BIO
British Blues Guitarist Mick Clarke presents the new album "Big Wheel" - including the single "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" Album released 17 April 2020. New single "Long As You Live" released 8th May.
Mick has become an established name on the international touring scene and has played regularly in Europe, Asia and the USA. Praised for his fiery "straight from the wood" guitar sound, Mick is the winner of the 2014 Artist Aloud Awards "Best International Act" and appeared at Sweden Rock Festival in June 2018, playing directly opposite metal legends Iron Maiden.
Mick began his career with KILLING FLOOR part of the British blues boom of the late 1960s. The band backed Texas blues guitar star Freddie King and toured with legends Howlin' Wolf, Otis Spann and Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup. Two albums were released - the first, "Killing Floor" is one of Classic Rock Magazines "20 greatest British blues albums 1967-1970". In 2003 Killing Floor reformed for recording and tour projects, and recent live work has included several European blues and rock festivals.
In the mid 70s Mick co-formed SALT with British singer Stevie Smith, a powerful blues-rock act who were a big hit in the UK playing regularly at London's Marquee Club and other top venues. The band played at the Reading Festival and also opened for Muddy Waters at his first major London concert. In 1978 the band morphed into RAMROD with ex Rory Gallagher Band members Lou Martin and Rod De'Ath, touring in Ireland and again playing extensively in London, opening for Muddy at his Rainbow Theatre concert.
THE MICK CLARKE BAND originally started working around the London area in the early 80s, but quickly received offers of work from mainland Europe and the United States. Early festival appearances such as the Belgium R&B Festival in Peer confirmed their appeal for continental audiences, while the US tours established a world wide reputation for the band.
Mick's first solo album "Looking For Trouble" came out on the Italian label Appaloosa in the early 80s and sold well. More albums quickly followed including "West Coast Connection" recorded in Portland, Oregon with an all star line-up including Curtis Salgado, Rod DeAth (Rory Gallagher Band) and Dover Weinberg (Robert Cray Band). Later releases were on the German label Taxim, including the classics "No Compromise" and "Roll Again". "Happy Home" on Mick's U.S. label Burnside featured just Mick with Lou Martin on piano and some old favourite songs. "Live in Luxembourg" was Mick's first live album, recorded in 2002 at the "Big Blues" in Luxembourg, and the 2007 "Solid Ground" contains thirteen original blues rock compositions.
"The Rambunctious Blues Experiment" was recorded at Mick's home studio in Surrey, "Rockfold" and features Mick with Russell Chaney on drums and Dangerous Dave Newman on harp. "Ramdango","Crazy Blues" and 2015's "Shake It Up" were also recorded at Rockfold, but by Mick alone, on a variety of instruments - real drums, but not necessarily all at once. The live "Ruff'n'Roar" showcases the band's down home blues side, live in a small club with Chris Sharley on drums and Eddie Masters on bass. "Diggin' Down", "Bent Frets" and "Steppin' Out" have continued Mick's solo approach to studio recording, although "Steppin' Out" features a guest appearance by harp player Dangerous Dave Newman. The new "Big Wheel" continues the approach with a mix of blues and rock.
The Mick Clarke Band was established in the early 80s and has appeared on numerous festivals with artists such as Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter and Joe Bonamassa. Recent shows have included festival appearances in Italy, Belgium and India - the "Simply The Blues" Festivals in Mumbai and Bangalore. In July 2017 Mick appeared at the Mostar Blues & Rock Festival in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In June 2018 Mick played at Sweden Rock Festival, one of Europe's major rock events, headlined by Iron Maiden and Ozzy Osbourne.
In July 2019 the band headlined the Blues Night at the Karlshamn Baltic Festival, Sweden. In the U.S.A. Mick has appeared with artists such as Johnny Winter, Canned Heat, Foghat and C.J.Chenier. The Southern California Blues Society called him "One of the finest blues players to come out of England". Mick has released twenty two solo albums so far.
The band usually features Chris Sharley on drums and Eddie Masters on bass, either as a three piece or augmented with Dave Lennox on keyboards or Dangerous Dave Newman on harp.
Coming up to his 70th birthday Mick continues to record and release music from his own Rockfold Studio. Despite a current live hiatus, 36 years from its formation the MC Band continues to rock the blues.
Discography
MICK CLARKE
Looking For Trouble Appaloosa (Italy) 1984
Rock Me Appaloosa (Italy) 1986
All These Blues Appaloosa (Italy) 1988
West Coast Connection Brambus 1989 (Switzerland) NebulaCircle (USA) BGO (UK)
Steel and Fire Line (Germany) 1990 Burnside (USA) BGO (UK)
Tell the Truth Taxim (Germany) 1991 Burnside (USA) BGO (UK)
No Compromise Taxim (Germany) 1993 Burnside (USA) BGO
Roll Again Taxim (Germany) 1995 BGO
Happy Home Burnside (USA) 1998 Allegro (USA)
New Mountain Burnside (USA) 2000 Allegro (USA)
Live in Luxembourg Taxim (Germany) 2003 BGO
Solid Ground Taxim (Germany) 2008
The Rambunctious Blues Experiment
Rockfold (UK) 2011
Ramdango Rockfold (UK) 2013 BGO (UK)
Crazy Blues Rockfold (UK) 2014 BGO (UK)
Shake It Up Rockfold (UK) 2015 BGO (UK)
Ruff'n'Roar - Live at Scratchers Rockfold (UK) 2016
Diggin' Down Rockfold (UK) 2017 BGO (UK)
Bent Frets Rockfold (UK) 2018 BGO (UK)
Steppin' Out Rockfold (UK) 2019 BGO (UK)
Big Wheel Rockfold (UK) 2020
KILLING FLOOR
Killing Floor Spark (UK) 1969 Sire Records (USA)
Out of Uranus Penny Farthing 1970 Repertoire (Germany), Akarma (Italy), Mailbox (Japan)
Zero Tolerance Appaloosa (Italy) 2004
Rock'n'Roll Gone Mad Rockfold (UK) 2012
SALT
The Cobra's Melodies Rockfold (UK) 2011
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Otherwise please feel free to draw from the bio and Photos pages
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What the papers say
"Excellent, Excellent British Guitarist"
Living Blues Magazine (USA)
"Clarke proves that he can hold his own among todays blues rock stars"
Blues Revue (USA)
"One of the finest blues players to come out of England"
The Southern California Blues Society, Los Angeles, California
"The ultimate tip for all blues brothers"
Metal Hammer Magazine, Germany
"Clarke has "The Tone" most guitarists search for like the Holy Grail"
The River Reporter, Narrowsburg, N.Y.
"A lethal mixture of people like Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Roy Buchanan, Albert Collins etc."
Deuce Magazine, Switzerland
"Smashing guitar work"
Blueprint Magazine, England
"Clarke chews off big, gritty chunks of the blues with his guitar style,thick, timeless and true"
Willamette Week, Portland, Oregon
"Raw,Roadhouse blues and boogie (from) ace blues guitar hero"
Time Out, London
"A journeyman musician who always delivers the goods"
Rock'n'Reel Magazine, (USA)
"Exciting guitar and great compositions"
Buscadero, Italy
"A hot guitarist with a good ear for material and a tight band"
L.A.Reader, Los Angeles, California
"this band knows what the blues is all about"
Blues Bytes(USA)
"One of the greatest Blues guitarists ever"
Terry Murphy, the Bridgehouse, Canning Town(UK)
"Mick Clarke came on like a steamroller out of control...a burning night of electric blues"
Cascade Blues Society, (USA)
"The man holds back nothing and gets his audience involved from the start"
Positively Entertainment, Portland, Oregon
"Some of the hardest rocking blues you'll ever get a chance to shake a leg to"
Detroits Magazine, Olympia, Washington
..a guitarist who's qualities of passion and consistency have never been compromised by changing fads or the slightest suggestion of a Hendrix/SRV fixation
Soundcheck Magazine, London
"A premier British blues guitarist"
Music City Blues, (USA)
Live Highlights
Mojo Festival 2019, Bishops Castle, Shropshire
Simply The Blues, Mumbai, India 2014
Mostar Blues and Rock Festival, Bosnia-Herzegovina 2017
Sweden Rock Festival, Solvesborg, Sweden 2018 w/ Iron Maiden
Tring Blues and Beer Festival UK 2016
Blueshappening Zelzate, Belgium 2015
Seven Nights To Blues Festival 2013, Lille, France
Karlshamn Baltic Festival 2019, Sweden
Norretljes Blues Festival 2011, Sweden
Blues Express, Luxembourg 2013
Fiamene, Italy 2014
Viana Do Castello Blues Festival 2007, Portugal
Simply The Blues, Bangalore, India 2014
Trescore British Blues Festival 2007, Italy (Killing Floor)
Rockland BluesRocking Summerfest 2007, Sweden w/ Joe Bonamassa
Baden Blues Festival 2006, Switzerland
Open Air Gross Lindow 2006, Germany (Killing Floor)
Harelbeke Rock & Blues 2006, Belgium (Killing Floor)
Willem Tell 10th Anniversary 2006, Belgium
Sweden Rock Festival 2012 (Killing Floor) w / Motorhead, Blue Oyster Cult
Bluezy Blues Festival, Netherlands 2012
Patersdreef Blues Festival 2005 & 1992, Tielt, Belgium
Trescore British Blues Festival 2007, Italy (Killing Floor) w/ Bob Hall, Dave Peabody
Rock at Sea 2004, Stockholm, Sweden w/ Nazareth
Reading Festival 1977, England (SALT)
Rocking the Blues Festival 2005, England w/ The Yardbirds
Big Blues 2002, Luxembourg, w/ Bo Diddley
Belgium R&B Festival, Peer, Belgium, w/ Robert Cray
Bonn Blues Festival, Bonn, Germany, w/ Rory Gallagher
Tanzbrunnen Open Air, Cologne, Germany, w/ Johnny Winter
Blues'd Up Festival 2005, Belgium
Blues at Sea 2006, Stockholm, Sweden (Killing Floor)
Rock at Sea 2006, Stockholm, Sweden (Killing Floor)
Bragdoya Blues Festival 2004, Norway
New Victoria Theatre, London (SALT) w/ Muddy Waters
Farmer Phil's Festival 2004, 2003 & 2001, United Kingdom
Bergen Jazz and Blues Festival 2005 & 2002, Netherlands
Darlington Blues & Brews 2004, United Kingdom
Harderwijk Blues Route 2003, Netherlands
Great British R&B Festival 2005, Colne, England (with British Blues Allstars)
Piazza Blues Festival 2004, Bellinzona, Switzerland
Alcamo Blues 2000, Sicily
The Rainbow, London (Ramrod) w/ Muddy Waters
Welons Open Air 2003, Wintelre, Netherlands
Harelbeke Rock and Blues 2002, Belgium, w/ Tony Joe White
Easter Rock Festival 1972, Hamburg, Germany (with Killing Floor) w/ Black Sabbath
Amersfoort Blues Festival 2001, Netherlands
BohRock Xtra, Bocholt, Germany, w/ John Mayall
Kirkby Rock and Blues 2000, Kirkby, United Kingdom
Carrot Blues Festival 2003, Wervershoof, Netherlands
Live in Reitwein 2001, Frankfurt(Od) Germany
Blues Route, Utrecht, Netherlands
Thun Blues Festival 2002, Switzerland
Manchester Free Trade Hall 1969, England (with Killing Floor) w/ Howlin' Wolf, Freddie King
White and Blues Festival 2000, Sora, Italy
Blaublues 2002, Belgium
Belgian Blues/Rock Festival Houthem, Belgium
Bury Blues Festival 2002, United Kingdom, w/ Hubert Sumlin
Assen T T Nacht 2000 and 2002, Assen, Netherlands
Jazz in Duke Town, Den Bosch, Netherlands
Ehornli Rock 98, Eschenbach, Switzerland
Kajaani International Jazz Festival, Kajaani Finland
Burnley Mechanics Blues Festival, Burnley, United Kingdom
Open Air, Empfenbach, Germany
Bonn Blues Festival, Bonn Germany w/ Canned Heat
Fiamene, Verona, Italy
Swing 90 and 94, Wespelaar, Belgium
Open Air Aarau, Switzerland
Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A w/ Elvin Bishop, Jessie Mae Hemphill
Nuvolaro 2000, Cuneo, Italy
Frog and Roll Festival, Lillers, France w/ The Troggs, the Pretty Things
Woodstock 90, Lugano, Switzerland
Kwadendaam Blues-Rock, Netherlands
Granicher Hohlenfest, Switzerland
Kijk Uit, Beernem 90 & 92, Belgium
Take a Walk Festival, Sittard, Netherlands
Bemd Festival, Arendonk, Belgium
Ichtygem Blues Festival, Belgium
Zweissimen Rock, Switzerland
Pump Up The Blues, Geertruidenberg, Netherlands
Big Day Out, Henstridge 99, United Kingdom w/ Ze 'Amsters!
Midzommer Blues Festival, Wychen, Netherlands
Roots Rock Festival, Nidrum, Belgium (two years)
Ravenna Blues Festival, Italy w/ Little Charlie and the Nightcats and Sonny Rhodes
Handzamme Blues Festival, Belgium (two years) w/ Louisiana Red
Detroits, Olympia Washington USA w/ Johnny Winter
Chapella Festival, Switzerland
Heineken Blues, Emmen, Netherlands
Blandford Music Festival, Blandford Forum, United Kingdom
Drijf-in Blues Festival 99, Giethoorn, Netherlands w/ The Animals
Swelmpop, Holland 99 w/ The Animals
Fort Festival, Einsedeln, Switzerland
Sommerrockfest, Eichstatt, Germany
Harley Davidson Super-Rally, Murrazano, Italy
Nave Blues, Italy
Ovezande Blues Festival, Netherlands
Beach Party, Gersau, Switzerland
Open-Air Nunningen, Switzerland w/ Luther Allison
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