Profile Monday: Raven's Name Origin
How 'Raven' (Paul Blackwood) got his name
The origin of Raven's name? It's quite a tale... if you believe him.
Picture this: A moonlit gig in an abandoned quarry. Young Paul Blackwood, armed with his trusty black guitar, takes the makeshift stage. As he launches into a soul-searing solo, a massive raven lands on a nearby amp, its eyes fixed on Paul.
Suddenly, the bird lets out a cry so piercing, it seems to split the night in two. At that exact moment, all of Paul's strings snap in unison. The crowd gasps, expecting the show to end.
But Paul, caught in a trance, begins to strum the broken strings. Impossibly, they produce a sound – dark, raw, otherworldly. The raven joins in, its caws harmonizing perfectly with the ethereal notes.
For the rest of the night, man and bird created a symphony of shadows that left the audience spellbound. From that day, Paul Blackwood became simply "Raven."
At least, that's his version.
Evelyn: "Funny, I thought it was because of that ridiculous feathered jacket he wore to every gig."
Jane: "Wasn't it just his stage name for that gothic poetry phase?"
Rachael: "Pretty sure he lost a bet and had to change his name."
Raven insists his story is "spiritually accurate, if not historically precise." The girls just smirk and shake their heads.
What do you think, shadow dwellers? Mystical encounter or creative myth-making? Has Raven ever recreated that otherworldly sound at our shows? Share your theories...
