Paul Hardcastle confirmed the news with a heartbreaking statement.

Paul Hardcastle’s son has died aged 35 (Image: Paul Hardcastle Jr/Facebook)

Musician Paul Hardcastle has confirmed the tragic death of his son, also named Paul Hardcastle, aged 35. The heartbreaking news was shared in a poignant Instagram post on Monday evening.

Sharing a nostalgic photo of his son, the grieving dad penned: “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.” Paul Jnr had carved out a successful music career for himself, showcasing his skills on the saxophone and as a DJ. He collaborated with his dad on the smooth jazz album Hardcastle 5, featuring on the closing track, Take 1, in 2008 and contributed to the 2022 release, Hardcastle X. His international breakthrough came in 2010 when he co-wrote, recorded, and performed his debut single, Touch and Go, produced by his father. The song climbed to the top spot on the USA Billboard Jazz Chart.

The bereaved dad shared a heartbreaking post to Instagram (Image: Instagram)

Fans flooded the comments section with heartfelt tributes to the late musician. Among them was former TOWIE star James Argent, who expressed his condolences as he wrote: “I’m so sorry mate, thinking of you all. Heartbreaking.” He added a broken heart emoji.

TV presenter Hayley Palmer also offered her sympathies, writing: “Paul, I don’t even have the words – I am so so sorry to hear this. Heartbreaking. Am thinking of you Paul xx”.

Hardcastle, now 68, was a prominent figure in the Eighties music scene. His 1985 number one hit 19 was crafted in his parents’ living room in Leytonstone and supported by Simon Fuller, who left his record company job to manage him.

The track soared to number one in 13 nations worldwide, transforming Paul’s life overnight as the song’s catchy, repetitive hook – “N-n-n-n-nineteen, nineteen.”

In an unexpected twist of fate, Paul previously disclosed how a devastating motorbike crash ultimately launched his musical journey. Speaking on My 80s Playlist with Steve Denyer in May 2024, he revealed his original dream was to become a professional motorcycle racer.

He described it as his “ambition in life” before the serious crash landed him in hospital for almost four months. “I came out, I had compound fractures on my femur, my tibia, and fibula,” he recalled.

“Half of it was my fault, because I was going too fast, but someone pulled out as well.”

Explaining how the accident paradoxically sparked his musical future, he continued: “I was in there for four months, I had nothing to do. I was just listening to the radio.

“I had done music with my dad, when I was about eight years old, I went around Berlin. We lived everywhere, anywhere that he was getting gigs. I was sort of a novelty because I could play the drums and do a little bit of sort of singing and play a little bit of guitar.”

He then found himself “wrangling his way” into various bands before eventually pursuing a solo career.