Friday, January 14, 2022

Gnarly Guitarists: Mick Green


Mick Green joined Johnny Kidd & The Pirates in 1962. His innovative style was credited as an inspiration by Pete Townsend, Wilko Johnson and many others. One of his compositions ("Going Back Home") became a signature song for Dr. Feelgood. The Guardian called him "the original British guitar hero".

After Johnny Kidd died in 1966, Mick Green became a member of Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas (cowriting the b-side of their "Trains And Boats And Planes" single). He then spent seven years touring with Englebert Humperdinck. In the early 70's, Green led a band called ShanghaiAs pub rock gave way to punk rock, he reformed The Pirates. He also released a solo album in 1986 called Painkiller. In 1990, Green recorded a single with Lemmy (another Pirates fan, who had covered "Please Don't Touch" on the Motorhead/Girlschool single). Also in 1990, Green played lead guitar on Robert Plant's version of "Let's Have A Party".  

Mick Green performed with Paul McCartney during the 1988 Russian concert and 1999's Live At The Cavern Club, and he played on McCartney's Run Devil Run LP. Green played and recorded with Van Morrison for a decade, starting with Back On Top (1999). He toured extensively with Bryan Ferry, and recorded with Ronnie Lane & Steve Marriott as well as British blues great Peter Green.

Please enjoy Stinky's tribute to the penultimate Pirate, a master of the Telecaster -- Mick Green. 

22 comments:

  1. The Best Of Mick Green:

    https://tinyurl.com/mr2pv3wv

    Another Stinky Production

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    1. Greatly appreciated tribute to a fine guitarist. Thanks!

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  2. Geez! Another killer comp'... This Stinky character knows where "its" at. Is his Health Insurance paid/up-to-date?

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  3. Thanks for your concern Bacon PB Muffin, and for the kind words! Mick Green did all the heavy lifting.

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  4. Thanks! I saw him in concert twice, first with The Pirates at Paradiso, Amsterdam, awesome! The second time as a member of the Dave Edmunds Band at the No Nukes Festival in Utrecht.... Those were the days!

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  5. Hi! Just 'Thank You' for this excellent comp. Since I've joined The Pirates (app. 1978) I'm a huge Fan of Mick's work...
    The best Collection so far! Once again: Thank you!
    Huey

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    1. Wow, we've got celebrity endorsements now from Huey and Dr. Feelgoed! Well done, Stinky!

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  6. High praise indeed Huey! Thank you! (Slip us some demos, or live tracks, and we'll keep our source on the down low!)

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  7. Mick Green's influence extended around the world. He recorded with the Finnish band Doctor's Order:

    https://www.discogs.com/master/1412541-Doctors-Order-with-Mick-Green-Cutthroat-And-Dangerous

    ... and with Japanese garage rockers Thee Michelle Gun Elephant:

    https://www.discogs.com/master/1235273-Mick-Green-With-TMGE-Kwacker

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  8. Saw The Pirates many years ago and I remember Mick Green threatening extreme violence towards some knob that had chucked a glass on stage. The Pirates were the support band (to the Tyla Gang I think) but they were bloody good. Thanks Jonder and Stinky for this great comp.

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    1. Wow, Mick Green AND Sean Tyla! I love to sing along with "Coast To Coast". I don't know all the words, and I can't hit all the notes. I'm sure it doesn't sound pretty, but it's certainly enthusiastic...

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  9. Zipper: I wouldn't want to have been threatened by Mick Green. Even in photos where there's nothing else in the pic, for scale, you can tell he's enormous! Thanks for the comment!

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    1. Plus he looks like a droog from Clockwork Orange in that cover photo, even though I can see that he's wearing pirate boots.

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  10. Awesome! Thank you very much, Jomder and Stinky!

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    1. You're welcome! Maybe you could design a compilation cover for us someday, or a new title banner for the blog? We would be honored.

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    2. Aw, THAT would be fantastic! And the honor would be mine!

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  11. Hi Stinky, Remembering Mick on what would have been his 78th his birthday (22 February 1944). Thanks for this excellent compilation. It's a shame that no film of Johnny & The Pirates exist. I can't believe they were never filmed. Still you never know! Regards, Bob.

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  12. Boppin' Bob: Thanks for stopping by to pay your respects to the great Mick Green! Here's hoping some footage surfaces of Johnny Kidd & The Pirates in action!

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  13. Thanx Guys Looks Great, My First Visit To The Blog, I'll Definitely Be Back

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  14. Excellent compilation, it must have taken a lot of research! Saw The Pirates a few times in the punk era - one of my favourite live bands. There's some great youtube of them at Dingwalls.
    A couple of weeks ago I saw an RnB band called The Milk Men with Mick's son on bass, he's the spitting image of his dad. I didnt catch the name of the drummer, but he was introduced as the last of the Pirates drummers (not Frank Farley!)They encored with Going Back Home.

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