- Micky Groome
-
Micky Groome Origin Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England Genres Pop, Rock, Surf rock, Country Years active 1970s–Present Associated acts Ducks Deluxe, The Force, Mark Wirtz Micky Groome (born Michael John Groome, March 20, 1951, Hemel Hempstead, England) is an English bassist, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer.
Contents
Early life and career
Groome grew up in in the new town of Hemel Hempstead, some 27 miles (43 km) north-west of central London, and began playing in locally-based bands such as Wild Wally's Rock'n'Roll Show, Eve (with guitarist/journalist Eamonn Percival, who later conducted Keith Moon's final interview,[1] for International Musician magazine) and The Sugar Band (with Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash). The opening riff to Wishbone Ash's signature song Blowin’ Free came about during a jam session Groome had with Powell in 1971.[2]
Influences
Groome's earlier work was influenced by pop groups of the British Invasion such as the Beatles, The Who and the Kinks. Other significant and enduring influences were harmony groups like The Beach Boys and The Four Seasons, and country rock musicians such as Gene Clark and Sneaky Pete, both of whom joined Groome on stage for a memorable appearance in Amsterdam in the 1970s.[3]
He is known for playing many cover songs during his live performances, including "Needles And Pins" by The Searchers, as well as introducing some light-hearted and humorous elements into his stage performances with The Barron Knights.
Ducks Deluxe and The Force
During the Pub rock era, Groome joined Tim Roper (drums), Martin Belmont (guitar) and Sean Tyla (vocals, guitar) as bass player for Ducks Deluxe. Groome sang lead vocal on their I Fought The Law single,[4] and appeared on two further studio releases on the French Skydog label.[3] The group disbanded in 1975, but Groome subsequently reunited with Tyla to form The Force along with Deke Leonard (guitar) and Paul Simmons (drums), releasing their eponymous album in 1982.[5]
Groome, Belmont and Tyla plus drummer Billy Rankin, reformed Ducks Deluxe to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their original formation in a performance on 9 October 2007 at the 100 Club in London,[6] the same venue and band lineup of their earlier final performance on 1 July 1975, which had been recorded and released as the Last Night Of A Pub Rock Band album.
Other appearances
Groome has recorded numerous sessions on other artists’ albums, including Robert Plant (Manic Nirvana),[7][8] Joan Jett (Bad Reputation),[9] Psychic TV (Dreams Less Sweet and Godstar),[10] IQ (Nomzamo) [11] and Popguns (Snog).[12]
He has toured the world extensively as a member of Adrian Baker's Gidea Park (occasionally with guests such as Mike Love),[13] Nashville Teens, Mud, The Beagles (together with saxophonist-singer-songwriter Stewart Blandamer, former member of Paul Young's Q-Tips and writer of the country classic song Darlin',) and, since April 2003, The Barron Knights, having previously sequenced the drum programming on their single Golden Oldie Old Folks Home.[14]
During 2004-6, Groome collaborated with “Teenage Opera” composer Mark Wirtz on the Love Is Eggshaped and Spyderbaby music projects.[15]
Discography
Solo Albums
Yo! (2001) Leg Room
Soul Rider (2002) Leg Room
Light Of Day (2003) Leg RoomWith Others
Wild Wally’s Rock & Roll Show
I Go Ape (1971) ConcordDucks Deluxe
I Fought The Law/Cherry Pie (1975 Single) RCA 2531
Jumpin’ (1975 EP) Skydog EP-005 (France)
All Too Much (1975) Skydog (France)
Last Night Of A Pub Rock Band (1979) DynamiteSean Tyla
Just Popped Out (1980) Polydor
Redneck in Babylon (1981) Zilch (Germany) ZL 25355Key West
Can’t Get Enough Of You/I’m A Vampire (1978 Single) Epic EPC 6566Joan Jett
Bad Reputation (1981) BoardwalkThe Force
The Force (1982) Zilch (Germany) 2374 195Psychic TV
Dreams Less Sweet (1983) Some Bizarre/CBS
Godstar (1985) TempleIQ
Nomzamo (1987) Squawk/Mercury 832 141-2Robert Plant
Manic Nirvana (1990) Es ParanzaThe Popguns
Snog (1991) Midnight MusicBarron Knights
Golden Oldie Old Folks Home (1999 Single)Mark Wirtz
Love Is Eggshaped (2005) Rev-OlaMark Wirtz presents Spyderbaby
Glassblower (2006) DreamTunes (Germany)References
- ^ "Keith Moon final interview". International Musician. 1978. http://www.thewho.net/articles/keith2.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-16.
- ^ "Album Retrospectives (Argus)". Wishbone Ash. 2009. http://www.wishboneash.co.uk/discography/1_3.aspx. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ^ a b "Band Member Biography)". Barron Knights. 2009. http://www.barronknights.com/garth.html. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ "Ducks Deluxe". Manband Archive. 2009. http://www.manband-archive.com/evolution/history-roots-ducks-deluxe.php. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ^ "Deke Leonard". Answers.com. 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/man-band#Deke_Leonard. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ^ "100 Club review". Record Collector Magazine. 2007. http://www.recordcollectormag.com/reviews/review-detail/1649. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
- ^ "Manic Nirvana". Robert Plant. 2009. http://www.robertplant.com/discography/manic-nirvana/manic-nirvana-description/. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ^ Robert Plant: Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page and the Solo Years (Paperback) p125. Independent Music Press. 2008. http://books.google.com/books?id=boYZAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Micky+Groome%22+-inpublisher:icon&dq=%22Micky+Groome%22+-inpublisher:icon&as_brr=0&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ^ "Bad Reputation". Joan Jett. 2009. http://joanjettbadrep.com/Lyrics/jjbr.shtml. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ^ "Psychic TV". Artistdirect. 2009. http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/micky-groome/535516. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ "Nomzamo". IQ. 2009. http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=612. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ "Popguns: Snog". Discogs. 2011. http://www.discogs.com/Popguns-Snog/release/1819493. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ^ "Gidea Park". beachboysband.net. 2009. http://www.beachboysband.net/MEMPAGES/AB_PAGES/AB_BIO_4_GP_LIVE.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-06.[dead link]
- ^ "Barron Knights official website". Pete Langford. 2009. http://www.barronknights.com. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ^ "Mark Wirtz official website". Mark Wirtz. 2009. http://www.markwirtz.com. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
External links
Categories:- 1951 births
- Living people
- English bass guitarists
- English songwriters
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