Michael Head

Musician — Liverpool

01Profile

A Michael Head Photo

03Interview

Photo by Wendy Barrett

Name, where are you from?
Michael Head, Everton, Liverpool.

Describe your style in three words?
Urban, scruffy, cool.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
The best gig I've been to was Love in Paris because I was on stage with musically, my hero Arthur Lee. Sometimes magic exists. That never meet your heroes adage is a myth. Meeting Arthur was a dream come true, and more again.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
The Byrds and The Velvets are two of the most influential and seminal bands of their generation. I'd choose to be with The Byrds for their music and The Velvets for their energy, and I'd have the luxury of being part of one band from the West Coast and one from the East.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
The mid to late sixties psychedelic drug culture, with a little bit of Greenwich Village thrown in. People were experimenting with different states of consciousness and as a writer and musician, I can appreciate that. It's right up my f*ckin' street.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Marilyn Monroe. And whyd'ya f*ckin' think?

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
We were in Paris for the first time, playing a venue that I think it was called The Bandoush, I remember it because the floor was filled with sand and I was wearing wellies!

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Karen Dalton. The most incredible female voice ever, she out-Billies Billie.


Michael Head was described by the NME as “a lost genius and among the most gifted British songwriters of his generation”. You can next see him and The Red Elastic Band performing at The invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool on 30th November 2019.

Further tour dates include:
21.01.20 Gorilla, Manchester
24.01.20 Brudenell Social Club,  Leeds
30.01.20 Summerhall, Edinburgh
02.02.20 Earth Theatre, London

Find out more at www.michaelhead.co.uk.

 

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'See Emily Play' by Syd Barrett.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Sound And Vision' by David Bowie.

One record you would keep forever?
'Da Capo' by Love.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Do Anything You Wanna Do' by Eddie and the Hot Rods. When I heard that I just thought "oh my God" and yeah they did look like pub rockers but it didn't f*ckin' matter.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'She Is Beyond Good And Evil' by The Pop Group.

A song you wished you had written?
'Outdoor Miner' by Wire.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Harder Than You Think' by Public Enemy.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'More Than A Feeling' by Boston.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Dolphins' by Fred Neill.

Any new music you are listening to right now?
'The Outside Looking In' by The Peach Fuzz.
'I'm Numb' by Pyscho Comedy.

03Interview

Photo by Wendy Barrett

Name, where are you from?
Michael Head, Everton, Liverpool.

Describe your style in three words?
Urban, scruffy, cool.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
The best gig I've been to was Love in Paris because I was on stage with musically, my hero Arthur Lee. Sometimes magic exists. That never meet your heroes adage is a myth. Meeting Arthur was a dream come true, and more again.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
The Byrds and The Velvets are two of the most influential and seminal bands of their generation. I'd choose to be with The Byrds for their music and The Velvets for their energy, and I'd have the luxury of being part of one band from the West Coast and one from the East.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
The mid to late sixties psychedelic drug culture, with a little bit of Greenwich Village thrown in. People were experimenting with different states of consciousness and as a writer and musician, I can appreciate that. It's right up my f*ckin' street.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Marilyn Monroe. And whyd'ya f*ckin' think?

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
We were in Paris for the first time, playing a venue that I think it was called The Bandoush, I remember it because the floor was filled with sand and I was wearing wellies!

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Karen Dalton. The most incredible female voice ever, she out-Billies Billie.


Michael Head was described by the NME as “a lost genius and among the most gifted British songwriters of his generation”. You can next see him and The Red Elastic Band performing at The invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool on 30th November 2019.

Further tour dates include:
21.01.20 Gorilla, Manchester
24.01.20 Brudenell Social Club,  Leeds
30.01.20 Summerhall, Edinburgh
02.02.20 Earth Theatre, London

Find out more at www.michaelhead.co.uk.

 

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'See Emily Play' by Syd Barrett.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Sound And Vision' by David Bowie.

One record you would keep forever?
'Da Capo' by Love.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
'Do Anything You Wanna Do' by Eddie and the Hot Rods. When I heard that I just thought "oh my God" and yeah they did look like pub rockers but it didn't f*ckin' matter.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'She Is Beyond Good And Evil' by The Pop Group.

A song you wished you had written?
'Outdoor Miner' by Wire.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Harder Than You Think' by Public Enemy.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'More Than A Feeling' by Boston.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Dolphins' by Fred Neill.

Any new music you are listening to right now?
'The Outside Looking In' by The Peach Fuzz.
'I'm Numb' by Pyscho Comedy.

 

05Videos

Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band | Josephine (2017)

Michael Head Introducing The Strands | Something Like You (1997)

Shack | Comedy (1999)

The Pale Fountains | Palm Of My Hand (1984)