Forgotten Fretmasters #14 - Mick Green

All talk and no music!

I remember seeing Mick with Johnny Kidd at Waltham Cross ‘Imp’. I was a young teenager and loved his chunky chords on what I remember as a Gibson. A great show and wish I could have seen more!

I’d like to make a comment: I have never heard of this guy, I thought you were talking Peter Green, so maybe play some if his playing in the beginning.
I’m sure I’ve heard his work but not by name.

How about the drummer on Run Devil Run? Ian Paice!!!

Ive just discovered Dr Feelgood and Wilco and now Mick Green, great music simple style and True Rockers!!! p.s Miss Wilco.

What a GREAT documentary! Your knowledge is incredible.

Remember seeing him play at Dingwells Camden,around that time he was working with my good friend Nigel Dixon from Whirlwind.His playing was totally electric,RIP Mick and Nigel.

Great little biography of Green. But why no snippets of his actual playing?

Thank you, for turning me on to this cat. Man, power and balls. I’m really digging micks licks. Good stuff. Totally getting the influence in townshends playing. Dare I say Richards my have felt the same.👍✌️

My friend Dick Middleton- who was Gene Vincent's guitarist in his "British Blue Caps" knew Mick Green nearly 60 years ago during his time with Gene. Mick raved about Dick's tone and sound from his Esquire which was, sadly, later stolen. Dick knew Johnny Kidd and the Pirates very well- and he knew the incarnation before Mick joined. He always says that Alan Caddy who pre-dated Mick and went with the drummer Clem Cattini to do session work with Joe Meek- which led to the Tornados and Telstar, was a great player. For some odd reason he decided not to play the solo on Shakin' All Over and Joe Moretti, a session player was drafted in. Alan suffered from alcoholism from a young age and was, apparently, a really nice and talented guy but never attained his full potential. Of course, Dick knew all about alcoholic problems- when Gene Vincent could not perform, the British Blue Caps were sent out on the road by infamous manager Don Arden as The Roof Raisers and at one point they backed the Everly Brothers. Their guitarist, Don Peake, taught Dick many of James Burton's signature licks which helped his credibility immensely and got him a two year gig with Johnny Hallyday. Others present for that audition were E. Clapton, J. McLaughlin and Alvin Lee!

Excellent show,never heard of Mick Green but he certainly rocked with some fantastic musicians,thank you.

Great documentary. Thank you.

Mick Green..the complete guitarist.
So lucky to have seen The Pirates around 1978, during the punk era.
The whole band were so tight, and relentless.
A shame no full concerts were filmed from them, around that time, to view on DVD.

Mick Green was amazing 🎶🎸

For me Mick is simply the best guitarist I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. I immediately thought "this is it, I get it now". I can't play the technical stuff but I can play this, absolutely fantastic guitarist. Totally brilliant.

Beautiful homage

💚Mick Green 💚

I live 5 miles away from Matlock. It is an odd place.

Big Mick Green fan here he was definitely a unique guitarist. I saw the Pirates support the stray cats in 1981 they were bloody good I wished I followed them more

I've only recently discovered Mick Green and it blows my mind to learn he was a big influence on Pete Townsend. Makes so much sense.

My screen name should tell you, just how much I loved this man's playing ability.

Brilliant. I had heard of Mick Green but knew very little about him.

I do love Mick Green he played Texas guitar before it was invented

Not forgotten by me! One of the greatest!

I remember seeing him play with McCartney on I think the Tonight Show not long before he died. I knew him basically from the handful of amazing Pirates clips on here and it made me happy to see he got that gig.

I was really pleased to see Sports on the records behind you. I'd like to suggest you do an episode on Chris Hayes of Huey Lewis and the News if you can find out enough about him. I wouldn't say he's a top-notch guitarist, but he was really good (I say "was" not because he died but because he can't really play any more) and very melodic. His guitar solos sounded quite distinct from each other which is no easy feat. He was my first guitar inspiration but I've never heard him mentioned in other people's lists of favorite guitarists. I think he deserves a salute and a bit of recognition.

the pirates out of their skulls is probably one of the best live albums ever

Saw The Pirates twice in the late 70s..amazing gigs both...Mick Green was a great player with a fantastic and very powerful style.

I've got the CD "Blues for Greens"

I DJ'd in a club in 1977 when the Pirates played. After their sound check I happened to have a copy of Shakin All Over but put the B side on, Yes Sir That's My Baby. They were all sitting having a beer when Mick shouted, " You can take that shit off!". What a gig. I'd never seen such a powerful 3 piece before . Frank was hitting the drums so hard they were bouncing all over the stage. The power and energy they played with. Lonesome Train a highlight! A privilege to witness.

Very well done documentary, full of info and interesting pics. Mick seems underrated in some ways and despite being an early rock guitarist, certainly on this side of the pond, he seems appreciated by more now than back in the day possibly.
Great video and RIP Mick.

Wow. Just caught up with this. Met Mick in Tokyo in the 90s. Lovely, sweet guy and a monster on stage. One of the good ones.

One thing that would make this episode better would be playing music

You had a lot of great information about Mick thaI did not know. I just wish that you had played a few song samples along with your narrative.

Did you not mention 'Shakin' All Over'?

My favourite UK guitarist of all time

You gotta get Johnny Kidd and the pirates story

Mick Green is probably the most under-appreciated guitarist in British rock history. Legend has it that Jimmy Page said "one day I will form a band similar to Mick Green and the Pirates" !! R.I.P. Mick and thx for the good vibes down the line ❤❤❤❤

In 1977 The Pirates played a blistering shit-kicking set at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool. I did the customary bit of ligging later and discovered the guys to be extremely nice funny and friendly souls. I told Mick I was struggling to learn guitar so he sat me down put his legendary Tele Custom in my sweaty grasp and manipulated my hands on the fretboard to show me the A chord to riff combination rhythm/lead trick. I couldn't do it right away but went home and practised it all over the fretboard of my guitar. The greatest moment of my musical life!!!! Mick taught me the essence of rock'n'roll guitar in 15 glorious minutes....grateful to him forever!!!!

I think Paul McCartney had Mick play on his Choppa B CCP rock and roll album in 1988 long before the Run Devil Run album. Great video about my favourite guitarist.

Really great content. Thanks

Mick, along with Hank Marvin, was my main influence as an embryonic guitar player in the early 60's, and the fact that Mick was held in such high regard by so many musical luminaries tells its own story. For me, Mick is The Guv'nor.

Love this concept of Forgotten Fret Masters. Spotlighting those guitarist that are great in their own right but just never got the recognition. I'm positive there are a plethora of guitarist that could be featured on this channel.

Saw the Pirates at the Greyhoud Fulham Palace Rd in the 70s

Mick Green 🎸🔥!

Hi. Tanks a lot for telling us about Mick Green 👍🙂