Mick Karn (born 24 July 1958) is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and songwriter, most noted as the bassist for the art rock band Japan, from 1974 to 1982.
Karn was born Anthony Michaelides in Nicosia, Cyprus, before emigrating to London, England, at the age of 3. He has worked with such noted and diverse artists as Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Midge Ure, and Joan Armatrading. After Japan broke up, he formed Dali's Car with Peter Murphy of the gothic post-punk group Bauhaus, which recorded one album in 1984. In the 1990s he worked with artist David Torn and a number of Japanese musicians, including the band NiNa. Since then he has worked as a solo artist and as a photographer.
Karn's use of the fretless bass guitar, an unusual instrument in modern popular music, produces a distinctive sound and playing style, which makes his playing immediately recognizable.
Karn played an aluminum-neck Travis Bean bass on all Japan albums up to Gentlemen Take Polaroids. In 1981 he moved to the renowned Wal basses, purchasing two Mark I instruments, one with rare African tulipwood facings, the other a cherry solidbody. Karn recorded Japan's last studio album Tin Drum with the Wal and has continued to use them, and now also plays the headless Klein 'K Bass.'
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