Forming a Chicago blues band at Rutlish School, Merton Park in South London 1963 was not the way to become instantly popular with the "in crowd". However, Mick and his friends Nigel Sharpe, Pete Smith, John Medlin and Paul Harris knew what they wanted to hear and play - the music of Alexis Korner, The Pretty Things and The Rolling Stones.. the blues. The "Stonewall Blues Band".. (with no connection whatsoever to the later gay movement!) rehearsed regularly and for the pure pleasure of the music for a year, and then, with Geb Ring on bass played it's first date at a local youth club, with Mick still inspired by the appearance at the school fete of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers featuring one Mr. Eric Clapton.
The band kept busy with rehearsals and local gigs, but it was soon time to move on. Mick and Geb went on to work with various other London bands ending with up the Cliff Charles Blues Band and playing three momentous dates.. Warwick University with the Graham Bond Organisation, Middle Earth club in London also with Graham Bond, and the Nags Head blues club in Battersea with Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac!
In 1968 Mick met up with singer / harp player Bill Thorndycraft. Founding the band KILLING FLOOR with Stuart McDonald, Bazz Smith and Lou Martin they hit the road and had an eventful four year ride of recording and touring, backing Freddie King on two UK tours and playing concerts with Howlin' Wolf, Captain Beefheart, The Nice, Yes, Jethro Tull and many other important acts of the time. The band recorded two albums released worldwide, and toured across Europe.
After the band went into its extended rest period in 1972 Mick went on to work with numerous other bands. The first of these was Toefat, the blues rock band formed by the blues and soul singer Cliff Bennett. This was followed by a spell with the American band Daddy Longlegs, touring all over the UK and Northern Europe, playing a mix of blues and rock. When this band finished Mick went through a spell of confusion.. the blues was not happening in England at the time, and Mick played with a variety of strange bands formed by ex members of Roxy Music and others..
However, in the mid seventies Mick formed up with singer Stevie Smith, and along with Stuart McDonald created SALT - an excellent hard hitting blues rock band. SALT was very successful on the English club and college scene playing many times at the famous Marquee club in London and building a strong following. The band later opened for Muddy Waters and performed at the Reading Festival in 1977.
The Punk Rock explosion signalled the end of SALT and its successor Ramrod, and again Mick went into a directionless period..living for a year in Los Angeles before returning to London to continue with a second version of SALT, battling against the prevailing winds of new wave and two tone...
In the early eighties Mick finally started a solo career and has been touring and recording with the Mick Clarke Band ever since.
Albums have included "Steel and Fire" produced by Mike Vernon, and "West Coast Connection" recorded in America with ex members of the Robert Cray Band and Roomfull of Blues. "No Compromise" received heavy airplay on UK radio..his current CD "Solid Ground" is his thirteenth album release. Mick tours regularly all over Europe performing at the top clubs and festivals, and has toured in America five times, including shows with Canned Heat and Johnny Winter. In 2008 The Mick Clarke Band continues to record and tour, with club and festival appearances scheduled across Europe. He recently appeared at the Great British R&B Festival in Colne as part of the "British Blues All Stars", and Killing Floor have now played new live shows featuring the original 1968 line-up.
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Go to Mick's website mickclarke.com
Mick Clarke uses Gibson, Fender Squier and Danelectro electric guitarsTanglewood electro acoustic guitars, Marshall amplication and GHS Strings
Photos: Above - Carola Holl, Right - Carlo Aquistapace
