Paul was a member of The Pinheads, along with Marty McFly and Lee, since they were in elementary school. He played guitar. In 1979, Douglas J. Needles moved to Hill Valley from Bakersville, and bought his way into the band with his mother's money. Since Needles couldn't play his guitar and he was a showoff, Paul and Lee told Marty they didn't want him in the band. Needles overheard this and started his own band. This furthered Needles' grudge against Marty.