Electric Circus’s Paul Glen died in October after a car crash earlier in the year

Nightclub icon Paul Glen has left an impressive legacy on his adopted city. But who was Mr Glen, and how did he become so influential in the Adelaide night-life scene?

From drawing big name acts to Adelaide and developing his four-level nightclub complex in the West End, to propping up venues affected by Covid, nightclub icon Paul Glen leaves an impressive legacy on his adopted city.

The 49-year-old hospitality titan died in hospital over the weekend after suffering complications from a fall.

In a cruel twist, he had recently returned home after spending months in the Repat brain injury unit after he was seriously injured in a ute rollover on Glen Osmond Rd in May.

But who was Mr Glen, and how did he become so influential in the Adelaide night-life scene?

Electric Circus founder Paul Glen got his start in hospitality as a DJ in Scotland. Picture: Supplied

Mr Glen got his start in hospitality 30 years ago, working as a DJ in clubs around Edinburgh in his native Scotland.

He migrated to Australia in 2000, initially working in construction, before he opened a record store called Electric Circus.

“This organically led to an involvement in running nights around Adelaide and recognition that there was a lack of a consistently high quality music venue in the Adelaide market,” he later told industry publication Australian Bartender.

Alongside long-term business partner and friend Jake Phillips he built up Crippen Place over the past 21 years with venues such as Electric Circus, Mr Kim’s, Limbo and Rocket becoming institutions for the late-night crowd.

Electric Circus founder Paul Glen built up Crippen Place over the past 21 years. Picture: Supplied

The West End site became an institution for the Adelaide late-night crowd. Picture: Supplied

Mr Glen was also a key figure in attracting big name acts such as Calvin Harris and Skrillex to Adelaide, as well as music festivals like Stereosonic.

Evan Coghlan worked with Mr Glen as a club manager from 2003-2008.

He also managed major music festival Stereosonic from 2008-2011.

“I think that the biggest testament to Paul is the longevity of his impact on the Adelaide music and hospitality scene,” Mr Coghlan, who is now living in the US, said.

“In an industry that often has a short shelf life, he was a constant force who really helped to shape night-life in Adelaide for two decades.”

Electric Circus founder Paul Glen was a titan of the Adelaide nightclub scene. Picture: Supplied

Long-term friend and fellow industry icon Driller Jet Armstrong bought Q nightclub on Rundle St in 2002 and turned it into Sugar.

That’s when he first got to know Mr Glen, who he deemed a “pioneer” of activating the city parklands for festivals.

Mr Glen gave $50,000 to support Sugar’s GoFundMe campaign after Covid struck – something Driller said was “from the goodness of his heart”.

Electric Circus founder Paul Glen was known for propping up venues affected by Covid. Picture: Supplied

But on Wednesday, May 8, Mr Glen was seriously injured when his Ford Ranger crashed into a Stobie pole and flipped on its roof on Glen Osmond Rd at Eastwood.

Speaking at the time, MFS commander of operations Declan Dwyer described the crash as “really high-speed impact”.

He said the car had been travelling city-bound down Glen Osmond Rd before the impact forced the vehicle onto the other side of the road.

The MFS described the crash as “really high-speed impact”. Picture: Dylan Hogarth

“Our crews … found a really high-speed impact where a car had hit a Stobie pole and trees, and overturned,” he said.

He said the male driver was semi-conscious when crews arrived and described the rescue as technical.

“He was upside down and hanging from his seat belt,” he said.

Mr Glen had to be pulled from the wreckage. Picture: Dylan Hogarth

Local residents told The Advertiser they believed the car had hit a tree before it collided with the Stobie pole and rolled.

A man working at the Cappo Seafood factory, just metres from the crash, said he was working upstairs when he heard a massive bang.

Another woman working at the site said she heard screams and rushed out to the road side. She believed the vehicle had one male driver who looked to be in his mid-50s.

“He hit it with force,” she said.

“He’s hit a tree … and gone right across the other side (of the road).”

The crash blocked Glen Osmond Rd and knocked out power to about 1800 homes in Eastwood, Parkside and Unley. Picture: Dylan Hogarth

The crash, which happened just after 6am, completely blocked the route into the city and caused havoc for traffic travelling from the Adelaide Hills into the city.

Power to about 1800 properties in Eastwood, Parkside and Unley was knocked out as a result of the impact with the Stobie pole.

Speaking at the time, police said the driver – now identified as Mr Glen – had been seriously injured but they did not believe it was life threatening.

Speaking at the time, police said the driver had been seriously injured, but the injuries weren’t considered life threatening. Picture: Dylan Hogarth

He spent months in the Repat brain injury unit, eventually recovering enough to return home.

But it is understood he suffered complications from a fall and died over the weekend.

He has been remembered as a loving father to his three children.

“Paul was an incredible human being, sometimes misunderstood (probably the accent) and an incredible father to his children,” long-term business partner and friend Jake Phillips said.

“He was the strongest, he was the kindest, he was the proudest and he will be forever remembered for that.”

Originally published as Electric Circus’s Paul Glen died in October after a car crash earlier in the year