Paul Kuhr

Paul August Kuhr III, (born on December 4, 1971, in Berwyn, Illinois, USA), is an American musician, vocalist, lyricist, author, and graphic designer. He is the singer and founding member for the band, Novembers Doom.

Music

Starting the band in 1989, his vocal style for Novembers Doom consists both of clean vocals and death growls.

Other projects Kuhr has been involved in vary from thrash metal in the 1980s in the form of Laceration (with fellow founding Novembers Doom member Steve Nicholson), to the late symphonic doom band Em Sinfonia. He was also in the band Subterranean Masquerade, where he used his growl, as well as his singing voice. Kuhr has also recorded his narrative vocals on the Draconian CD, Turning Season Within, and provided backing vocals on the track "Praise the Lowered" on the CD Deconstruction by Devin Townsend Project. Most recently, he has provided all lyrics for Dan Swanö's Witherscape project.

Kuhr is also a founding member of the Chicago-based band Death Metal band, These Are They (with fellow founding Novembers Doom member Steve Nicholson.)

Graphic design

Kuhr has worked as a freelance designer, creating CD covers, promotional posters, CD and DVD packaging, and website design. He currently maintains the website for his own band, Novembers Doom. He has worked on CD and/or vinyl artwork/layout for bands such as Novembers Doom, Macabre, Antimatter, Skepticism, Bethlehem, Katatonia, Enter Self, Em Sinfonia, Gorgasm, Council of the Fallen, Necrophagia, Broken Hope, Michael Angelo Batio, Jungle Rot, Disinter and Shroud of Bereavement.

Family

^[1] Kuhr was married to now ex-wife Arline, together they have a daughter, Rhiannon Autumn. Rhiannon has been the topic of three Novembers Doom songs, "Autumn Reflection" and "Swallowed by the Moon" on The Pale Haunt Departure, and "Twilight Innocence" on The Novella Reservoir.

^[2] CASE# 2013D430450 After almost 20 years of marriage, both Kuhr and Arline have called it quits and have separated in May of 2013. Kuhr initiated a sit down to discuss paperwork with his Lawyer, John Naughton, in June and officially filed for divorce on Sept. 9th 2013, which was then finalized on November 1, 2013. On May 8, 2013, Paul Kuhr began officially dating Nikki Miller. The couple remained together for a year before their engagement on December 19, 2014.

^[3] CASE# 2016MR001242 September 3, 2016, Kuhr hired a Lawyer regarding the mental state of Arline. On September 6, 2016 it was presented to the court. A GAL (Guardian Ad Litem) was appointed, by Judge on December 20, 2016 to represent the minor child, Rhiannon, in the case against Arline. On December 21, 2016 the GAL had presented the Judge with her findings, after meeting with Kuhr, the minor child, and Arline prior. Arline was ordered to receive a PSYCHOLOGICAL / PSYCHIATRIC EXAM and necessary therapy. A NO CONTACT ORDER was placed until the PSYCHOLOGICAL / PSYCHIATRIC EXAM was completed as well as steps to start the necessary therapy and/or medication, as per the Judge on January 31, 2017. On March 16, 2017, Arline was not present during the determination and findings based on the exam, and the case was closed. A NO CONTACT ORDER WITH MINOR CHILD was placed between Arline and Rhiannon on March 16, 2017, which revoked Arline's VISITATION / PARENTING TIME and ability to contact the child in any way.

^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} Rhiannon Autumn, 15, daughter of Paul Kuhr, step-daughter of Nikki Miller, and daughter of Arline Bellino-Kuhr. Rhiannon is currently enrolled in Hinsdale Central HS as a Sophomore and future graduate, class of 2021. She's an aspiring photographer who loves nature, road trips, traveling, music/concerts, and of course, her friends. Shoutout to Kay and Kar! Like her father, Rhiannon excels in the art of Music both Vocally and Instrumentally which can be seen on her FB Music Page @rhiannonkuhrmusic as well as her IG Music account @rhiannonkuhr Rhiannon is also known for surprise stage appearances with Kuhr and Novembers Doom to perform songs she recorded guest vocals for on Novembers Doom's latest album (2017), Hamartia. Rhiannon was featured in 3 tracks on the album Hamartia, titled 'Ever After', 'Miasma', and 'Zephyr'.

Lyrics and health

^[8] In 2006, Kuhr released a lyrical explanation book titled The Wayfaring Chronicles. Within the pages of this book, Kuhr explains the root of his personal style of lyrical writing. A lot of it comes from multiple issues described as a disease in his spine. The first and most serious is an advanced form of Spinal stenosis. This is a condition due to narrowing of the spinal cord causing nerve pinching which leads to extreme pain, limping, lack of feeling in the lower extremities, with the likeliness of lower paralysis over time. The discs in the spine are degenerating causing the vertebrae to close in on the spinal cord itself. The second is a condition known as Ankylosing Spondylitis.^[9] This is a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, hips, and possibly other joints. It causes inflammation of the spinal joints (vertebrae) that cause severe, chronic pain. In some cases, this inflammation can lead to new bone formation on the spine, causing the spine to fuse in a fixed, immobile position. Spondylitis is the same disease Mick Mars is currently suffering from. Presently, there is no known cure for either disease.

Discography

Novembers Doom

• Amid its Hallowed Mirth (1995)
• For Every Leaf That Falls - EP (1997)

• Of Sculptured Ivy and Stone Flowers (1999)

• The Knowing (2000)
• To Welcome the Fade (2002)
• The Pale Haunt Departure (2005)
• The Novella Reservoir (2007)
• Into Night's Requiem Infernal (2009)
• Aphotic (2011)
• Bled White (2014)
• Hamartia (2017)

These Are They

• Who Manifest (2009)
• Who Linger (2009)
• Disposing of Betrayers (2010)
• At the Feast of Seven Funerals (2014)
• 1871 (2014)

Subterranean Masquerade

• Temporary Psychotic State (2004)
• Various - Tribute To Dead Can Dance: The Lotus Eaters (2004)
• Suspended Animation Dreams (2005)
• Home (2013)
• The Great Bazaar (2015)

Em Sinfonia

• In Mournings Symphony (1999)

Guest Appearances (Vocals)

• Andy Winter - Incomprehensible - The Transversal Conjecture
• Broken Anatomy - The Lazarus Regret
• Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction - Praise The Lowered
• Draconian - Turning Season Within - When I Wake, Earthbound, The Failure Epiphany, Morphine Cloud, September Ashes
• Earthen - Indian Summer
• Fading Bliss - From Illusion To Despair - Walk Through Despair
• Falling Leaves - Mournful Cry Of A Dying Sun - Vanished Serenity
• On Thorns I Lay - Aegean Sorrow - The Final Truth
• Thurisaz - The Cimmerian Years - No Regrets
• Witherscape - The Inheritance - Dying For the Sun

References