Mick Green born 22 February 1944

Michael Robert Green (22 February 1944 – 11 January 2010) was an English rock and roll guitarist who played with The Pirates (with and without Johnny Kidd), Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, and Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers. Although he was never a household name he played a pivotal role in the development of British rock. His ability to play lead and rhythm guitar simultaneously was a key influence on guitarists from the Who's Pete Townshend to the Beatles' George Harrison. 

He was born Michael Robert Green, in Matlock, Derbyshire. Green grew up in the same block of flats in Wimbledon, south-west London, as the future Pirates. His father was a cabbie. He devoured skiffle and early rock'n'roll, and he formed his first band, the Wayfaring Strangers with his schoolmates Johnny Spence on bass and Frank Farley on drums. They came second in a battle of the bands competition to the Quarrymen, an early incarnation of the Beatles. After a stint as the Ramrods, the trio then backed the 1950s rockers Red E Lewis and Cuddly Duddly as the Redcaps. All three joined the Pirates (formed by Kidd during the 1950s) in 1962, just after the band had scored a huge hit with Shakin' All Over, with Joe Moretti on lead guitar. 

Green's distinctive, staccato style and searing solos made him one of rock's first guitar heroes. When the Pirates' fortunes faded, he was recruited by Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas and was even sought out by Elvis Presley, although the Dakotas' management failed to pass the message on. Instead, when the Dakotas split, Green briefly played in a re-formed Johnny Kidd and the Pirates, continuing for a year after Kidd's death in 1966. 

His ability to play lead and rhythm guitar simultaneously influenced a number of British guitarists to follow, including Pete Townshend and Wilko Johnson, the original guitarist for Dr. Feelgood. Green's song "Oyeh!" was on Dr. Feelgood's debut album, Down by the Jetty; and a song he co-wrote, "Going Back Home" appeared on Dr. Feelgood's 1975 Malpractice and the live album, Stupidity (1976). 

Green's bulging CV subsequently included spells with the singers Cliff Bennett and Engelbert Humperdinck and a band called Shanghai which released two albums, in 1974 and 1976 and supported Status Quo on their Blue for You tour. Together with Quo member Alan Lancaster he wrote four songs recorded by Status Quo. But by the mid-1970s, the youngsters who had idolised him were forming their own bands. 

                 Here's "Painkiller" from above 1986 LP.

                             

Green reformed the Pirates with Farley and Spence in 1976 (Kidd having died in 1966). Over the next five years they became one of the hardest-gigging bands on the road and shared the bill with such bands as the Stranglers and the Saints. They released four albums: "Out of Their Skulls" (1977), "Skull Wars" (1978), "Happy Birthday Rock'n'Roll" (1979) and the ten-inch "A Fistful of Dubloons" (1981). 

Green played the Fender Telecaster Custom produced in 1972 as his main guitar. Other notable assignments included producing for Billy Fury in the early 1980s and recording with Fleetwood Mac's own legendary guitarist, Peter Green. 

In the 1980s and 1990s, Green played with, amongst others, Bryan Ferry, Van Morrison, Robert Plant and Lemmy, as well as the Pirates, with whom he continued to gig well into the 2000s. His other notable gigs included playing guitar for Van Morrison on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 2005, and with David Gilmour and Paul McCartney at the latter's return to the Cavern Club in support of his Run Devil Run album in 1999. In his spare time he taught guitar privately, as well as at various local schools. 

When McCartney sought a rawer sound for his 1999 rock'n'roll album Run Devil Run and a live return to the Cavern Club in Liverpool, he turned to Green. He also performed regularly with the Van Morrison band. He played guitar on 1999's Back on Top and he appeared on his other studio albums up until he was on five of the tracks on Van Morrison's 2008 album, Keep It Simple. The guitarist also played on Ferry's Frantic (2002) and Morrison's Keep It Simple (2008).

In February 2004, while on stage with Bryan Ferry in Auckland, New Zealand, Green suffered a cardiac arrest. His life was saved by two doctors in the crowd and following his return to England and recovery he carried on playing.

In 2007, he did a six track mini-album, Cutthroat and Dangerous in Finland with the Finnish rock'n'roll trio, Doctor's Order. He suffered kidney problems in February 2009, partly connected with his earlier heart problem. He continued to perform live, despite multiple health problems, with guest appearances with the Animals. Shortly before his death, he told the Guardian "When I look in the mirror, I see an old bloke. But as soon as I strap on a guitar, I feel 18 again." 

Mick Green died of heart failure on 11 January 2010 in King George Hospital, Ilford, Essex 

(Edited from  Guardian obit by Dave Simpson & Wikipedia)