about

Welcome to my official website where you will find information about my discography, drum gear, and artists I’ve played with (including featuring on three Grammy-nominated albums).

I was born and raised in Kildare, Ireland to the sounds of Dixieland, trad jazz. My father, Des Hopkins, is a respected jazz drummer and I’ve been playing since early childhood.

At 17, I jumped at the chance to leave school to join Kilkenny rock band My Little Funhouse who signed to Geffen Records. We lived in Los Angeles for three years, where I certainly learned plenty about the life of being a professional musician.

In 1996 I joined the extremely successful Northern Irish alternative rockers, Therapy? Over six hugely rewarding years, we toured the world and experienced incredible highlights, from headlining festivals of 100,000 people to playing BBC Radio sessions for the legendary John Peel.

Following that, I spent more than 10 years recording and touring with The Swell Season (Oscar winners from the film Once), The Frames, and Glen Hansard.

When not touring, I enjoy recording sessions with world-renowned producers (some of which are listed on this site) for albums, radio and TV (from their studios or my own).

I have worked with a large and eclectic mix of artists, including Dolores O’Riordan, Snow Patrol, Glen Hansard, Therapy?, Rosanne Cash, Tom Jones, and many more.

For regular news, or to get in touch, please check out my social channels, which are listed here.

Chicago Auditorium

credits

You can find a list of artists I’ve recorded with here.

PRODUCERS RECORDED WITH >

Bill Price (The Clash, Sex Pistols) | Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Weezer) | Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Radiohead) | Head (PJ Harvey, Massive Attack) | Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden) | Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies) | Peter Katis (The National, Mercury Rev) | Joe Henry (Allen Toussaint, Elvis Costello) | Jim Tullio (John Martyn, Levon Helm) | Patrick Dillett (David Byrne, The B-52s) | Stephen Fitzmaurice (Sting, Depeche Mode) | Mike Clink (Guns n’ Roses, Metallica) | Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, Korn) | Ruadhri Cushnan (U2, Mumford & Sons) | David Odlum (The Wedding Present, Deus).

STUDIOS RECORDED AT >

United Recording Studios, LA | East West Studios, LA | Rumbo Recorders, LA | Henson Recording Studio, LA | NRG Recording Studios, LA | Record Plant, LA | Sunset Sound Studios, LA | Reservoir Studios, NYC | Sterling Sound, NYC | Electrical Audio, Chicago | The Loft, Chicago | Robert Lang Studios, Seattle | Metropolis Studios, London | Abbey Road, London | Sarm Studios, London | Great Linford Manor Studios, Milton Keynes, UK | Moles Studio, Bath, UK | Chipping Norton Studios, Oxfordshire, UK | Metalworks Studios, Toronto | EMAC Recording Studios, London, Ontario | Black Box Studios, France | Grouse Lodge, Ireland | Windmill Lane, Ireland | Camden Recording Studios, Ireland.

SELECTED VENUES PLAYED AT >

Royal Albert Hall, London | Sydney Opera House, Australia| Slane Castle, Ireland | Brixton Academy, London | L’Olympia, Paris | Paradiso, Amsterdam | Wembley Arena, London | Ryman Auditorium, Nashville| Vicar Street, Dublin | Barrowlands, Glasgow| Chicago Theatre, Chicago | Massey Hall, Toronto | Levon Helm’s Studio Midnight Rambles, Woodstock, NY.

TV SHOWS PLAYED ON >

David Letterman, NYC | Jay Leno, LA | Jimmy Kimmel, LA | Stephen Colbert, NYC | Conan O’Brien, NYC / LA | Jimmy Fallon, NYC | Later with Jools Holland, London | Taratata, Paris | The Late Late Show, Dublin | Austin City Limits (ACL), Austin, Texas.

endorsements

Vic Firth
Acquarian Drumheads
DW Pedals and Hardware
Zildjian
SKB cases
Tackle Instrument Supply

Ludwig drums | Vic Firth | Aquarian Drumheads | Zildjian | DW Drums | SKB Cases | Tackle Instrument Supply

discography

I’ve recorded and played live with a variety of different artists including Glen Hansard, The Frames, The Swell Season, Therapy?, Snow Patrol, Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries), Bronagh Gallagher, Halite, Gemma Hayes, David Keenan, My Little Funhouse, Caitríona O’Leary, Rosanne Cash, Tom Jones, Marlon Williams, Oh Pep!, Rhiannon Giddens, David Kitt, Mundy, The Reindeer Section, Alphastates, Autamata, Ann Scott, Josh Ritter, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Mark Geary, Jape, Colm Quearney aka Q, Square Pegs, Ollie Cole, The Pale, Pugwash, Jerry Fish, An Emotional Fish, Lisa Hannigan, Miriam Ingram, Paula Toledo, Ferghal McKee (Whipping Boy), Richard Cocciante, Andrew Strong, Fionn Regan, Lir, The Cake Sale, Boss Volenti, Duckworth Lewis Method, Neil Hannon (Divine Comedy), The Walls, Spectrum, Conor Deasy (The Thrills), Nina Hynes, and many more.

Here’s a selection of albums I’ve played on…

contact

Pictures: Zoran Orlic, Dara Butler. Site: Paul Mallon