Mick Green
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Michael Robert Green (22 February 1944 – 11 January 2010) was an English
rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from Africa ...
guitarist who played with The Pirates (with and without Johnny Kidd),
Billy J. Kramer William Howard Ashton (born 19 August 1943), known professionally as Billy J. Kramer, is an English pop singer. With The Dakotas, Kramer was managed by Brian Epstein during the 1960s and scored hits with several Lennon–McCartney composition ...
and the Dakotas, and
Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers are a 1960s British rhythm and blues, soul and beat group who had two Top 10 hits with " One Way Love" (No. 9 UK, 1964) and "Got to Get You into My Life" (No. 6 UK, 1966). Well-known members include Bennett ...
.


Biography

Born Michael Robert Green, in
Matlock, Derbyshire Matlock is the county town of Derbyshire, England. It is situated in the south-eastern part of the Peak District, with the National Park directly to the west. The town is twinned with the French town of Eaubonne. The former spa resort of Matloc ...
, Green grew up in the same block of flats in Wimbledon, south-west London, as the future Pirates. He devoured skiffle and early rock'n'roll, and began his career in 1956 playing in a skiffle trio "The Wayfaring Strangers", formed with his schoolmates Johnny Spence (on bass) and Frank Farley (on drums), which came second in a bands competition to
The Quarrymen The Quarrymen (also written as "the Quarry Men") are a British skiffle/rock and roll group, formed by John Lennon in Liverpool in 1956, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Originally consisting of Lennon and several schoolfriends, the Quar ...
, an early incarnation of
the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
. After a stint as the Ramrods, the trio then joined Red-E-Lewis and the Redcaps, who became the Redcaps, backing Cuddly Dudley, when Reddy Lewis left. In 1962, all three then joined Johnny Kidd and the Pirates – formed by Kidd during the 1950s – just after the band had scored a huge hit with Shakin' All Over, with Joe Moretti on lead guitar. Green left to join
Billy J. Kramer William Howard Ashton (born 19 August 1943), known professionally as Billy J. Kramer, is an English pop singer. With The Dakotas, Kramer was managed by Brian Epstein during the 1960s and scored hits with several Lennon–McCartney composition ...
with
The Dakotas The Dakotas is a collective term for the U.S. states of North Dakota and South Dakota. It has been used historically to describe the Dakota Territory, and is still used for the collective heritage, culture, geography, fauna, sociology, econom ...
in 1964. His ability to play lead and rhythm guitar simultaneously influenced a number of British guitarists to follow, including
Pete Townshend Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s. Townsh ...
and
Wilko Johnson John Andrew Wilkinson (12 July 1947 – 21 November 2022), better known by the stage name Wilko Johnson, was an English guitarist, singer, songwriter and occasional actor. He was a member of the pub rock/rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood in t ...
, the original guitarist for Dr. Feelgood. Green's song "Oyeh!" was on Dr. Feelgood's debut album, ''
Down by the Jetty ''Down by the Jetty'' is the debut album by English rock band Dr. Feelgood, released in January 1975. The band's Johnny Kidd & the Pirates-influenced originals ("Keep It Out of Sight") appear alongside covers material like " Bonie Moronie" ...
''; and a song he co-wrote, "Going Back Home" appeared on Dr. Feelgood's 1975 ''
Malpractice In the law of torts, malpractice, also known as professional negligence, is an "instance of negligence or incompetence on the part of a professional".Malpractice definition, Professionals who may become the subject of malpractice actions inc ...
'' and the live album, ''
Stupidity Stupidity is a lack of intelligence, understanding, reason, or wit. It may be innate, assumed or reactive. The word ''stupid'' comes from the Latin word ''stupere''. Stupid characters are often used for comedy in fictional stories. Walter B ...
'' (1976). Green was also a member of the band Shanghai, which released two albums, in 1974 and 1976, other members included, Chuck Bedford (vocals, harmonica, 1974–1975),
Pete Kircher Peter Derek Kircher (born 21 January 1945, Folkestone, Kent) is a retired English rock/pop drummer. Between 1982 and 1985 he was a member of Status Quo, performing with the band at Live Aid and on the albums '' Live at the N.E.C.'' and '' Back ...
(drums, vocals), Mike Le Main (bass, keyboards, 1974–1975), Cliff Bennett of
Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers are a 1960s British rhythm and blues, soul and beat group who had two Top 10 hits with " One Way Love" (No. 9 UK, 1964) and "Got to Get You into My Life" (No. 6 UK, 1966). Well-known members include Bennett ...
(vocals, 1975–1976), Brian Alterman (guitar, 1975–1976), Pat King (bass, 1975–1976). Green reformed the Pirates with Farley and Spence in 1976 (
Kidd Kidd may refer to: Places * Kidd (railway point), British Columbia, a former Canadian settlement * Kidd's Beach, a coastal town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa * Kidd Islands, Antarctic island grouping * Mount Kidd, a peak in the Canadian R ...
having died in 1966). Over the next five years they became one of the hardest-gigging bands on the road and released four albums: ''Out of Their Skulls'' (1977), ''Skull Wars'' (1978), ''Happy Birthday Rock'n'Roll'' (1979) and the ten-inch ''A Fistful of Dubloons'' (1981). Green played the
Fender Telecaster Custom Fender Telecaster Custom is a model of electric guitar made by Fender. History During the 1950s and early 1960s, Fender's twangy single-coil sound enjoyed considerable popularity. This began to wane by the mid-1960s as new stars like Eric Clap ...
produced in 1972 as his main guitar. Green was also a member of the band Shanghai, which released two albums, in 1974 and 1976, and supported
Status Quo is a Latin phrase meaning the existing state of affairs, particularly with regard to social, political, religious or military issues. In the sociological sense, the ''status quo'' refers to the current state of social structure and/or values. W ...
on their ''
Blue for You ''Blue for You'' is the ninth studio album by English rock band Status Quo. It was released in March 1976, and is the last album until 1980's ''Just Supposin that they produced themselves, which resulted in subsequent albums having a noti ...
''
tour Tour or Tours may refer to: Travel * Tourism, travel for pleasure * Tour of duty, a period of time spent in military service * Campus tour, a journey through a college or university's campus * Guided tour, a journey through a location, directed ...
. Together with Quo member
Alan Lancaster Alan Charles Lancaster (7 February 1949 – 26 September 2021) was an English musician, best known as a founding member and bassist of the rock band Status Quo, playing with the band from 1967 to 1985, with brief reunions in 2013 and 2014. As ...
he wrote four songs recorded by Status Quo. In the 1980s and 1990s, Green played with, amongst others,
Bryan Ferry Bryan Ferry Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 26 September 1945) is an English singer and songwriter. His voice has been described as an "elegant, seductive croon". He also established a distinctive image and sartorial style: according to ' ...
,
Van Morrison Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards. As a teenager in t ...
,
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...
,
Robert Plant Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the English rock band Led Zeppelin for all of its existence from 1968 until 1980, when the band broke up following the ...
and
Lemmy Ian Fraser Kilmister (24 December 1945 – 28 December 2015), better known as Lemmy Kilmister or simply Lemmy, was an English musician. He was the founder, lead singer, bassist and primary songwriter of the rock band Motörhead, of which he wa ...
, as well as the Pirates, with whom he continued to
gig Gig or GIG may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Gig'' (Circle Jerks album) (1992) * ''Gig'' (Northern Pikes album) (1993) * ''The Gig'', a 1985 film written and directed by Frank D. Gilroy * GIG, a character in ''Hot Wheels AcceleRacers'' ...
well into the 2000s. His other notable gigs included playing guitar for Van Morrison on the Pyramid Stage at the
Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury Festival (formally Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contemp ...
in 2005, and with
David Gilmour David Jon Gilmour ( ; born 6 March 1946) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and member of the rock band Pink Floyd. He joined as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1967, shortly before the departure of founding member Syd Barrett. P ...
and
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...
at the latter's return to the
Cavern Club The Cavern Club is a nightclub on Mathew Street, Liverpool, England. The Cavern Club opened in 1957 as a jazz club, later becoming a centre of the rock and roll scene in Liverpool in the late 50s and early 1960s. The club became closely assoc ...
in support of his '' Run Devil Run'' album in 1999. In his spare time he taught guitar privately, as well as at various local schools. In 1990, Green played guitar with
Lemmy Ian Fraser Kilmister (24 December 1945 – 28 December 2015), better known as Lemmy Kilmister or simply Lemmy, was an English musician. He was the founder, lead singer, bassist and primary songwriter of the rock band Motörhead, of which he wa ...
and the Upsetters on their "Blue Suede Shoes" / "Paradise" single. The A-side was originally recorded for a charity album, and Green wrote the B-side with Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister for this occasional Upsetters project. From 1999 to 2008, Green performed regularly with the
Van Morrison Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards. As a teenager in t ...
band. He played guitar on 1999's '' Back on Top'' and he appeared on his other studio albums up until he was on five of the tracks on Van Morrison's 2008 album, ''
Keep It Simple ''Keep It Simple'' is the thirty-third album by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, released in March 2008. It was Morrison's first US Top 10 album, and made the Top 10 in the UK, Canada and in some European countries. It was his firs ...
''. In 2007, he recorded a six track mini-album, ''Cutthroat and Dangerous'' in Finland with the Finnish rock'n'roll trio, Doctor's Order. In February 2004, while on stage with Bryan Ferry in
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
, New Zealand, Green suffered a cardiac arrest. His life was saved by two doctors in the crowd and following his return to England and recovery he carried on playing. He suffered kidney problems in February 2009, partly connected with his earlier heart problem.


Death

Mick Green died of heart failure on 11 January 2010 in King George Hospital, Ilford,
Essex Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and G ...
. His wife Karen, sons Lloyd and Brad and daughter-in-law Hannah were at his side. In light of his death, The Pirates disbanded. On 27 November 2010, the Mick Green tribute gig was held at the
100 Club The 100 Club is a music venue located at 100 Oxford Street, London, England, where it has been hosting live music since 24 October 1942. It was originally called the Feldman Swing Club, but changed its name when the father of the current owner ...
and featured the Animals and the Wilko Johnson Band. Fellow Pirate shipmate and close friend Johnny Spence closed the evening together with Mick's two sons (Brad on guitar and Lloyd on bass) performing several of the Pirates' back catalogue. His son Lloyd Green now plays bass guitar in critically acclaimed blues rock band The Milk Men.


References


External links


Green's official websiteThe Pirates Official Website
*
Biography A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just the basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or ...
at Allmusic


Obituaries


Mick Green, 1944–2010 Mojo Magazine.The GuardianMick Green's Personal Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Green, Mick 1944 births 2010 deaths People from Matlock, Derbyshire English rock guitarists Beat musicians Johnny Kidd & the Pirates members The Dakotas (band) members Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers members