© page design & idea by Marty Punsch this tribute/memorabilia page is a part of www.punschies-rockmuseum.de 2011 Paul Samson (4 June 1953 – 9 August 2002) was a British guitarist, closely associated with the New Wave Of British  Heavy Metal.Born Paul Samson, after a period in several obscure bands, Samson formed his own eponymous outfit,  Samson, in 1977, consisting of Chris Aylmer on bass guitar, and Clive Burr on drums. Burr left, and eventually joined  Iron Maiden, and was replaced by Thunderstick, who wore a gimp mask on stage. In 1979, the line-up was expanded to  a four piece, with the addition of Bruce Dickinson on vocals (with the stage name "Bruce Bruce"). The band enjoyed a  cult following in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, releasing the albums, Survivors, Head On and Shock Tactics,  until 1981 when both Thunderstick and Dickinson left, the latter to join Iron Maiden. Nicky Moore was recruited as a  replacement, and Mel Gaynor then Pete Jupp took over drums, and this line-up released Before the Storm and Don't  Get Mad Get Even. These two albums sold in higher quantities than the first three, and the band toured more countries  and played to bigger audiences than the Bruce/Thunderstick line-up, although the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal  was by now said to be a spent force.[citation needed] The band split up in 1984. Samson spent the subsequent years in  a variety of solo and group projects, including various temporary reformations of Samson, and had success as a record  producer, and also as a blues player, spending a year in Chicago, Illinois, United States. He played on the recording of  the Ram Jam 1977 hit single, "Black Betty". In 2002, and at the age of 49 he died of cancer, whilst recording a new  Samson album with Nicky Moore.  Samson war eine englische Rockband, die 1977 von Gitarrist und Sänger Paul Samson gegründet wurde. Die Band  war eine der Pionierbands der New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Nach ihrem Debütalbum Survivors im Jahre 1979,   bei dem noch Samson sang, stieß Bruce Dickinson unter dem Künstlernamen Bruce Bruce zur Band. Die folgenden  Alben mit ihm gelten als die Höhepunkte der Bandgeschichte, nach 1981 verließ Dickinson die Band jedoch und wurde  Sänger bei Iron Maiden. Weitere Mitglieder der Band waren der Bassist Chris Aylmer und der Schlagzeuger Barry  Graham (Künstlername: Thunderstick). Graham pflegte eine aufwendige Bühnenshow, so trat er mit lederner Maske  auf und spielte in einem Käfig Die Band nahm nach Dickinsons Weggang weiter regelmäßig Platten auf und tourte  gelegentlich. Mit dem Tod des Gründers Paul Samson am 9. August 2002 durch Krebs löste sich die Band auf. Bassist  Chris Aylmer starb am 9. Januar 2007 aufgrund eines Kehlkopfkrebses. Er soll die Idee des Bandnamens gehabt  haben.