Mickey Finn (guitarist)
| Mickey Waller | |
|---|---|
Mickey Waller, 1974
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Mickey Finn |
| Born | 3 March 1947 |
| Origin | London |
| Died | 1 February 2013 (aged 65) Paris |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1961–2013 |
| Associated acts | The Heavy Metal Kids, Mickey Finn & the Blue Men |
Mickey Waller (3 March 1947 – 1 February 2013), also known by the stage name Mickey Finn, was an English guitarist. He started out with instrumental band the Strangers in Bethnal Green, East London, in the summer of 1961. In 1963 Waller adopted the name Mickey Finn – after having heard about the drummer named Micky Waller – and joined with John "Fluff" Cooke (keyboards), John Burkett (bass), Alan Marks (lead vocals) and Richard Brand (drums) to form "Mickey Finn & the Blue Men", who released their debut single in January 1964. Jimmy Page recorded with the band over the following months. With Burkett replaced by first Mick Stannard in late 1965 and then Rod Clark, the band were renamed "The Mickey Finn" in 1966. They released four more singles, the last of which, "Garden of My Mind", is their best known song and has become a cult favourite despite failing to chart at the time.
Reverting to his original name (percussionist Mickey Finn had by then become famous as a member of T.Rex), Waller played guitar with Sam Gopal (1969–70) and the Heavy Metal Kids (1972–74), before relocating to France and becoming a sought-after session musician. As Mickey Finn, he returned to the UK and joined Steve Marriott's All Stars in July 1975, and in May 1976 Finn and fellow All Star Greg Ridley (bass) formed The Fallen Angels with Twink (drums), Guy Humphries (guitar) and (initially) Bob Weston (guitar) and Keith Boyce (drums). The band crashed their van on the way to their first gig, and Finn was the only remaining original member when they re-emerged in July 1977 backing ex-Pretty Things singer Phil May.
By 1999, Mickey Finn & the Blue Men had reformed and recorded the Black Hole album, followed by the Go Clean EP (Ten Minutes Productions, June 2004). From 2004 to 2011, Finn formed a blues-rock duet with Joane Calice (vocals/bass). He died in Paris on 1 February 2013.
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