For those of you who don’t know who Micky Jones was, well he was the ever-present guitarist and singer with the Welsh band Man.
From Merthyr Tydfil, Micky started out in local band The Bystanders who morphed into Man at the end of the 1960s.
The band were incredibly popular on the gigging circuit throughout the 1970s, especially with the underground fans who loved that American West Coast jamming groove of the Dead and Quicksilver. They went through many changes of personnel with Micky remaining there through it all.
They never really translated their live popularity into chart success although they did get albums into the Top 40 occasionally.
They used to love stretching things out on stage and Micky’s guitar and voice were trademarks of the band’s sound. They were a hard band to quantify; a bit proggy, rocky, country flourishes, long jams, a bit psychedelic and altogether special.
I loved them and used to try and get along to their London gigs whenever possible and I was lucky enough to be at the Roundhouse when they recorded the live record of their Back Into The Future double album in June 1973. Happy days!
I am not going to write a history of the band, there is plenty of info about them here and here but I just want to leave a small mark of respect for Micky, who had been suffering from brain tumours since 2005.
So, thanks Micky, for all the lovely music. You are going to be missed.
Respect. One of my most-played LPs from those days “The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other” with C’mon and Bananas, a wonderful fold-out map of Wales and full of those rippling guitars which I preferred to Wishbone Ash, Mick and Deke Leonard grooving properly. RIP.
Respect. One of my most-played LPs from those days “Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day” with C’mon and Bananas, a wonderful fold-out map of Wales and full of those rippling guitars which I preferred to Wishbone Ash, Mick and Deke Leonard grooving properly. RIP.
I was going to add links, but the technology escapes me as ever.
Hey ! I must be half-asleep and viral. Check the difference between those two posts haha.
Man were secretly VDGG????????????
Wow?
Wow! even
I had a Welsh friend who was a great admirer of Man. I was never totally sure it wasn’t partially a mandatory taste if you were Welsh…
Carole, looking for a Bird Song on Spotty, I noticed they have the latest Dead release I told you about (Crimson, White & Indigo). It sounds very good; Jerry is definitely on. Strong vocally, too