Mick was brilliant. Japan were very much a glam/punk band way back in 1978, but the image was already much more refined than the other emerging punk bands...
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New Wave / Punk forebears...
- Thread starter Muddslide
- Start date
Mick was brilliant. Japan were very much a glam/punk band way back in 1978, but the image was already much more refined than the other emerging punk bands...
His resume goes way beyond Sylvian and company....Bill Nelson, Gary Numan, Midge Ure, Peter Murphy, Kate Bush, David Torn, Terry Bozzio, Steve Wilson, Nusrat Khan, and much more. His fretless work, and that of his inspiration, Percy Jones, has impacted my playing more than Jaco ever did. Such a loss. I got to see him play live once, wanted to talk to him, but he seemed like a very guarded person.
The Tin Drum album, their last, is a better representation of his playing; he, and the band, really came into their own at that point, then sadly broke up...
...although Gentlemen certainly had its moments...
Here’s a most unlikely, one time only supergroup; this kind of stuff just doesn’t happen any more...
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I was fortunate enough to see Mick on the last night of the Sons of Pioneers tour at Hammersmith Odeon. Like you, his (and Jones') work had a far deeper impact on me back then than Jaco.
WOAH this is a lot of insight to take in that I’m very grateful for! I’ve been really hooked on that Kate Bush album Never for Ever. Thank you for the knowledge!
Michael Lachowski is one of the least known and most influential bassists from that era. He and Randy Bewley basically created the New Southern sound. That's why REM and so many other superstars list Pylon as a key influence. If this doesn't move your hips you're dead. I still have to loan out my copy of Chomp 2-3 times a year and I always have to follow up to get it back. Besides, anything Mitch Easter produced is better than anything he didn't.
Makes sense after listening to that song lol
It’s really good, anything that’s bass driven I’m already a huge fan of. Discovering this already adds onto my resume of influences. This thread is awesome!
Besides that UK all-star benefit concert, he’s on her ‘89 Sensual World album. He has such an immense discography for someone who is essentially a cult figure, but one title I would sugggest tracking down is Polytown, from ‘94, that also featured guitarist David Torn and Zappa/Missing Persons/Jeff Beck drummer Terry Bozzio. Pretty outside stuff, kinda Crimson-ish, it’s on Youtube. That’s the occasion I saw him play; you’re in LA, remember the Virgin Megastore at Sunset/Laurel? They did an instore promo gig there, but never played a club date.
Dali’s Car, as well, his collab with Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy.
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Lucky you...in addition to Polytown, which I explained above, I saw the ‘88 Sylvian tour in Chicago, and then the Sylvian/Robert Fripp tour in LA, plus I got to talk to Richard Barbieri when he was in Porcupine Tree, at a meet-and-greet instore(couldn’t get to the show that time). So yeah, I’m a fan.
Excellent. I also saw Sylvian/Fripp - Manchester Apollo, 1 December 1993, but with Trey Gunn on Stick and Pat Mastelotto on drums. Support was Michael Brook, who also played guitar with Sylvian and Fripp later. Great night...
Well, yeah, we were just discussing him...
I also saw Trey, Fripp and Toyah at Moles Club in Bath with "Sunday all over the World", which must have been 1991. Around that time - mid '80's to early '90's - I used to play several times a year at Moles, both in our own right and supporting the major acts ( Moles Wall of Fame - Moles ) that came through. It is one of the most intimate venues I know. At the time it had one of the best PA systems around and the stage was only about 15" high. Seeing that band from less than 8' away with immaculate sound and at pretty much eye-level (well Toyah at least - Trey's head was dodging the PAR cans for much of the time!) was quite possibly one of the most immersive gigs I've ever been at. But we digress...
Have you been keeping track of the Fripp family videos that come out every Sunday on Youtube? They do nothing to dispell the myth that the British are quite mad
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Have you been keeping track of the Fripp family videos that come out every Sunday on Youtube? They do nothing to dispell the myth that the British are quite mad
Ha ha! I've seen a few of them, but not keeping track - the rendition of 'Heroes' was something to behold. Actually, I've just watched a few just now. It's not a myth - it's confirmed fact - we're all completely out of our trees, off our rockers, stark raving mad.
Ha ha! I've seen a few of them, but not keeping track - the rendition of 'Heroes' was something to behold. Actually, I've just watched a few just now. It's not a myth - it's confirmed fact - we're all completely out of our trees, off our rockers, stark raving mad.
The weirdest thing about that is seeing Fripp smile.
The biggest loon(and I mean that in a good way)is Robert’s sister Patricia. She’s a motivational speaker and part time merch girl...Ha ha! I've seen a few of them, but not keeping track - the rendition of 'Heroes' was something to behold. Actually, I've just watched a few just now. It's not a myth - it's confirmed fact - we're all completely out of our trees, off our rockers, stark raving mad.
Indeed. I met him many moons ago, standing on a table at the back of the Orange Club - Toyah needed to get on the table to see(!) so he got up there also. Having spent a couple of minutes chatting to them, I think he is laughing on the inside all the time...
