Bman's Blues Report

I just received the newest release, Ruff 'n' Roar from the Mick Clarke Band (Live at Scratchers) and it's hot! From the opening riff on the opening track, Elmore James' Happy Home , this release rips. Mick Clarke (guitar and vocal), joined by Chris Sharley (drums) and Eddie Masters (bass) really know how to crank it up. This band has the energy of early Savoy Brown or ZZ Top. What that means is endless boogie with flaming hot slide riffs! On Good Morning Blues , Clarke has his amp tuned in just right for that fat saturation and his riffs are thick. Masters keeps the blues vamp going an Sharley sets a tight bottom for a great romp. On Memphis Slim's Rockin' the Blues , MCB gets that Hooker electric boogie really cranking. This track was "made for" Stilladog. Showing his relentless slide attack, Clarke tears it up! Slowing it down just a little on 9 minute plus, Love Me Or Leave Me , gives the band a breather and solos, including a nice one from Mas...

In 2014 British Blues Guitarist Mick Clarke continues to tour with The Mick Clarke Band, promoting his new album "Ramdango". Mick began his solo career in the early 80s and has become an established name on the European scene, touring regularly in every country from Finland down to Italy. Praised for his fiery "straight from the wood" guitar sound, he has appeared on numerous festivals with artists such as Robert Cray, Johnny Winter and the late Rory Gallagher. Recent tours have included appearances at the Baden Blues Festival in Switzerland, "Blues Express" Luxembourg, "Rock at Sea" in Stockholm, Sweden, "Seven Nights to Blues" in France and the Bragdoya Blues Festival in Norway. In 2005 Mick headlined the Saturday night at the Great British R&B Festival in Colne, England as part of the British Blues All Stars.. also featuring Kim Simmonds and Maggie Bell. Mick has also toured several times in the U.S.A. and appeared with arti...

This is a bit of a different take! I like it!! Guitarist MICK CLARKE was a founder member of KILLING FLOOR and has since gone on to a successful solo career with the MICK CLARKE BAND. Mick joined his first professional band at the age of just seventeen. The Cliff Charles Blues Band played just three momentous dates.. Warwick University with the Graham Bond Organisation, Middle Earth club in London also with Graham Bond, and the Nags Head blues club in Battersea with Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac! A year later, in 1968, Mick met up with singer / harp player Bill Thorndycraft. Founding the band KILLING FLOOR with Stuart McDonald, Bazz Smith and Lou Martin they hit the road and had an eventful four year ride of recording and touring, backing Freddie King on two UK tours and playing concerts with Howlin' Wolf, Captain Beefheart, The Nice, Yes, Jethro Tull and many other important acts of the time. The band recorded two albums released worldwide, and toured across Europe. After the ba...