972 and an enduring regional anthem.
- Penned the hit singles 'Meet Me on the Corner' and 'Lady Eleanor,' which defined Lindisfarne's early sound.
- Released several respected solo albums, including 'Pipe Dream' and 'Phantoms,' which showcased his social commentary.
Did You Know?
He was a dedicated socialist and stood as a Labour Party candidate in the 1979 UK general election, though he was not elected.
Hull's song 'Winter Song' was famously covered by Christmas music artist Greg Lake.
He worked at St. Nicholas Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne before his music career took off.
““I'm not interested in writing love songs. I'm interested in writing about people.””
