| Mick Karn |
Mick
Karn
|
| Background information |
| Birth name |
Anthony Michaelides |
| Born |
July 24, 1958 |
| Origin |
Cyprus |
| Genre(s) |
Avant-garde |
| Instrument(s) |
Bass
guitar
Keyboards
Sax
Oboe |
| Years active |
1977 - |
Associated
acts |
Japan
Dali's
Car |
| Website |
MickKarn.net |
Mick Karn (born July 24, 1958) is an English musician,
multi-instrumentalist 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 as well as being a member of Dali's Car
with Peter Murphy of the gothic
post-punk group Bauhaus. In the 1990s he worked with
artist David
Torn as well as a number of Japanese musicians, including the band NiNa.
His use of the fretless bass guitar resulted in a distinctive
sound and playing style , which makes his playing immediately
recognizable not to mention highly influential. After Mick's first solo
release Titles in 1982, Pete
Townshend claimed that "Mick was by far the best bassist in
the UK".
Karn played an aluminium neck Travis
Bean bass in all Japan albums up to Gentlemen Take Polaroids.
In 1981 he moved onto the renowned Wal basses and bought two fretless mk1,
one with Tulipwood facings and the other being a Cherry solidbody. Mick
recorded Japan's last studio album Tin Drum
with the Wal and has continued to use them, helping further their
popularity worldwide. Today Karn also uses a Klein 'K Bass'.
The photo of Karn is from the back cover of the album Beginning
to Melt, and is used by kind permission of Medium
Productions.
Discography (albums
1982 to date)
- Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters (1987)
- More Better Different (2004)
- Three Part Species (2006)
External link
