Music Legend Paul Hardcastle Pays Tribute After Son Dies in Motorcycle Crash

Paul Hardcastle, the British musician best known for his 1980s hit 19, has paid an emotional tribute to his son after he died in a fatal motorcycle crash this week.
Paul Hardcastle Jr, 35, was killed on Monday evening when the motorcycle he was riding was involved in a collision with a van near Bobbingworth in Essex following a police pursuit. Essex Police confirmed the rider died at the scene. The crash is now being independently reviewed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), a standard procedure in such cases.
The grieving father, 68, announced the death of his “super talented son” in a post on social media, alongside a photograph of Paul Jr. He wrote: “Just to let you know that my super talented son Paul Hardcastle Jnr was in a fatal motorcycle accident earlier and has sadly died. RIP son love Dad.”
In a follow up video message, Hardcastle described speaking to his son on the phone just moments before the tragedy. Paul Jr had told his father he would call back in “five minutes”, a call that never came. Hardcastle emotionally recalled the moment police officers came to his home to deliver the news, urging others to be careful about the choices they make in life.
Paul Hardcastle Jr was a respected musician in his own right, known for his work as a saxophonist and DJ, and for his role on the final track of his father’s 2008 album Hardcastle 5. He also achieved chart success with his own music.
Following the accident, hundreds of fans and fellow artists expressed condolences, describing Paul Jr as talented, kind and full of energy. Several public appearances by Paul Hardcastle, including an upcoming live show, have since been cancelled as he mourns his loss.