Paul Hayles was born in 1948 in South East London into a family of fundamentalist, evangelical Christians, with his father serving as a pastor. At the age of 12, his family relocated to East Devon, but in 1968, Paul returned to London to immerse himself in the hippy movement, viewing his degree course as a secondary concern. It was during this transformative era that he met Lemmy while auditioning for the same band and experienced his first performance by Hawkwind at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970. After serving as a roadie for Andy Fraser of Free in Bristol, Paul moved to the city with his French girlfriend, supported financially by selling acid. The couple married and settled in North Devon, where they raised two children within a vibrant hippy community. To avoid conventional schooling for their children, Paul enrolled at Exeter University to qualify as a teacher. His early piano instruction began at age four, and at Exeter, he expanded his musical repertoire to include blues and jazz.
Paul was also an original member of the band Ark, which was once referred to as the "Grateful Dead of the English West Coast." Ark performed both as a headline act and in support of bands such as Gong and Hawkwind. Living in close proximity to Dave Brock and Bob Calvert of Hawkwind, Paul was invited in 1977 to join Sonic Assassins alongside Martin Griffin (drums) and Harvey Bainbridge (bass). The band's debut performance was recorded and later became a cult album. Paul subsequently joined Hawkwind for their 1978 US tour, replacing Simon House, but left midway through the tour due to the ongoing repercussions of House's departure.
After his time with Hawkwind, Paul relocated his family to the South of France, where he resided for 12 years, engaging in constant writing and music-making while initially managing a small farm and later a language services business. During this period, he played in the Topper Headon Band, featuring ex-Clash drummer Topper Headon and ex-Wings guitarist Henry McCullough. Returning to the UK in 1990, Paul spent years working at a residential school for boys with emotional and behavioral difficulties in the New Forest. He performed briefly with the punk-rave-folk band The Crop-dusters, but his increasing responsibilities as Deputy Head and later Head Teacher limited his ability to tour.
Later, Paul accepted a Headship at a similar school in North Devon, which was open year-round. The demanding role ultimately led to personal challenges, including separation from his wife, a heart attack, and being dismissed from his position, resulting in a successful claim for a year’s salary in an Employment Tribunal. He then established a company providing care with education in Bristol, primarily for Afro-Caribbean children, but after five years of intense work, he faced health issues, including cancer, which necessitated surgery and led to his resignation in 2005.
In Bristol, Paul rekindled his passion for writing and performing music, collaborating with Jalal Nurinda, a prominent figure in the rap scene, and releasing an album titled 'This That, The Other' with local musicians, including Clive Deamer, drummer for Roni Size. Shortly thereafter, he was invited to support Hawkwind on their 2006 English tour, which led to additional performances in 2008 and a new album and UK tour in 2013.
Currently single, Paul resides primarily in South West France, where he continues to compose and produce music under the names 'Nagas2' and 'Smoke and Shadows.' He is currently working on a final Lastwind album and his first book, both scheduled for release in 2019. Paul has traveled extensively, with beloved destinations including Morocco, South Africa, and Southeast Asia. He enjoys reading and cherishes time spent with his two adult sons and seven grandchildren. Throughout his career, Paul has faced significant health challenges, having spent several periods in the hospital, which has led him to live each day as if it could be his last.
