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Mick Green 1944 -2010Mick Green Memorial Concert
One of the original breed of authentic British lead guitarists, Green initially lent his considerable six-string skills to Johnny Kidd & the Pirates before becoming guitarist of choice for artists such as Bryan Ferry, Van Morrison and Sir Paul McCartney. He joined his school friends, bassist Johnny Spence and drummer Frank Farley, in the Pirates in 1962, just after the band scored a huge hit with 'Shakin' All Over' with Joe Moretti on lead guitar. His distinctive style was keenly felt on Johnny Kidd & the Pirates' 1964 hit, 'I'll Never Get Over You,' while the band's version of 'Doctor Feelgood' went on to inspire the Canvey Island band of the same name a decade later. Indeed, it was during the 1970s that the Pirates came into their own as a live act and made a huge impact on the era's flourishing pub-rock scene. More recently, Mick appeared on Sir Paul McCartney's 1999 album, 'Run Devil Run' and Van Morrison's 2008 album, 'Keep It Simple'. His son, Brad, said, "It is with the greatest of sorrow that I have to inform you all that my father, Mick Green, has this morning (Jan. 11 2010) passed away. My dad will be deeply missed by his family, friends and fans all around the world. He inspired and dazzled with his amazing talent and his sharp personality and wit. His spirit and his music will continue to live on through his music. Thank you all for your support and thoughts." Editor: I've left the article below virtually intact from my original post. We will use it as the basis of a special tribute page. Messages of CondolenceAn email from Mike from Karl Terry & The Cruisers below. If any of the musos who played with Mick want to send a tribute I'd be happy to publish. You can also post a message to his family here From: M RUDZINSKI [mailto:michael.rudzinski@btinternet.com]
Honorary Scouser - Mick Green
My Babe - The Pirates 1964
See you in that big Gig in the Sky
Mick Green a Tribute From Ken Shalliker:
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Legendary Guitarist Mick Green passed away on January 11th
2010 aged 65. This is our little tribute to an honorary scouser.
I know we are biased but very few bands outside of Liverpool had
"the sound". There was one outstanding exception however and that was Johnny Kidd & The
Pirates. Johnny sadly was killed in a car crash in 1965 but the
Pirates remained one of the legends of the era playing the Cavern and
the Star Club in Hamburg. I have always been a big fan of the band and in particular of
Mick Green the lead guitarist. Mick also had a spell with Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas. In
addition to reviving the Pirates with the great bassist Johnny Spence,
Mick played along with the awesome Paul McCartney at the
Cavern concert a few years back with Dave Gilmour...now that's what I call a
band. Listen to one of my favourite tracks My Babe recorded in 1964.
In 1962 I had the privilege of playing on the same bill as Mick and the
boys or should I say Johnny Kidd and the Pirates at the Star
Club in Hamburg. Mick was outstanding so different to anything I had seen or heard before
and his ‘sound’ was amazing. I thought for a while ,before I got to know him, that he had some ‘special’
device fitted to his guitar and operated by his leg as all through his playing his leg would snap up and
down! His leg movement was purely to keep time and his fantastic guitar playing was achieved by playing
lead and rhythm guitar at the same time. He was playing a Gibson Les Paul Junior
with two rounded cutaways and a single Humbucker at the bridge position. What a guitar and what a sound he
got out of it, a wonderful combination. Part of Mick and the Pirates performance was based on the
Johnny Burnette Trio of the late fifties, have a look at the video below and you
will see what I mean.
In Later years when I switched over to playing lead guitar in a C&W
band the Foggy Mountain Ramblers (