Mike Harrison (musician)

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Mike Harrison
Mike Harrison in 1969
Background information
Born(1942-09-30)30 September 1942
Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Died25 March 2018(2018-03-25) (aged 75) [1][2]
Carlisle
GenresPsychedelic rock
Progressive rock
Occupation(s)Singer, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards
Years active
  • 1963-1975
  • 1997-2018

Mike Harrison (30 September 1942 in Carlisle, Cumberland, England – 25 March 2018, Carlisle[1][2]) was an English musician, most notable as a principal lead singer of Spooky Tooth[3] and as a solo artist. He was also the lead singer in The V.I.P.'s, Art and the Hamburg Blues Band, among others.

Spooky Tooth

Further information: Spooky Tooth

Mike Harrison began his musical career with the Ramrods

Hall and Oates.[5]

Spooky Tooth first broke up in 1970, reformed in 1972 and broke up for a second time in 1974. Harrison developed a renewed interest in music as of the 1990s, resulting in the recording of three songs with original members Mike Kellie, Luther Grosvenor and Greg Ridley in 1997. Recording continued in 1998, resulting in the release of Cross Purpose in 1999, the first Spooky Tooth album in twenty-five years, following the 1974 release of The Mirror, in which Harrison had not participated. He had left the band in 1973, following the release of Witness. Cross Purpose was also the first Spooky Tooth album to feature four of the five original members since Spooky Two, released in 1969.

Harrison's return to music during the 1997-1999 period was followed by a 2004 reunion and tour with original Spooky Tooth members

Late Starter, was released.[6]

Mike Harrison with Hamburg Blues Band in 2004

Harrison, Wright and Kellie continued to perform as Spooky Tooth during 2008, after which Kellie departed. Harrison and Wright continued as Spooky Tooth during 2009.

Solo

Harrison commenced a solo career in 1971, which was anticipated with The Last Puff, the band's 1970 breakup album, billed as "Spooky Tooth, featuring Mike Harrison". Harrison released two solo albums in 1971 and 1972, followed by a third in 1975, subsequent to the band's final breakup in 1974.

Harrison then discovered that the royalties from his solo albums were being applied, without his knowledge or consent, to debts allegedly owed by Spooky Tooth to Island Records. Following the 1975 release of his album Rainbow Rider, Harrison decided to leave the music industry entirely, and remained largely inactive from 1975 until 1997.[6] The reason for his extended departure from music was primarily financial. Beyond a weekly stipend from Island Records, band members received no further benefits, including royalties.[6] Instead, debts were accumulated, considered to be owed to the record company. Among other occupations, Harrison worked as a barman and drove meat and milk delivery trucks.[6]

In 1999, Harrison was also offered a regular monthly engagement with the Hamburg Blues Band.[6] This led to the release of Touch in 2001. The album featured lyrics by Pete Brown, longtime collaborator with Jack Bruce, with music by the Hamburg Blues Band and vocals by Harrison.

Death

Harrison continued to perform on occasion after that time but died on 25 March 2018 in Carlisle at age 75 of undisclosed causes.[7]

Discography

Solo
With The V.I.P.'s
Main article: The V.I.P.'s (band)
With Art
With Spooky Tooth
With the Hamburg Blues Band
  • 2001 Touch - billed as "Mike Harrison meets The Hamburg Blues Band"

References

  1. ^ a b Overview of Mike Harrison; AllMusic. There appears to be some differences as to whether his year of birth is 1942 or 1945. While the AllMusic profile references 1945, most biographies reference 1942, which was later confirmed by his daughter.
  2. ^ a b "Carlisle-born rock musician Harrison dies". BBC News. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  3. ^ The other being Gary Wright, for much of the band's career.
  4. ^ "The Ramrods". 29 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b Jim Farber, What Happened to Spooky Tooth?. Music Aficionado, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
  6. ^
    Teamrock
    .com, 23 May 2014. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
  7. ^ For example, Harrison performed in Bremen in 2012, as part of a "Star Club Meets Beat Club" event: Event particulars: "Star-Club Meets Beat-Club", 19 October 2012; Radio Bremen. Retrieved 2017-12-28.

External links

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