Death of local music stalwart after ‘short illness’ has been announced
Tributes have been paid to Paul ‘Jacko’ Jackson who founded Hull music club The New Adelphi(Image: Hull Daily Mail)
The sad death of the man behind Hull’s iconic music venue, the New Adelphi Club, has been announced. Paul “Jacko” Jackson passed away after a short illness, a post by the De Grey Street venue said today (Tuesday, March 31).
The announcement on Facebook said: “RIP Paul ‘Jacko’ Jackson 1954 – 2026. It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Paul (‘Jacko’) Jackson of The New Adelphi Club in Hull, peacefully this morning at Dove House Hospice following a short illness.
“Funeral and testimonial events will be announced following a short period of private reflection for Paul’s family and close friends. We look forward to paying tribute to Paul and his life’s achievements with you soon.
“Information about these events will be posted on our website. Shine brightly. X”
The post has been commented on by hundreds of people, acknowledging the loss of a “true legend” and a man who “did so much to promote both local and national talent”. One person said: “His championing of local bands led to some of the most fun experiences of my life. I still hold performing at the Adelphi as one of my life’s greatest achievements. This is a huge loss to Hull and the wider music scene.”
One reply said: “Huge loss of an icon who left an indelible mark on the music scene” while another said: “It’s hard to put his influence and legacy into words. Plenty of bands past and present have been able to cut their live teeth on that Adelphi stage.”
One of the responses read: “What this man has done for grassroots music is difficult to put into words. How he has kept this place going against the odds, when venues all over the country are in decline … is truly admirable.”
A further comment posted said: “We’ve lost a true legend. He helped so many achieve so much, and far more have great times. Without him steering the Adelphi, Hull, music and art would have been much poorer.”
Paul took over the club, a breeding ground for some of the biggest music names in the world, in 1984. Pop royalty such as Radiohead and Oasis played there, but it was not always the most famous bands who provided the most memorable nights, according to the man who booked them.
He told the Hull Daily Mail in 2004: “Diversity is one of the things we stand for. We have had everything, from pop bands to world music.
“We have had people from most countries throughout Europe and Africa – the most remote place we have had musicians from is probably the Tuva region of Siberia, a tiny province a few thousand miles north of Mongolia. How many other ways would many of the people who come here get to experience that?”
As a converted end-terrace in the middle of a residential street off Hull’s Beverley Road, it seemed an unlikely location for the cutting-edge of live music it became and has been loved ever since by the local populace and beyond. It had its shares of ups and downs under Paul’s tenure, too.
He was often in the pages of Mail speaking about struggling finances and fears for its future. In July 2002, when the club was counting the cost of a burglary, Paul said: “We could close down any time … over the past five or six years the Adelphi has never made any money but we are still here.
“I know several people who could close us down tomorrow but they don’t because I don’t think they want to be known as the ones who shut the Adelphi.” At the same time he spoke about Oasis headlining in April 1994, the gig coinciding with the band’s first single, Supersonic. “It was just another busy night,” he said.
“There were certainly none of the things going on that have since made the Gallagher brothers famous. They ate the food we laid on for them, they were grateful for getting a bite to eat and just wanted to hang around and chat about music.”
Two years later, the club was still going strong and celebrating its 20th anniversary. Paul said then: “People might only use the Adelphi for a couple of years but they tend to leave a part of themselves here for the rest of their lives.”
The milestone year spawned a book by friends of the Adelphi, with contributions from acts such as Pulp and The Housemartins, and Paul reflecting on how he had had a vision of a music venue that would promote cultural diversity and become part of the lives of its young patrons. He said he had lost count of the number of times bands had slept on the stage, or kind-hearted students had let them stay on their sofa.
The Shaman, whose song Ebeneezer Goode spent four weeks at number one, were among those who were prepared to rough it, spending the night in the club’s kitchen. Paul said: “I would rather put on a new and interesting band who may play to three men and a dog, than a manufactured boy or girl band.
“I’m surrounded by music and it’s very beautiful, with people providing a challenge to the norm. It’s the people who use this place who fuel my passion – they love it and I do too.” In 2018, and after 34 years of contributing to Hull’s cultural fabric, The New Adelphi Club set out to secure its long-term future by becoming a Community Interest Company, with iconic performers Jarvis Cocker and Paul Heaton becoming patrons.
In 2024, the venue celebrated its 2,000th weekly free gig night. Paul once revealed to the Mail how he was expelled from Cottingham Secondary School for poor attendance.
He became an office junior at Fenner’s engineering firm and after 12 years had worked his way up to assistant manager in the shipping department. Music was always his passion – he was once a soloist in a church choir – but becoming a musician was never a dream.
He owned a guitar, but could play about three chords and achieved similar competence on the piano. However, he did want to run a live music venue in Hull.
Over the years it has hosted everyone from The Stone Roses, Cast, Green Day, The Bluetones, Travis and Franz Ferdinand to lesser-known names like Attila The Stockbroker, Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine, Thomas Truax and Melt Banana.
In an opinion piece by Laura Carmichael for the Mail in 2009 – and the occasion of the Adelphi’s 25th anniversary – she said: “Some people might call it a dump, and it sort of is, but they’re missing the point really.
“Yes, it’s very rough around the edges, but the place is above those superficial things. The location, the atmosphere, the fact there is the front of a bus masquerading as a bar, the soundman Jim who usually wanders in just before opening and occasionally walks out again if the band has an attitude.
“It all adds to the overall character of the place. It’s perfect. And as far as musical history goes, this place should be made a national heritage site.”
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