Mick Karn

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Mick Karn
Mick Karn, London, November 1982
Mick Karn, London, November 1982
Background information
Birth name Anthony Michaelides
Born 24 July 1958 (1958-07-24) (age 49)
Origin Cyprus
Genre(s) Avant-garde
Instrument(s) Bass guitar
Keyboards
Sax
Oboe
Years active 1977–
Associated acts Japan
Dali's Car
Website MickKarn.net

Mick Karn (born 24 July 1958) is an English musician, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, most noted as the bassist for the art rock band Japan, from 1974 to 1982.

Karn was born Anthony Michaelides in Nicosia, Cyprus before emigrating to London, England at the age of 3. He has worked with such noted and diverse artists as Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Midge Ure and Joan Armatrading as well as being a member of Dali's Car with Peter Murphy of the gothic post-punk group Bauhaus. In the 1990s he worked with artist David Torn as well as a number of Japanese musicians, including the band NiNa.

His use of the fretless bass guitar resulted in a distinctive sound and playing style, which makes his playing immediately recognizable not to mention highly influential. After Mick's first solo release Titles in 1982, Pete Townshend claimed that "Mick was by far the best bassist in the UK".

Karn played an aluminum-neck Travis Bean bass on all Japan albums up to Gentlemen Take Polaroids. In 1981 he moved to the renowned Wal basses, purchasing two Mark I instruments; one with rare African tulipwood facings, and the other being a cherry solidbody. Mick recorded Japan's last studio album Tin Drum with the Wal and has continued to use them, helping further their popularity worldwide. Today Karn also uses the ergonomically-designed headless Klein 'K Bass'.

[edit] Discography (albums 1982 to date)

  • Titles (1982)
  • Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters (1987)
  • Bestial Cluster (1993)
  • The Tooth Mother (1995)
  • Each Eye a Path' (2001)
  • Each Path a Remix (2003)
  • More Better Different (2004)
  • Love's Glove EP (2005)
  • Three Part Species (2006)
  • Selected (2007)

[edit] External links