The music world is in mourning after legendary 80s musician Paul Hardcastle shared the devastating news that his son, Paul Hardcastle Jr, has died following a motorcycle accident. The 35-year-old, a talented saxophonist and DJ, passed away earlier this week.
A Father's Heartbreaking Tribute
On Monday night, the official Instagram account of Paul Hardcastle, famed for the chart-topping hit '19', posted a poignant tribute to his son. Sharing a throwback image, the 68-year-old composer wrote: "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."
The post prompted an immediate outpouring of grief from friends and fans. Former TOWIE star James Argent commented, expressing his heartbreak, while presenter Hayley Palmer said she was lost for words, sending her thoughts to the grieving father.
A Musical Legacy Cut Short
Paul Hardcastle Jr was a successful musician in his own right, having followed in his father's footsteps. He played the saxophone and worked as a DJ, collaborating with his father on several projects.
He performed on the final track, 'Take 1', of the 2008 smooth jazz album Hardcastle 5 and also contributed to the 2022 release, Hardcastle X. His promising career, deeply intertwined with his father's work, has been tragically cut short.
A Poignant and Tragic Parallel
In a cruel twist of fate, Paul Hardcastle Sr's own career in music was sparked by a life-changing motorcycle accident. In a 2024 interview, he revealed that his initial ambition was to be a motorbike racer.
However, a serious crash when he was younger left him hospitalised for nearly four months with compound fractures. It was during this long recovery, listening to the radio with little else to do, that he fully embraced music, setting him on the path to international stardom.
His 1985 anti-war hit '19', created in his parents' living room in Leytonstone and managed by Simon Fuller, became a global phenomenon, topping the charts in 13 countries and defining an era of electronic music.
The music community now rallies around Hardcastle as he faces an unimaginable loss, mourning a son who shared not only his name but also his profound passion for music.
