Magic Mick : Great Musicians Called Michael Quiz

Answer: Duff McKagan

Michael Andrew McKagan, better known as Duff, is my favourite Gunner as he managed to avoid the pitfalls of being an iconic rock star, such as outrageous egotism. He is still a bona fide rock n roll star, getting up to the usual tricks, but he comes across as the most affable member of the band, a trait not to be sneered at when you are in one of the biggest rock bands of your era. However, he did fall foul to the demon drink, and in 1994 ended up with acute alcohol-induced pancreatitis due to his drinking habits. He eventually managed to knock it on the head, probably saving his life.

Prior to joining Guns N' Roses as bassist, McKagan had played drums, bass and guitar in various bands, many of whom didn't get anywhere, but some of whom had minor success. The last of these bands was Road Crew, a band which also featured Gunners-to-be Slash and Steven Adler. All three jumped ship in 1985 and joined a fledgling Guns N' Roses.
The rest, as they say, is history.

Answer: Can

Can are said to be one of the most influential bands of all time, although they have never really hit the spotlight as they were so far ahead of their time that they were only really appreciated by other musicians, critics and a small, (but ardent) fan base in their heyday. However, much of their sound and approach leaked into mainstream music later on, such as the metronome drumming of Jaki Liebezeit heard in 1980s "indie" rock from the UK, the influence of World Music before it had a name, and sampling/ tape splicing.

Michael Karoli was a student of Can bassist Holger Czukay and was asked to join the embryonic band that Czukay was forming with keyboardist Irmin Schmidt. Mooney was the original vocalist, but he had mental health issues and being in such a left-field band as Can was deemed detrimental to his condition, so he left. The lads roped in Damo Suzuki, who was also pretty erratic (he sings in a mish-mash of English and Japanese) but well-suited to the band. Suzuki left in 1973, so our man Michael Karoli took over vocal duties, although the band's stuff got more and more instrumental.

The band split up in 1979, but have since reformed various times. Karoli was always present at reunions until his death in 2001.

Answer: The Streets

The Streets are always referred to as a "project", but it was really Mike Skinner's garage/rap band. He started the whole thing in 1994, but it took until 2001 for The Streets to release anything. It was worth the wait as the debut single, "Has It Come To This?", was the most exciting British rap songs in years (if not ever) because it didn't try to emulate American hip hop, but strived to create an authentic identity of its own. The follow up was "Let's Push Things Forward", which was another top-notch slice of Brit garage. Both singles were from debut album, "Original Pirate Material".

The follow up album, "A Grand Don't Come For Free", was actually a concept album and a cracking example of how well a rap opera can be done. The Streets have since released a string of albums, following in the same vein but also experimenting to a certain extent. Mike put the project to bed in 2011.

Whilst the British critics, record companies and the public all went haywire over The Streets, the reception was lukewarm in the USA, despite good reviews in high profile press. It might be that tales of British urban living, apparently not nearly as exciting as in the USA (if rappers are to believed), the strange lingo (Mike uses a lot of Mockney), and the self-effacing approach to rapping, are what puts off the American audiences.

All the other choices also had singles that charted in the UK in 2001.

Answer: The Kinks

Mick Avory apparently left The Kinks due to a fall-out with Dave Davies (guitar) in 1984 after twenty years of service. He stayed in the music business, later forming The Kast Off Kinks with other ex-band members who wanted to carry on playing Kinks' material. They became quite an attraction on the live circuit amongst long-time fans, and also introduced many a new listener to arguably the most quintessentially British of the British Invasion acts.

The reason he didn't always feature on some early Kinks' tracks was producer Shel Talmy's lack of confidence in his drumming skills, something rather hard to believe (and, no doubt hard to swallow for Avory) judging by his adept playing heard on other songs.

His relationship with Dave Davies was notoriously edgy and at times quite fiery. Many a tale has circulated for years about battles, and even fisticuffs, on and off stage, some possibly wildly exaggerated, but neither of them has ever hidden their dislike for the other. Kinks' frontman Ray Davies (Dave Davies' brother) has always lamented the fact that the pair couldn't get on, and gone out of his way to praise our Mick.

Answer: Michael Schenker Group

Michael Schenker was only 17 when the Scorpions debuted with the "Lonesome Crow" album in 1972, but his tender age certainly didn't show in his playing. He only made one more full album ("Fly To The Rainbow") with the mighty Scorps as he was pilfered by UFO when the bands toured together. He really made his name with UFO and was pivotal in their rise to stardom, but relations between him and other members were somewhat strained in a band riddled with alcohol abuse. Legend has it that he left without saying a word to anybody, his excuse being he didn't know how to say "I quit!" in English.

He briefly rejoined the Scorpions and put in a couple of blazing performances on "Lovedrive" (1979), applied for Joe Perry's job in Aerosmith, turned down Ozzy Osbourne, and then formed MSG. Despite some corking albums, MSG never had a smooth ride and they've split, reformed, changed names ad infinitum, all hindering their breakthrough. The first two albums, "Michael Schenker Group" (1980) and "MSG" (1981) are the best place to start, but even later stuff rise above mediocrity thanks to Michael's stunning guitar playing.

Answer: Nights In White Satin

"Nights In White Satin" has had a kind of odd life. The lengthy original album version features orchestration and a spoken word poem (read by our Mike), both of which have been brutally cut from many single version edits. It didn't do very well on its first release, but has gained legendary status over the years, featured in many films, and been covered by all and sundry. My personal favourite version is by American punk band The Dickies whose hasty version (1979) was one of their biggest selling singles.

Some of the amusing foreign language versions include The Moody Blues themselves doing it in Spanish ("Noches de Seda"), a Czech lady singing "Slunce Vstává" and another singing "Noc Je Jak Satén", two French versions ("Blanche Nuit de Satin" and "Mes Rêves de Satin"), and the Germans getting it as "Wildes Wasser".

"All The Young Dudes" was a hit for Mott The Hoople, "Hot 'n' Nasty" was by Humble Pie, and "Give Irish Back to the Irish" was Wings' debut single, all released in 1972.

Answer: Suicidal Tendencies

Vocalist Mike Muir formed Suicidal Tendencies in 1981 in Los Angeles, and was joined by guitarist Mike Ball, Mike Dunnigan on bass and his brother Sean Dunnigan on drums in an Mike-laden early line-up.

By the eponymous debut album that boasted "hit" song / video "Institutionalized" the line-up had already changed, an instability that was to thwart the band throughout their career. The band managed to get the metal / hardcore crossover spot on, and the debut album has aged much better than some others of the genre.

They later veered more towards the metal element, which was lapped up by some and disparaged by others. By 1990 they had embraced funk, thanks to new member Robert Trujillo (later of Ozzy Osbourne and then Metallica fame), best encapsulated on the album "Lights...Camera...Revolution!", which spawned another music video hit for the song "Send Me Your Money".

Despite all these changes in direction (and line-up), the band have always managed to nurture a sound and style all of their own.

Answer: Michael Monroe

Michael Monroe's family was musical, and he was raised on rock n roll. He formed Hanoi Rocks with Andy McCoy (Antti Hulkko) and Nasty Suicide (Jan Stenfor) around 1979. They ended up in London where they built up a hardcore support, leading to them hiring British drummer Nicholas Dingley, better known as Razzle. They went on to worldwide fame and fortune, only to be cut short by Razzle's death in a car crash in 1984. The car was being driven by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil at the time.

The band split after Razzle's death and our Michael went solo. His good looks and mildly androgynous image seemed right on target for the era, and gained him many a fan, but the mainstream wasn't quite ready for him.

Luckily, the legacy of Hanoi Rocks, as well as his talent, has stood Michael Monroe in good stead. Bands who've been influenced by him, such as Guns N' Roses, as well as his heroes who appreciated the homage, such as Aerosmith and Alice Cooper, have invited him to play and record with them. He's flitted between reunions of Hanoi Rocks, playing with his mates, and various other projects, but although whatever he gets involved in bears fruit critically and amongst hardcore fans, real recognition eludes him.

Answer: London

Guitarist Mickey Geggus formed Cockney Rejects with his younger brother Jeff (vocals) in 1978. They quickly got a demo out and attracted the attention of Small Wonder Records, who boasted an impressive roster of punk bands. The label released the brilliant Rejects' single "Flares n' Slippers" backed by "Police Car" and "I Wanna Be A Star".

They were then signed to EMI and released an album rather prematurely called "Greatest Hits Volume 1". The album was jam-packed with rousing anthems, and made the lads into instant stars. Unfortunately, their unruly, ruffian, almost thuggish image attracted the unwanted attention of skinheads with far-right leanings and football hooligans, and after several altercations at gigs the band couldn't get shows anywhere.

Their own rabid support for West Ham didn't help much, as rival football firms would inevitably show up at gigs and trash the venue, and often attack the band. In later years, with football hooliganism much diminished in England, the band have managed to get back on the live circuit, and even got to play at the prestigious London Meltdown festival in 2004 when long-time fan Morrissey was in charge of the line-up.

Answer: Uriah Heep

Londoner Mick Box formed an act known as The Stalkers and then Spice before naming themselves after the Dickens character, chosen due to the euphoria surrounding the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the English literary giant's death.

The 1970 debut was called "Very 'eavy... Very 'umble" in the UK, further referencing the Dickensian character. The sound wasn't exactly what fans came to know and love, but the heavy organ sound, histrionic vocals, and Mick Box's urgent guitar playing were already in evidence.

Next came "Salisbury", another great slab of solid prog-tinged rock, but it wasn't until third album "Look At Yourself" that the band really got into their swing. "Demons and Wizards" came next, a cracking album featuring "Easy Livin'", the song the band are best-known for in the US. "The Magician's Birthday" (1972) and "Sweet Freedom" (1973) quickly followed, the latter being my personal favourite, before the band went a little off the rails.

People have come and gone from the ranks, but our Mick, with his handlebar moustache, will always be the first chap that springs to mind when "the 'eep" are mentioned.