Paul Rutherford gained prominence primarily through his role as the colorful supporting singer, performer, and keys player within the massively popular yet divisive Hi-NRG dance-pop group Frankie Goes to Hollywood during the 1980s. He entered the world in Liverpool's central urban area during 1959, pursued studies in fine arts during his college years, and spent time employed at an antiques establishment in San Francisco prior to establishing himself on the performance scene in his native city through appearances with groups including the Spitfire Boys, the Opium Eaters, and Hambi & the Dance. The latter band's performance as headliners over Frankie Goes to Hollywood at the Leeds venue known as The Warehouse left such an impression on Holly Johnson that he extended an offer for Rutherford to become part of the ensemble, taking the place of vocalist Sonia Mazumder. Although Frankie Goes to Hollywood issued merely a pair of studio LPs titled Welcome to the Pleasuredome and Liverpool, they emerged as one of the era's iconic pop entities until their 1987 dissolution stemming from "musical estrangement." One year afterward, Rutherford pioneered solo endeavors among the band's members via the acid house track "Get Real," which encountered BBC prohibition similar to the group's "Relax," along with the album Oh World that incorporated a rendition of Chic's "I Want Your Love" and included three numbers crafted by ABC. Its underwhelming commercial performance prompted his withdrawal from public view, during which he served as personal assistant to the Oscar-nominated performer Jaye Davidson. In 2004 he rejoined FGTH colleagues Mark O'Toole and Peter Gill to perform at a Wembley Arena event honoring producer Trevor Horn. The favorable audience response led to multiple years of festival appearances across Europe alongside vocalist Ryan Molloy, performing as Forbidden Hollywood. Having relocated to New Zealand alongside his companion in 2010, Rutherford put out his long-awaited follow-up solo effort The Cowboy Years credited to Paul Rutherford/Butt Cowboys, and in the subsequent year his initial album saw a re-release featuring additional B-sides along with remixes.
