Interviews....

Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist, Mick Stuart....

October 2003

(Mick was interviewed by Chris Tobin at the Styvechale Folk Club in Coventry)

Covfolk: Many thanks for agreeing to take part in this interview for the Covfolk Website!
Were you born into a musical family?

Mick: In a way, but not known to me really. My Grandmother could have been a fulltime concert pianist. But she squandered that, if you could put it that way, when she got married. So she never saw it through. So, taking closely after her side of the family, that’s where the music comes from.

CF: I suppose opportunities weren’t there in those days were they. If you had a family, that was the priority.

M: Yeah, absolutely. It was the choice she made.

CF: Was that on your mum’s side?

M: Yeah, mum’s side.

CF: Well, we know from your recent song, ‘Mum’ that your mum played an important part in your life anyway, but was she musical as well?

M: She liked music.

CF: I know she was an artistic person as I’ve seen her paintings

M: Yeah, that’s it. All of my mum’s side of the family were artistically bent – If you excuse the pun!

CF: Well, it comes out in different ways doesn’t it? If you’re artistic it can show itself in music or whatever. Mind you, you can paint can’t you?

M: Yeah, I paint and draw. I like anything using your hands. Bench joinery – Fine stuff, not carpentry as such – Dovetail joints…..

CF: Craftsmanship?

M: Yeah, that sort of thing…. Woodcarving….. All sorts of things. Anything artistic.

CF: So, if your mum and dad weren’t playing, when did you start to think about playing an instrument?

M: Well, believe it or not, it came from Radio Luxemburg.

CF: Ah, yeah – I can relate to that!

M: …. Well, I can’t – My dad told me about it!! (Laughter) My brother got very involved in a programme, just a 15 minute show, by a guy called Ramblin’ Jack Elliot. He was a big friend of Cisco Houston and all of the Country stars of the day. And he was a very special friend of Woody Guthrie and in fact a lot of the songs he played were Woody Guthrie songs. And Jack actually did them better than Guthrie did. Anyway, he had this 15-minute slot on Radio Luxemburg, once a week, and only having heard the bands from the 50’s and 60’s (although he didn’t play the sort of things I play now) you couldn’t believe that one person was playing that guitar!

CF: Such an intricate finger style?

M: Yeah, and he did a lot of flat-pickin as well. Well he just fascinated us.

CF: Was it a live show?

M: Yeah, I think it was and it just led us both into that sort of music….

CF: …. Well, Radio Luxemburg was the only place you’d get to hear anything like that. You wouldn’t have got that on the Light Programme

M: No you wouldn’t…. And with my brother, I think it just sort of stopped there, but with me, it just sparked an enquiry and that’s what started me going to folk clubs. And from there I discovered there was a wealth of different kinds of music.

CF: And it was always the guitar was it?

M: Yes. I played drums for a little while – Very badly! I never actually had a full drum kit!

CF: Was that just because somebody wanted a drummer in a band?

M: Well no. My brother and I used to knock around – Do a few bits and pieces together and I used to do the drums on a few numbers. But not seriously. Just the old skiffle days really!

CF: And obviously, Blues is your music isn’t it? Was that from the 60’s revival or were you ahead of that?

M: Ahead of that I would think. Although, I suppose it would’ve been around that time. But what really started me on that was that there used to be a folk club in Coventry at the back of The Leofric (Hotel) called The White Lion. The majority of the people there were more of the folky ilk of the day. Then on two occasions – On the first one, I saw a guy from America called Spider John Koerner who I’ve never seen before or since. He was playing an ‘up the neck type’ blues finger style. And then there was another guy who was a massive inspiration called Gerry Lockran who I had the pleasure of seeing lots of times before his sad demise, but that was what really started me off. I think Gerry was half Indian and half Irish. He was absolutely amazing. Just never seen anything like that before.

CF: They’re lost talents really aren’t they? These incredible musicians who have just gone by the way unnoticed really

M: Oh absolutely. But, Lockran had a massive following and I think he still has. Even after his death he’s still very, very highly respected at what he did – and rightly so!

CF: Were you taught the guitar?

M: I went for lessons once and it lasted about three weeks. Some bloke was trying to teach me to play ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ on the first string and I thought, “No, that’s not what I want to do!” So I decided to teach myself then!

CF: Do you read?

M: Only Agatha Christie novels!

CF: So obviously when you write and a melody comes into your head you’ve got to capture that?

M: I’ve got a mini tape recorder and it’s essential! It’s only a cheap thing, but as soon as an idea comes that’s it. Record it immediately or it’s lost.

CF: With your love of dogs, you must go out walking and get a lot of inspiration?

M: Absolutely – Most of it.

CF: Things that you’re experiencing…..

M: Yeah. I’ve often said to people regarding that. About the song ‘Spiral Staircase’, that entire song, words and everything all came while walking with the dog. I sat in a bus shelter in the pouring rain and luckily I had an old pencil and a bit of paper and the whole thing was written in the shelter in ten minutes. And I had to hum the melody. I was actually in Leicestershire with my mum and she started to talk on the way home. I just had to say, “sorry, do you mind not saying anything until we get home. I’ve just gotta keep humming this tune over and over until I get home”.

CF: You knew it was special?

M: Yeah, as soon as I got home, I banged it on the tape recorder and that was the whole lot complete.

CF: Makes you wonder how many people have lost melodies doesn’t it? 

M: Oh, I’ve lost more than I’ve captured!

CF: Well, you’ve certainly got a good library haven’t you? I mean Graffiti City Blues and Ghosts are strong commercial songs. I think they could be done by other performers as well.

M: And probably a lot better!

CF: Oh I wouldn’t say that! What I mean is, they could have a life of their own.

M: Possibly, but you never think of that when you’re writing them.

CF: What musicians today inspire you?

M: Oh there’s loads! I’m not into anything chart wise. Nothing going on today appeals to me. Rock band wise, I’ve always loved ‘Yes’ and they’re still playing. Acoustic wise…. I mean, you’ve seen yourself, Dave Ellis has got to be one all time favourite guitar players and the guy who we’ve got here in a couple of weeks (Styvechale Folk Club) from Birmingham, Dave Onions. I love Dave Onions! I think that’s really refreshing. He’s got a totally different approach. He pours his heart and soul into what he does.

CF: I think it’s good that you can admire someone who’s “available”. A lot of the people you put on a pedestal might be out of reach…..

M: Oh absolutely…..

CF: Whether they’ve passed away or in America. There are local musicians…..

M: Oh yeah, I think they’re highly, highly underrated. Then of course you’ve got your Kev Dempsey's and so on, but I’ve got a particular love of Dave Onion’s stuff. It’s totally original and he puts 150 percent into everything he does. Whether he’s playing to 14 or 400, it doesn’t make any difference – The passion is there. I think that’s great!

CF: When you’re not playing the guitar, what do you like doing?

M: Painting and drawing although I don’t do so much now due to the rheumatics. I used to love cabinet making, model making (not plastic kits), and things out of wood that I’d make myself. I used to build Victorian dolls houses and things like that…. Marionettes – I’ve still got two at home. They were carved out of hardwood and they actually play instruments. The hands go up and down over the strings and the one hand goes up and down the neck of the guitar. All the fingers are hand carved. I’ve had them carved for 15 years, but haven’t actually put them together! Bob Armstrong, the guitar builder, has got the first one I ever made. He bought that one. It made a few appearances at a several folk clubs before I parted with it!

CF: I suppose with your physical problems, whatever you do whether it’s painting, playing…. You’ve got to pace yourself?

M: Absolutely! That’s why I don’t go out round all the clubs anymore because I just physically couldn’t stand to go out and play every night. I’d love to! I mean I used to…. Every single night it was out somewhere, up and down the country to various folk venues…. But you can imagine what it’s like, you get up on stage and your hands refuse to work…. Its soul destroying. I don’t mind going to places where people already know your problem, so if it does happen; at least they’re aware of it. That is probably the biggest part of the illness is frustration. Not being able to do what you want to be able to do.

CF: There’s probably times when you’ve apologised after a performance, but we’re still sat out there in awe of what you’ve been doing. Sometimes it’s probably something you’ve noticed, but isn’t always noticeable to the people that are watching

M: Possibly. I mean I think everyone’s their own worst critic. You may have played a bum note, which someone might not notice, but you do. You automatically think that everyone else does. As you said, they’re probably listening to the words and they haven’t noticed the slip on the guitar, but you think they have because you know you’ve done it. Rather than concentrating on the rest of the song, you’re still worried about the bit you slipped up on.

CF: Just keep writing and playing, we think your a bit special! Thanks ever so much Mick. Really enjoyed it!

M: Thank you!

© Copyright Covfolk 2003