Mick Rutherford

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Name: Mick Rutherford

Birthdate: 18/01/1949

Instrumants: Vocals/Bass/Guitars

Birthplace Banbury, Oxfordshire, England

Genre(s) Blues/Rock/Metal

Associated bands Black Dimonds, Voyds, Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, Six Percent

                  Power and Glory, Duterium, Pregnant Mary, Red Cloud, Willow, Ice, 
                  Dickens, Heavy Metal Thunder, Loose Connection, Bluesology,
                  The Mick Rutherford band.

Mick Rutherford was born in his Grandmothers house in Marlborough Road, Banbury. His family first moved to Cinderford (Glocestershire) before moving to Newbury (Berkshire).

At the age of 14 Mick joined his first band, The Black Diamonds, and on March 31st 1963 played his first gig at Inkpen Village Hall. He was introduced to blues by a friend and quickly switched bands to The Voyds. In 1964 the band were signed to C.B.S. Records and Mick began to play in London venues such as The Marquee (Oxford Street, before its move to Wardour Street) The Crawdaddy Club, (Station Hotel, Richmond) and Eel Pie Island. At this time he met Tony 'T.S. McPhee, John Mayall, various members of The Rolling Stones and, Alexis Korner. Mick started staying in Alexis' London flat and Alexis introduced him to American blues (Muddy Waters, JohnLee Hooker, Jimmy Read etc) and, during one of his frequent stays Alexis asked Mick to join his Blues Incorporated.

Mick joined in the summer of '65 (aged 16 years) and Mick gained a great reputation as a fine British blues singer with one of the most powerful voices in blues. His stay with Korner lasted until the autumn of '66 when Mick left to join The Six Percent. Mick kept in touch with his mentor, Korner, till the latter died.

In '67 The Six percent toured with, first Jimi Hendrix (12 dates), Cream (6 dates) and The Rolling Stones (4 dates). Then in 68 he moved to the Midlands and joined The Power and Glory. This band gave Mick his first hits, number 3 and 5 in the German charts (Elinor Rigby and For Your Love). Power and Glory moved to psychodelia and changed their name to Duterium, but after disagreements with the bands manager Mick left the band.

Mick then moved from band to band restlessly trying to find the right one (Pregnant Mary, Red Cloud and Willow) until, in 1978 formed Ice, with Paul Watts, Colin Richardson, Steve Sheldon and Andy Radek. (Andy Radek still plays live from his home in St Leon, Northern France).

In 1979 they released 'Saga of the Ice King' and, although it sold well it didn't chart, but now it is values at £150+ and has featured in the Record Collectors magazine as one of the most saught after progressive rock albums of all time and 'the rerest record of 1979' (Record Collector Magazine). They also recorded two singles 'Clouds of Cirrus and You my love. Ice lasted until 1982 and after many problems with promotion companies (cancelled German Tour at last minute leaving the band in debt, Mick retired from music, only to re-emerge in '84 with Dickens. Dickens released 2 fine albums. 1984's 'Panic' and 85's 'Standing Out' the latter now a collectors item valued at £50+.

They then changed their name to Heavy Metal Thunder in 88 and Mick picked up the bass guitar for the first time, playing it on all but one track of the bands 'We are what we are' album. They did Tommy Vance's Rock Show on Radio One and in 1989 Mick decided to return to his blues roots and formed 'Loose Connection'.

With this band he played in front of 35,000 people at The Mildenhall Rock and Blues Festival and between November 1990 and January 1991 performed in a club in Abu Dhabi (U.A.E.) for American troops deployed for the first Gulf war.

On their return Mick reformed Ice for a single and a tour and in January 1992 moved to Nottingham and retired for the second time.

This retirement lasted till 1994 when he joined the still touring Bluesology, before forming his own band, The Mick Rutherford band. After trying different record companies he finally signed to Blues Matters Records and released the critically acclaimed 'Are You Ready' album.

Then in October 2006 Mick had his first hit since '68 when 'Spirit in the Sky' peaked at 14 in the USA blues charts. This was followed early in 2007 with 'Love in the fast lane' reaching number 2 in the UK blues Charts.

Late 2006 Mick completed 3,000 gigs during his career and on March 31st 2007 completed 44 years in the music business. The Mick Rutherford Band were awarded 'Best Blues Band of 2006' by It's only Rock and Roll Magazine.

His 1979 album 'Saga of the Ice King' is a collectors item valued at £150+. His 1985 album 'Standing Out' is a collectors item valued at £50+.

In Aprils edition of Record Collector, under the heading '100 most sought after progressive rock records', 'Saga of the Ice King is featured (page 28).