Musician Paul Dempsey, the frontman of the Australian band Something For Kate, shares poignant reflections on his upbringing and career, including a surprising connection to Courtney Love. Dempsey, now 49, recalls how his early experiences shaped his music and personal life, particularly the influence of his family.
Dempsey’s story begins with his maternal grandmother, Doris, who played a crucial role in his upbringing. With his mother, Gillian, often busy as a musician, Doris became a significant figure in his life. Living just two blocks away, she moved in with the family after the passing of Dempsey’s grandfather. Their time together, filled with shared interests, nurtured Dempsey’s love for tennis and music. Doris passed away in 2000, leaving a lasting impact on Dempsey’s memories.
His parents, originally from Dublin, moved to Australia in 1970. However, they struggled to adjust and returned to Dublin after five years. Dempsey’s father eventually persuaded his mother to give Australia another chance, bringing their entire family along. Tragically, Dempsey’s father died in 1978 when Paul was only two years old. This loss created a challenging environment for his mother, who was left to raise four children alone.
Dempsey describes his mother as a strong matriarch, who remarried for stability after his father’s death. Her second marriage lasted until Dempsey was ten, followed by another marriage. Growing up, he was surrounded by three older sisters: Jill, Moira, and Louise, who played influential roles in his life and helped raise him.
As Dempsey grew older, he became closer to his sisters, who are twelve, nine, and six years his senior. He highlights Jill’s supportive nature, second only to their mother. Moira, a singer residing in France for over 25 years, and Louise, who participated in bands and Irish dancing, also significantly shaped Dempsey’s musical tastes. Their shared family weekends were filled with attending opera eisteddfods, deeply embedding a love for the arts in Dempsey’s life.
Dempsey recalls his first kiss at the age of thirteen, a moment marked by surprise and youthful innocence. As he navigated adolescence, he found himself drawn into the world of music, heavily influenced by his sisters’ eclectic tastes, including a passion for the band Hunters & Collectors.
In an unexpected twist of fate, Dempsey’s wife, Stephanie Ashworth, who is also a member of Something For Kate, nearly joined Courtney Love‘s band, Hole. This close encounter with a major figure in the music industry reflects the intertwined nature of Dempsey’s personal and professional life.
Through these memories, Dempsey illustrates how his early experiences with family and music have influenced his career. As he continues to create and perform, the foundational moments of his past resonate deeply, shaping his artistic journey and personal narrative.
