|
It
was with great sadness that I learned last week of the passing of
one of the true moguls of the music industry, Mickie Most.
| "He
listened kindly to my 200 mph rantings and yours truly wasted
no time in telling him who should be on his TV programme. He
seemed like a nice fella..." |
I
never met him but I did have the pleasure of talking to him on the
phone back in 1978 while I was still at school.
I
was 15 at the time and the editor of our school punk fanzine, The
Modern World, and one lunchtime I decided to call the Birmingham
office of a new TV music show called Revolver to ask whether
it was possible for any London kids to come up to the recordings.
See,
Revolver was the nearest the punk/ new wave scene had to
its own version of Top Of The Pops - and it was Mickie's brainchild.
Presented by the wickedly funny Peter Cook - who played a grumpy
ballroom manager who LOATHED punk - its mix of new bands, retro
clips and humour was the perfect Saturday night tonic.
rantings
Over
its one and only series, Revolver boasted early, lightning
TV appearances from the likes of XTC, The Jam, the Rich Kids, Generation
X and Steel Pulse. If my fading memory serves me correctly, it was
also the show that gave Dire Straits their first TV outing, but
we'll forgive Mickie that one!
 |
|
An
established hitmaker by now, Micky worked with Nancy Sinatra
in 1969
|
I
asked a secretary in the office if I could speak to the great man
and, surprise surprise, was quickly put through. He listened kindly
to my
200-mph rantings and we proceeded to have a long discussion about
the state of the current music scene, while yours truly wasted no
time in telling him who should be on the programme. He seemed like
a nice fella.
Mickie - who lived in Totteridge north London - was a performer
in his own right in the early 60s.
astute businessman
Part
of a duo called The Most Brothers, it was while touring with the
Rolling Stones and the Everly Brothers that he first saw The Animals
in a Newcastle club.
He
swiftly put them on record and followed up with mega hits for artists
like the Nashville Teens, Donovan and Herman's Hermits, who at one
time in the mid-60s were selling more singles than The Beatles!
 |
|
Chrissie
Hynde and Jeff Beck were among the many stars at Micky's funeral
in Golders Green, north west London
|
An
astute businessman, Mickie was one of the first in the industry
to find an artist, make the records himself - and subsequently reap
the rewards.
The
70s saw him go on to launch his own record label, RAK, and enjoy
countless hits with Hot Chocolate, Suzi Qautro, Mud, Smokie and
a slew of others.
Mickie, to put it mildly, had great ears and his contribution to
the good ship Pop and all who sail in her was immense. Thanks for
the music, Mickie!
 listen
hear
The Animals and 'We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place' from Most
of The Animals click
here
(listen
in Windows Media Player - need
help?)
listen
hear
Hot Chocolate and 'Brother Louie' from 14 Greatest Hits
click
here
add
your opinion
email me direct at: yourlondon@bbc.co.uk
more
music
gigs
this week
music out this week: choice cuts
the
interview vault
|
Listen live
Click
through amazing shots of London from high up in a helicopter!