Michael Weston King

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King, performing in 2006.

Michael Weston King (*1961 in Derby, England) Michael Weston King came to prominence as founder, leader, singer and songwriter with Britain's premier “Alt. Country” band, The Good Sons. The Good Sons were the first British band to sign to Glitterhouse Records, for whom they have recorded three much lauded albums. They then also became the first British band to sign to the Austin label, Watermelon Records, who released the band’s third album, Angels In The End, in America in 1998. Their fourth, best, and final album, Happiness, was released to unanimous critical acclaim in 2001 before the band went their separate ways in 2002.

Since 1998 Michael has toured all over Europe and America, sharing the bill with many great artists (Nick Cave, John Cale, Steve Earle, Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Joe Henry, Ron Sexsmith and many, many others) and earning himself a formidable reputation as a stunning live attraction, due to the stark, intensity of his performances which have seen Michael compared to some of his favorite performers....Tim Hardin and Phil Ochs . Added to this is his growing reputation as a songwriter of the highest caliber; his songs have been covered by a number of established artists. The highest compliment being when one of the worlds greatest songwriters, Townes Van Zandt, cut a version of his song, Riding The Range.

Since 1999 Michael has released four solo albums. The dark, stark and painful God Shaped Hole which was written whilst hiding in Switzerland following a disastrous year that saw him nearly killed in a bus crash when on tour in Germany, the recently signed US record deal turn sour as Watermelon went bankrupt, the band’s manager leave them for Nick Cave, and the band’s mercurial guitarist leaving the UK for Italy.

"Real “Blood on the Tracks” stuff, King’s voice is superb. Utterly compelling, beautifully wrought, a masterpiece" wrote Time Out

Like Phil Ochs or Townes Van Zandt, King transmutes squalor and self-laceration into pure gold....his craft seems to thrive on adversity. God Shaped Hole never deviates from single-minded brooding intensity, and never once strikes a false note. A classic, but at what cost?" wrote The Times ****4/5

In 2002, and after 200 solo shows across Europe and America, King released Live...In Dinky Town. A collection of live, solo and very intimate performances gathered from these shows and taken from places as far flung as Hamburg, Austin, Amsterdam, Bilbao and his spiritual home of Manchester

The album also featured contributions from two friends and fellow travelers, Jackie Leven and Andy White with whom Michael formed “An Englishman, An Irishman and a Scotsman” and which toured the UK, Spain, Germany and Holland in 2000 and 2001.

Following his appearance at The Folk Alliance Conference in Jacksonville, Florida in February 2002 Michael returned to the US in the fall for a 24 date coast to coast American tour as well as numerous radio and tv appearances.

A Decent Man, was hailed as “his finest album yet” , andreleased in May 2003 and the press were unanimous in their praise. Produced by Jackie Leven and featuring a clutch of stunning British guests, including Crazy Horse collaborator, and former Icicle Works front man, Ian McNabb, it was a departure from his previous solo albums, and indeed from his work with The Good Sons. Taking a further step away from Alt. Country, A Decent Man is a big sounding record that combines Michael's love of Pop, Soul, Folk and Country.....

"A guitar album of exquisite beauty and fine country-flavoured pop. And the songs...well they’ve always been his strong point, every one’s a winner. A great British album that crosses all the boundaries." wrote The Daily Express 5/5

"He’s quietly knocked out another masterpiece. A tantalizingly fine album, his third classic in a row" wrote Whisperin & Hollerin 9/10

"Packed with good songs. Romantic,a touch jaded, convincing" said Mojo 4/5

Michael played 150 shows all over the world follwoing the album’s release. A Decent Man found it’s way onto countless playlists across Europe, America and Canadian, and confirmed Michael as: “One of the greatest songwriters at present .” Feedback10/10

Sept. 2004 saw the release of Cosmic Fireworks-The Best of The Good Sons (1994-2001, a beautifully packaged double cd that gathered together his finest songs from his time as front man with the band, and it immediately renewed interest in one of Britain's finest and must underrated bands.

"This ‘countryfied’ body of work might be the most precious rediscovery of the year!" said Rolling Stone (4 stars)

"An awesome collection that can only make you want to search out the full original albums" Maverick (5 stars)

"A celebration of one of our finest bands" UnCut (4 stars)

"The British band that played alt. country before anyone knew what the hell it was. Had the Good Sons done this same thing across the Atlantic, they would surely have been acclaimed trailblazers." 8 out of 10 www.americana-uk.com

Also released in the Autumn of 2004 was King’s first release on his own MurderedWithKindness label. 'Absent Friends' was an eclectic mix of live band performances recorded in Rome, Paris, Hamburg, Barcelona, London and Glastonbury with friends, colleagues and musical acquaintances during the previous 2 years. It also included what would be The Good Sons final song together, a rousing country rock version of the classic Teenage Kicks.

From Sept. to Dec. 2004 MWK was yet again on the road. 50 shows across Europe with the end result being something of a breakdown as the miles took their toll. January and February saw King again convalescing, this time after breaking his arm falling off stage after a show in January. Fortunately, it was healed in time for a 5 week trek across N.America and Canada, starting in the icy chill of Toronto and ending in the warmth of Texas. As an exhausted King sat in the plane back from Austin to New York he struck up a conversation with the person to his left, who turned out to be Kenneth Higney, head of ARC/Chess Publishing in New York. A month later King was signed to them and his songs have begun reaching a whole host of new people, with a number already lined up for use in upcoming films.

In July 2005 work began on Kings new album, “A New Kind Of Loneliness” in Manchester at The Charlatans, and Johnny Marr's studio’s. Produced by MWK and his first time working with the engineer Jim Spencer (New Order, Primal Scream, Johnny Marr, The Charlatans) at the controls. Breaking off midway, King found himself back on tour with Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen across the UK and Ireland, with Chris and Herb calling by the studio to add some harmonies and mandolin to one of the new songs. The album also features appearances from Jackie Leven, and Ron Sexsmith. Work on the album was completed in December 2005 and will be released Nov 2006.

Autumn 2005 meanwhile saw another Phantasmagoria release, this time a retrospective album focusing on King’s solo work from 1999-2005, called The Tender Place. The album contained 19 tracks, all selected by Michael, and taken from his albums 'God Shaped Hole', 'A Decent Man' and 'Absent Friends'. It also includes two new recordings, a brand new song, ‘From Out Of The Blue’, co-written with Danish songwriter Michael Hamilton, along with a cover version of ‘A Simple Twist of Fate’, a track recorded for Mojo magazine's 'Dylan Covered' cover mount cd. As with all King’s releases, the album is beautifully packaged, this time in a triple fold-out, digi-pack format, and features extensive liner notes written by Jackie Leven.

To promote the album, MWK joined forces with two of America’s finest singer-songwriters, John Doe and Peter Case for a European tour throughout November 2005.

MWK also recently appeared on the new album from his close friend Jackie Leven, the stunning 'Elegy for Johnny Cash', and he has also just written the liner notes for the album 'Townes Van Zandt Live at Union Chapel, London 1994'. This was the first show he ever opened for Townes and also the first time he ever saw the great man live.... an evening that was to become something of a “road to Damascus moment” in Kings career.

Oct 2006 will see the release,of the DVD, Michael Weston King - The Crowning Story - “From A Good Son to A Decent Man, 1993 - 2005”. A visual look back over King’s 12 year career as leader of The Good Sons and his work as a solo artist, featuring promo videos, live footage, TV appearances & interviews.

Also released in October will be Love's a Cover - a collection of 15 of MWK's favourite songs by some of his most admired writers (includes Big Louise/Scott Walker, She's Leaving/Ronnie Lane, Alone Again Naturally/Gilbert O’ Sullivan, No More Songs/Phil Ochs, Someday Never Comes/John Fogherty, A Song For/Townes Van Zandt, Blue Red and Grey/Pete Townshend, and many more)

Finally, King is currently working on his first play with the Irish writer Brian Richmond. Entitled Happy Infidels, it features 10 MWK songs and is based around the lives, loves, hopes, fears and personal disasters of a young aspiring English musician and a road weary, alcoholic American musician touring across Europe.