This band, which was named after the lead guitarist, Micky Waller aka "Mickey Finn", evolved out of a Shadows-like instrumental band called The Strangers, put together in Bethnal Green, East London, in Summer 1961 with Bevis Belmour rhythm guitar, Mick Stannard on bass, and Richard Brand on drums. The following year, they became a much more R&B-oriented group and enlisted vocalist Harry Bates.
By 1963, Waller and Brand left to form a more 'mod' sound band while the remainder of the group carried on as The Mates with a new drummer called Albert Smith.
In fact, they were both bitten by the Jamaican Blue Beat bug whilst hanging out at the Crypt Club, Aldgate, and then decided to concentrate on this music.
They therefore formed a new band, recruiting John Cooke aka "Fluff" on Keyboards, John Burkitt on bass and Alan Marks on vocals. After having heard about a drummer of the same name, with Cyril Davis & His R&B All Stars, Waller changed his surname to Finn. They called themselve "Mickey Finn & The Blue Men" and their agent, Don White, secured them a recording contract with Blue Beat records which released their debut single including a rendition of Elias & The Zig-Zag Jive Flutes "Tom Hark" coupled with "Please Love Me", composed by Alan Hawkshaw of Emile Ford & the Checkmates, in January 1964.
They would have recorded on Casey Jones & The Engineers single "One Way Ticket" b/w "I'm Gonna Love"...
After a couple of months, they switched to Oriole, and began recording with Jimmy Page on harmonica, after meeting him at Hackney Club 59.
The follow up, covering Bo Diddley's "Pills" and Jimmy Reed's "Hush Hush" (not to confuse with Bo Diddley's "Hush Your Mouth" as credited on its sleeve), was released in March 1964, which was banned after the police had discovered some purple hearts stashed in Mickey Waller's amp during a raid on The Scene Club.
Mid 1964, ex-Stranger, Mick Stannard replaced Burkitt on bass, and they became known as simply "The Mickey Finn".
Their final 45 for Oriole was a Chuck Berry number Reelin' And Rockin', but failed to chart though it was tipped as a hit on "Juke Box Jury".
Through their new manager, Chris Radmall, they got a deal with Columbia, and began recording with producer Shel Talmy in 1965: "This Sporting Life" (a smash hit for Ian Whicomb in US) /"Night Comes Down".Their 5th single, "I Do Love You"/"If I Had You Baby" was produced by Cy Paine and released in July 1966 on Polydor
The Mickey Finn spent the summer of 1967 in Southern France, where they had a residency at the Voom Voom Club, St-Tropez.Their most well known song was probably "Garden Of My Mind", with its Jimi Hendrix-influenced growling bass and pounding guitar work.They decided to call it a day in 1971, with Micky Waller and John Cooke going on to The Heavy Metal Kids (penning "Hangin' on" and "Kind Woman", 1974).
Waller relocated in France and became a sought-after session musician, recording with Nino Ferrer (LPs: "Nino Ferrer & Leggs", 1973; "Blanat", 1979; "Treizième LP"; "Ex-Libris", 1983; "Nino Ferrer & Cie"; "La Désabusion", 1993) and Jacques Higelin (LPs: "Champagne pour les uns, Caviar pour les autres"; "Higelin à Mogador", 1979; "Higelin 82", 1982). He eventually returned to the UK and joined Steve Marriott’s All Stars in 1976, and then ex-Pretty Things, Phil May & the Fallen Angels in 1977 ("The Return of the Electric Banana", 1978).
By 1999, Mickey Waller reformed Mickey Finn & the Blue Men with new musicians: Chris Lynn from the USA, on vocals and harmonica; Alain "Merlin" Gouillard from France (ex-Hubert Félix Thiéfaine and Louis Bertignac) on drums; and Alejendro Malassi from Argentina, on bass. The quartet recorded "Black Hole" LP.
From 2000 to 2003, they were joined by french bass player, Laurent Saligault, and american show man, Leroy Jones (ex-Tubes). Their final release was "Go Clean" EP, in June 2004, for Ten Minutes Productions.
From 2004 to 2011, Mickey Waller teamed up with Joane Calice, forming a blues-rock duet...
Micky Waller sadly died on 1 February 2013 in Paris.
Discography of Mickey Finn
Singles:
Singles:
As Mickey Finn & The Blue Men
- Tom Hark/Please Love Me (Blue Beat 203) - January 1964
- Pills/Hush Your Mouth (Oriole CB 1927) - March 1964
As The Mickey Finn
- Reelin' And Rockin'/I Still Want You (Oriole CB 1940) - June 1964
- The Sporting Life/Night Comes Down (Columbia DB 7510) - March 1965
- I Do Love You/If I Had You Baby (Polydor 56719) - July 1966
- Garden Of My Mind/Time To Start Loving You (Direction 58-3086) December 1967
- Ain't Necessarily So/God Bless The Child (Noiseburger ) - April 1995
EP & LP:
As Mickey Finn & The Blue Men
As Mickey Finn & The Blue Men
- Black Hole LP (Ten Minutes Productions) - 1999
- Go Clean EP (Ten Minutes Productions) - 2004
As Mickey Finn & Jo
- Lucky Like ThatLP(Ten Minutes Productions) - 2010
Various Line-ups and evolution of Mickey Finn & The Blue Men
The Strangers #1 (Summer 1961 - 1963)
- Harry Bates (Lead Vocals)
- Micky Waller (Lead Guitar) "Mickey Finn"
- Bevis Belmour (Rhythm Guitar)
- Mick Stannard (Bass)
- Richard Brand (Drums)
Mickey Finn & The Blue Men #1 (1963 - January 1964)
- Alan Marks (Lead Vocals)
- Micky Waller (Lead Guitar) "Mickey Finn"
- John Burkitt (Bass)
- John Cooke (Keyboards/Organ) "Fluff"
- Richard Brand (Drums)
Mickey Finn & The Blue Men #2 (January - March 1964)
- Alan Marks (Lead Vocals)
- Micky Waller (Lead Guitar) "Mickey Finn"
- Jimmy Page (Rhythm Guitar/Harp)
- John Burkitt (Bass)
- John Cooke (Keyboards/Organ) "Fluff"
- Richard Brand (Drums)
The Mickey Finn (April 1964 - 1971)
- Alan Marks (Lead Vocals)
- Micky Waller (Lead Guitar) "Mickey Finn"
- Mick Stannard then Rod Clark (Bass)
- John Cooke (Keyboards/Organ) "Fluff"
- Richard Brand (Drums)
- Micky Waller (Lead Guitar) "Mickey Finn"
- Chris Lynn (Lead Vocals/Harp)
- Leroy Jones (Lead Vocals...)
- Joane Calice (Lead Vocals/Bass)
- Alejendro Malassi (Bass)
- Laurent Saligault (Bass)
- John Cooke (Keyboards/Organ) "Fluff"
- Alain Gouillard (Drums) "Merlin"
If you have any further information and want to contribute to this site, please email us at: tomusicstorytellers@gmail.com
Mick Stannard, Bass, has quoted, that when the group returned from St Tropez after their summer booking at the Voom Voom club 1967, the group were offered work in Las Vegas of which he (Stannard) declined to go, and so left the group, as he says, by that time he'd had enough of being a travelling musician and decided to stay in Britain and marry his childhood girlfriend. Over the years he has kept his Bass playing up to scratch and is now playing with a group called "Rewind" as of 2011
ReplyDeleteYou've overlooked Rod Clark (bass). There's some photos of him in the band at my website www.TheMoodyBlues.co.uk Any more info is always welcome.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Tony Brown
Is this the same Micky Finn who had a publicity stunt of advertising in the music press that he was giving a free birthday party, which I went to!
ReplyDeleteIt was in a hall in Stoke Newington, I think, and they were offering a prize to the person who wore his latest release in the most novel way! Happy days!!
Vic G
Mickey Finn was one of the guitarist of "The Batholic Boys" (2002-2004).
ReplyDeleteSee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HetZJBPlmMc
Sorry "The Catholic Boys"
ReplyDeleteMickey Finn passed away 3 days ago.
ReplyDeleteMy copy of "Reelin' and Rockin'" is credited to Mickey Finn and the Blue Men, not the Mickey Finn.
ReplyDeletecan anyone tell me what happened to Richard Brand the drummer in Micky Finn & the Bluemen
ReplyDeleteRichard Brand is alive and well and living in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. We meet up on a regular basis and go to Le Touquet each year for a short break, which is the first place I played with the Mickey Finn in 1967. But I had done some gigs with them in 1966. Rod Clark.
DeleteHi Rod, glad to have a reply, i knew Richards brother Geoff, hope he is still with us i would love to hear from him, could you let him know the next time you see him to get in touch i am on Facebook & Friends reunited, Linda Bond was Hughes, That is great news i am over the moon to finaly have a reply thanks,
Deletevery much appreciated
Hi Linda, Can you please search me on Facebook... Rod Clark and Roller Coaster ... and then message me and I will let Richard know. Thanks. Rod.
ReplyDeleteSorry to say the above article is a complete load of old tosh.
ReplyDeleteAlan Mark , Founder member and lead singer of the band.
please tell us more.....
DeleteI met the " Mickey Finn" in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island at a club i was working at called " The Jokers Wild" It was Alan Mark, Fluff (John Cooke), Rod Clark, Richard Brand and Mickey Waller. I think it was 1968? Later that same year i was hired as their "roadie" a job i knew nothing about and did a short tour with them.
ReplyDeleteI stayed with Richard in Bethnal Green and Fluff in Chelsea. I have often wondered about my old friends ( RIP Mickey) and would really like to hear from them. If you have'nt guessed it's "Canadian Ian"....
Namechecked in US Vogue 15 Sep 1966 (as 'the Mickey Finns') in connection with then-new London nightclub Sibylla's, where the band evidently performed. Sibyllas, 9 Swallow St, 22 June 1966 to 5 August 1968; named after Sibylla Edmonstone; part-financed by George Harrison. Still a nightclub but the name changes often.
ReplyDeleteWhat genre is The mickey finn?
ReplyDeleteRecommendations for songs like "night comes down"?
Does anyone know what happened to John Cooke "Fluff"?
ReplyDeleteHe retired and lives in North London and does gigs mainly during the Xmas season.
ReplyDeleteAny idea how to find Fluff? Where is his next gig?
ReplyDeleteI would love to get in touch with fluff. Is he on any social media. New him well and would be lively to get in touch. Jenny.
ReplyDeleteI have been researching the early Mod scene and found that they were advertised as a Mod band in 1964. Is Alan Anthony still around?
ReplyDelete