About Me
Mickey Finn :His experiences and the people he met are so numerous and various than drawing up Mickey Finns biography is a real adventure. Indeed his way looks like the phantasm of all 60s and 70s English rock lovers, during its most beautiful period, the one that gave birth to so many mythical bands. Mickey was there. On the side of those who were on stage, not even realizing the fury they would provoke.Today, he lit a cigarette, made some coffee, and told me, in the astounding simple way of those who dont even notice anymore that their ways are amazing.Mickey Finn started playing the guitar with the strangers in the Club 59 in London when he was 13 years old. It was the beginning of the 60s. This club had been created by a priest, Father Bill, for bikers No need to specify that the atmosphere was really hot! There, he met Jimmy Page (it starts well and its only the beginning), who became a friend and introduced him to the singer, Casey Jones (with who the Beatles used to play at that time in a band named "Casey Jones and the silver beatles"). Mickey entered in "Casey Jones and the engineers". Then it startedThey recorded the song "One way ticket" that entered the top 50 in Great Britain.Back from a tour in Germany Mickey forms a new band called "Mickey Finn and the Blue Men" with the singer Allan Mark.They recorded "Tom Hark (goes blue beat)" under the "Blue Beat" label, a Jamaican record company. This song became a great hit for the mods.The band changed of label to sign with Oriole. Jimmy Page then joined the band and they recorded pills (no comment) that became another hit for the mods, but was censored by the radio and the television (that increased the success).The band went on tour with the Rolling Stones, then the Kinks and the Yardbirds. This tour was filmed by English television.With Oriole, they recorded "Reeling and Rocking" that entered the English charts.Jimmy Page then joined the Yardbirds while "Mickey Finn and the Blue Men" signed with Columbia and recorded "The Sporting life". They toured in the Caribbean, and in the greatest nightclubs and casinos of California, New York and Florida.The band became resident of the night club "Blaises". One night, the girlfriend of Keith Ricards, Linda Keith, came with a guitarist from New York who asked to jam with the band. He was left handed but didnt give up with Mickeys guitar (who thought he was crazy) and started playing with the strings upside down. He was unbelievable. Hello England : here comes Jimmy HendrixMickey Finn and the Blue Mens managers, Laurie OLeary and Jim Carterfee, opened the Speakeasy in London, which became the meeting place of the musicians in London. Mickey Finn and the Blue Men was the resident band of this club. Every night, a famous band played, then the concerts used to turn into jam sessions that gathered artists such as Hendrix, Lemi (Motorhead), Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Chuck berry, Zappa, Keith Moon, Clapton, Ray Charles, Steevie Wonder, the Doors, the Who, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, Jeff Beck, Rod Stuart And many others!Mickey Finn and the Blue Men toured then in Germany to go with Chuck Berry during 6 weeks.They also hit the road with The Drifters, The Four Tops and many other American singers.The tours followed each other, in Germany, Spain The band stayed one season in St Tropez then focused back on the United States.The band split when Allan Mark, the singer, decided to buy a night club and stay in the Caribbean.Mickey went back to London. The Speakeasy was still there. He recorded the album "Sam Gopal" with Sam Gopal, tabla player, also called "rockn roll tabla player", and finds another guitarist to replace Lemi, who had gone to form Motorhead.He went on tour in Europe with Sam Gopal then stops playing a little while to profit by the sun of St Tropez and Monte Carlo.His meeting with Terry Scott made him decide to go back to the studio to record the album "Heaven Brass Rock" signed with CBS. Terry Scott then participated to the White Island festival.Mickey went on tour with Jeff Beck.He recorded a new album with Rak Records : "Hanging on" with Terry Scott and Heaven.Heaven played in St Tropez for one season. During that time, the band became the Heavy Metal Kids. Nino Ferrer heard them play and asked them to take part in the recording of an album called "Nino Ferrer and Legs".Mickey then went back to London, to the Speakeasy while Terry chose to stay in Paris. Gary Holton was going to become the new singer of Heavy Metal Kids. They signed with Atlantic Records, and recorded the album "The Heavy Metal Kids" who became a hit. Their concerts were real big shows, directed by Richard OBrian (who will then work on the "Rocky horror picture show").The band went on tour with Humble PieMickey and Steve Marriot recorded the album "Steve Marriot all stars" in Los Angeles, with Carmin Appiece, Buddy Miles, Grey Ridley, Ian WallaceMickey went back to the studio in London where he played for Murray Head on the album "Say it aint so".He went back to the United States for a tour with Steeve Marriot and Humble Pie.Then he went back again to England to record the solo album of Phil May "Fallen Angels".Then he recorded the album "Blana" for Nino Ferrer, in France, in Blana Castle.He met Jacques Higelin thanks to Patrick Orieux, Nino Ferrers sound engineer. Then he replaced Louis Bertignac in Higelins band. It was during the 80s. Mickey composed films and advertisements soundtracks with Patrick Orieux. He also played as an actor several times.Back to the United States, he played with Crystall during 3 years.Mickey settled down in New Orleans where he played with Bill Gregory, Dr John. He used to come back in France regularly to work with Nino Ferrer and Jacques Higelin.1989 : birth of his daughter Tara.He recorded a new album with Terry Scott : "Scott on the rocks".1998 : Mickey Finn and Chris Lynn recorded "Black Hole".2002 : Mickey Finn and the Blue Men was re-formed with the drummer Alain Gouillard (also called Merlin), the bassist Laurent Saligault, and Leroy Jones (ex hit singer).2003 : Mickey Finn met the singer Jo. It gave birth to a new record. A new story beganJo :Jo was born in the music universe. Her father, a pianist, quickly taught her the ropes to sing : when she was only 9 years old she used to sing a few songs in the piano-bars where he played. At this time she recorded with him a cartoon soundtrack for "Carbone 14".Registered in the concervatoire since she was 7 years old, she learned music theory, the piano and the dance. She stayed 10 years there, but started escaping when she was 12 years old, to go singing in the caves of Reims with her first rock band.In High School, she took part in a new band (and coloured her hair in blue Driving her mother to despair). They played Nirvana, Aerosmith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gunsn RosesShe lived the concervatoire and went in a music school where she discovered Blues. Secretly, she replaced her piano lessons by guitar lessons.Then came the University. Jo entered in a band called "Les alligators de lenfer" where she sang Tracy Chapman, Black Crowes She played the bass in "Los Barouderos" and finaly also sang with them.At that time, Jo still had a crystal clear voice. Until she sang in a band called "Haya" where they played Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Deep PurpleJo didnt want a soft voice anymore. Not for that music, not to express those things. She was going then to cross definitely the line to get a broken voice : she sculpted it, forced it. At that time singing really became sort of a disease for her. Jo listened with all her attention Robert Plants voice to understand what was happening in the throat and in the heart of this singer that became her idol.She entered in a band called Orphée where the trend was Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Yngwie Malmsteen, AC/DC She also sang for TV shows soundtracks, and made a few voices.Thats where the meeting occurred, the real one.Turning in a street, going back home, the music fair night, Jo heard Mickey Finn playing the guitar with his band "Mickey Finn and the Blue Men". She sang one song for pleasure with them. Since then, Mickey and Jo never left each other.This meeting was decisive for Jo : no more imitation, now it was time to compose. Mickey and Jo went to the sea side to create songs. She wrote songs in French that sounded different. They had two possible directions, and tested the new songs during concerts. Jo took back the bass and the band started to look for drummers.Now Mickey Finn and Jo have become inseparable. This meeting was a beautiful story.
