Mick Quinn

Mick Quinn

Mick Quinn performing with the DB Band in Montpellier, 2010.
Background information
Birth name Michael Milton Quinn
Also known as Biff Hymenn,[1] Barry McQueen[2]
Born (1969-12-17) 17 December 1969
Cambridge, England
Genres Alternative rock, Britpop
Occupation(s) Musician, singer-songwriter, producer
Instruments Vocals, bass guitar, guitar, harmonica, drums, keyboards
Years active 1993–present
Labels Dirty Water Records
Associated acts Supergrass, DB Band, Beat Seeking Missiles, Swervedriver
Website www.cotmb.com

Michael "Mick" Quinn (born 17 December 1969 in Cambridge) is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known as founding member of English rock band Supergrass. He formed the DB Band with bassist Paul Wilson, formerly of Shake Appeal in 2010 and released début EP "Stranger in the Alps" on 17 September 2011. He also is a member of 60's garage/beat band the "Beat Seeking Missiles".

Career

1984–1993

Mick Quinn started playing bass at the age of 14 on an Ibanez Roadster RS-900. A year later, he moved on to guitar to improve his bass style and start to write songs. He played with The Asylum in 1986, a band featuring Kid Wig, guitarist with the Beat Seeking Missiles, in and around Oxford including the Port Meadow Festival.[3]

In the late 80's he became interested in record production, renting and borrowing equipment to experiment with at home. He also travelled to Spain and France to play with local musicians before returning to England in 1992.

1993–2010: Supergrass

Mick Quinn formed Supergrass with Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey in February 1993. In 1995 the band released I Should Coco selling over a million copies worldwide. Singles, Caught by the Fuzz and Alright confirmed the band's popularity and they went on to release five further albums, four reaching the top ten in the UK Albums Chart.

Children of the Monkey Basket, a website created by Quinn under the name Big Arm Technology was awarded best Rock Website at the UK Online Music Awards in both 2000[4] and 2002. Other nominations in the category were Coldplay, Idlewild, Radiohead and U2.[5]

In 2008 the band parted ways with Parlophone records, recently acquired by Guy Hands of Terra Firma, and released single Rebel in You on Supergrass Records, overseen by Mick.[6]

Following the difficulties of recording Release the Drones, the band announced in April 2010 that they were to split.[7]

2010–2014: DB Band

In May 2010 Quinn formed the DB Band with former Shake Appeal bass player Paul Wilson. Described as heavier and hairier than the 'Grass, they released début EP, Stranger in the Alps on 17 September 2011[8] and EP Loosen Up, on 1 March 2013.[9]

Quinn is also a founding member of garage band The Beat Seeking Missiles with former members of The Wig Outs and Thee Headcoats. Signed to Dirty Water Records, the band released their first single, "Break My Fall/Dr. Strangelove" in October 2011.

2015–Present: Swervedriver

Quinn has played bass and provided backing vocals for Oxford band Swervedriver since 2015. The band released 'I Wasn't Born to Lose You', and Quinn has toured North America, South America, Australia, the Far East, Europe and the UK in support of the album. The band are due to tour North America in the fall, performing the albums Raise and Mezcal Head in their entirety.

Personal life

Quinn's father is the Australian lipid biochemist Professor Peter Quinn, who is currently based at King's College London.[10] Though born in Cambridge, Quinn spent his very early childhood living in America before relocated to Oxford, England in the 1970s.

On 21 August 2007, Quinn was hospitalized in Toulouse, France for an operation to repair two broken vertebrae and a smashed Calcaneus, sustained after falling out of a first floor window of a rented villa he was staying in with his family.[11][12] He subsequently made a full recovery, returning to perform with the Diamond Hoo Ha Men in January 2008.[1]

Quinn lives in Oxfordshire with his wife and family.

References

  1. 1 2 "Stricken 'Grass bassist returns". The Sun. 17 January 2008.
  2. ↑ "DB Band Facebook Page".
  3. ↑ "Oxford New Age Fayre". ukrockfestivals.com. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  4. ↑ "...Supergrass honoured...". BBC News. 24 November 2000.
  5. ↑ "The Strange Ones Supergrass Site". Strangeones.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  6. ↑ "Bassist Mickey Quinn explain why they parted ways with EMI". BBC 6 Music. 12 December 2008.
  7. ↑ "Supergrass to split after 17 years". The Guardian. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
  8. ↑ "The DB Band website". Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  9. ↑ "DB Band - Loosen Up". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-07-05.
  10. ↑ Home Page
  11. ↑ "Quinn breaks back". Daily Mirror. 1 September 2007.
  12. ↑ "Supergrass bass man breaks back while sleepwalking". Reuters. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
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