| Micky Groome | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England |
| Genres | Pop, Rock, Surf rock, Country |
| Years active | 1970s–Present |
| Associated acts | Ducks Deluxe, The Force, Mark Wirtz |
Micky Groome (born Michael John Groome, March 20, 1951, Hemel Hempstead, England) is an English bassist, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer.
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Groome grew up in in the new town of Hemel Hempstead, some 27 miles (43 km) north-west of central London, and began playing in locally-based bands such as Wild Wally's Rock'n'Roll Show, Eve (with guitarist/journalist Eamonn Percival, who later conducted Keith Moon's final interview,[1] for International Musician magazine) and The Sugar Band (with Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash). The opening riff to Wishbone Ash's signature song Blowin’ Free came about during a jam session Groome had with Powell in 1971.[2]
Groome's earlier work was influenced by pop groups of the British Invasion such as the Beatles, The Who and the Kinks. Other significant and enduring influences were harmony groups like The Beach Boys and The Four Seasons, and country rock musicians such as Gene Clark and Sneaky Pete, both of whom joined Groome on stage for a memorable appearance in Amsterdam in the 1970s.[3]
He is known for playing many cover songs during his live performances, including "Needles And Pins" by The Searchers, as well as introducing some light-hearted and humorous elements into his stage performances with The Barron Knights.
During the Pub rock era, Groome joined Tim Roper (drums), Martin Belmont (guitar) and Sean Tyla (vocals, guitar) as bass player for Ducks Deluxe. Groome sang lead vocal on their I Fought The Law single,[4] and appeared on two further studio releases on the French Skydog label.[3] The group disbanded in 1975, but Groome subsequently reunited with Tyla to form The Force along with Deke Leonard (guitar) and Paul Simmons (drums), releasing their eponymous album in 1982.[5]
Groome, Belmont and Tyla plus drummer Billy Rankin, reformed Ducks Deluxe to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their original formation in a performance on 9 October 2007 at the 100 Club in London,[6] the same venue and band lineup of their earlier final performance on 1 July 1975, which had been recorded and released as the Last Night Of A Pub Rock Band album.
Groome has recorded numerous sessions on other artists’ albums, including Robert Plant (Manic Nirvana),[7][8] Joan Jett (Bad Reputation),[9] Psychic TV (Dreams Less Sweet and Godstar),[10] IQ (Nomzamo) [11] and Popguns (Snog).[12]
He has toured the world extensively as a member of Adrian Baker's Gidea Park (occasionally with guests such as Mike Love),[13] Nashville Teens, Mud, The Beagles (together with saxophonist-singer-songwriter Stewart Blandamer, former member of Paul Young's Q-Tips and writer of the country classic song Darlin',) and, since April 2003, The Barron Knights, having previously sequenced the drum programming on their single Golden Oldie Old Folks Home.[14]
During 2004-6, Groome collaborated with “Teenage Opera” composer Mark Wirtz on the Love Is Eggshaped and Spyderbaby music projects.[15]
Yo! (2001) Leg Room
Soul Rider (2002) Leg Room
Light Of Day (2003) Leg Room
Wild Wally’s Rock & Roll Show
I Go Ape (1971) Concord
Ducks Deluxe
I Fought The Law/Cherry Pie (1975 Single) RCA 2531
Jumpin’ (1975 EP) Skydog EP-005 (France)
All Too Much (1975) Skydog (France)
Last Night Of A Pub Rock Band (1979) Dynamite
Sean Tyla
Just Popped Out (1980) Polydor
Redneck in Babylon (1981) Zilch (Germany) ZL 25355
Key West
Can’t Get Enough Of You/I’m A Vampire (1978 Single) Epic EPC 6566
Joan Jett
Bad Reputation (1981) Boardwalk
The Force
The Force (1982) Zilch (Germany) 2374 195
Psychic TV
Dreams Less Sweet (1983) Some Bizarre/CBS
Godstar (1985) Temple
IQ
Nomzamo (1987) Squawk/Mercury 832 141-2
Robert Plant
Manic Nirvana (1990) Es Paranza
The Popguns
Snog (1991) Midnight Music
Barron Knights
Golden Oldie Old Folks Home (1999 Single)
Mark Wirtz
Love Is Eggshaped (2005) Rev-Ola
Mark Wirtz presents Spyderbaby
Glassblower (2006) DreamTunes (Germany)