Mic Christopher

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Mic Christopher
Groningen
, Netherlands
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Known forThe Mary Janes

Michael "Mic" Christopher (21 September 1969 – 29 November 2001) was an Irish singer-songwriter, best known for his posthumously-released debut album Skylarkin'.

Early life

Michael Christopher was born in

Karl and David Odlum, Glen Hansard
and others.

Musical career

In 1990, Christopher formed the band The Mary Janes

Victoria, Australia. In 2001, having recovered from a bad motorbike accident, Christopher released his solo Heyday EP and announced that he would be supporting The Waterboys
on their next tour.

Death

Christopher’s 2001 tour with The Waterboys performed in

Groningen, Netherlands, on 16 November 2001.[5] That night, after he had played his set supporting The Waterboys, Christopher was found unconscious, having apparently struck his head on some steps during an accidental fall.[6] On arrival at a local hospital, he was found to have lapsed into a coma as a result of severe swelling to the brain. He never regained consciousness, and died on 29 November 2001.[7]

Skylarkin'

Christopher had been working on a solo album entitled Skylarkin' prior to his death. The album was incomplete but Christopher had made notes as to how the recordings could be improved. During November 2002, work from many of his friends and family resulted in the posthumous release of Christopher's first and only solo album. Skylarkin' later won Best Album at the 2003 Meteor Awards.[8] His family were present to collect the award.[9][10][11]

Legacy

  • Since Christopher's death,
    Heyday
    " to him when played live.
  • Damien Rice dedicated his album O, released eight weeks after Christopher's death, to his departed friend.
  • Lisa Hannigan dedicated the song "Splishy Splashy" to him on her debut album Sea Sew (2008).
  • Rónán Ó Snodaigh from Kíla, who co-wrote the song Friends with Mic and shared a flat with him in the years before his death, wrote the song "The dream I haven't shown her" on his album The Playdays for Mic, it is a medley of the W.H. Auden poem; Funeral Blues and a song written by Mic Christopher Embrace the Day.
  • In 2021, The Mary Janes released a previously unrecorded track named "Heartbreaker" about Christopher.
  • In 2021, Christopher's friends and family held a tribute concert, titled Happy Birthday Mic Christopher. The concert was held at Whelans, Dublin.[12] On 21 September 2021, a live album, recorded by Christopher in 2001, was released.[13]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

  • Live at the Lobby (2021)

References

  1. ^ Troubadour (Television production). Leargas. Ireland: Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). 3:30 minutes in. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Irish singer Mic Christopher dies". 30 November 2001.
  3. ^ "Irish Music Central – The Mary Janes – Biography". irishmusiccentral.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b Clark, Stuart. "Mic Christopher album gets vinyl release on what would have been his 48th birthday". Hotpress. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  5. ^ "The Waterboys Setlist at De Oosterpoort, Groningen, Netherlands". setlist.fm. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Gewonde blijkt Ierse muzikant". RTV Noord (in Dutch). 21 November 2001. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Irish singer Mic Christopher dies". RTE. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Geldof wins Lifetime Gong at Meteor Awards ceremony". Irish Examiner. 3 March 2003. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  9. ^ "LAST FOREVER – HEYDAY: THE MIC CHRISTOPHER STORY". Totally Dublin. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  10. ^ "2003 Meteor Ireland Music Award Nominees". RTE. 5 February 2003. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Mic Christopher". Irish Music Central. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  12. ^ Meagher, John (18 September 2021). "Mic Christopher: 'Twenty years gone and he still resonates with so many people'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Live At The Lobby". Spotify. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2022.

External links