The Mick Rutherford Band was formed in 1995.
They have appeared at many festivals including: The Bulldog Bash, The Rock and Blues, Colne International Blues Festival, Burnly Blues Festival, Maryport Blues Festival, Rock in the Vale, The Garden of England Festival, Cropredy Festival and Donnington Park ampng many others.
In 2004 they signed to Blues Matters Records which culminated in their 2006 album Are you Ready which gave them 3 hits. Spirit in the Sky reached number 14 in the USA blues charts and was followed by, Are you Ready which reached number 27. While, in the UK Love in the fast lane saw them reach number 2 in the blues charts.
The line up of the band is:
Mick Rutherford (vocals/bass/guitar) ex Alexis Korner, Ice.
Carl Axon (guitar/vocals) ex Doctor & The Medics, Stained Glass.
Paul Westmoreland (drums/vocals) ex Bluesology, Destiny Ranch.
The band were awarded best blues band 2006 by Its only rock and roll magazine.
The best three piece rock/blues bands in the country. Great vocals, guitar, bass and drums. You wouldnt think that the sound came from three guys. But it does, and its great.
Last week they recieved their award as BEST BLUES BAND 2007 by Its only rock and roll magazine.
Once again this band is the most impressive three piece blues band. Mick Rutherford would win the vocal section, if we had one, he can sing in many syles, and he does. Carl Axon shows what a flying V should sound like and Paul Westmoreland drums as if his life depended on it. But, we shouldnt be surprised with ex members of Alexis Korner, Dr and the Medics and Bluesology on board.
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Mick Rutherford started his career in 1963 and has always said that he learned the blues by sitting and listening to his mentor Alexis Korner, who he worked with during the 60s. Mick has performed well over 3,000 gigs in his career and this year (2007) is in his 45th year of rocknroll despite retiring three times.
He has appeared on the same bill as: The Jimmy Hendrix Experience, Black Sabbath, The Rolling Stones, Cream, The Groundhogs, Saxon, Budgie, Mammoth, The Blues Band, Jethro Tull, Bruce Dickenson Band, The Pretty Things, Juicy Lucy and The Who among others.
In 2008 Mick began to do some solo shows. January saw him perform at The 7 Stars in Wrexham and St Pauls Gallery in Birmingham, the latter was promoted jointly by St Pauls Gallery and Stillgigging. Mick has enjoyed these so much he now includes two solo songs in the bands rock/blues set. During 2008 the band will be appearing at Rock City, Nottingham and the show will be recorded, filmed and will be broardcast on the net, Radio Nottingham and Radio trent. The show is backed by Nottingham Forest who will advertise the show on the giant scoreboard during half time of home games running up to the show.
Mick is activily seeking sponcership, agency representation and bookings for the band and solo shows, anyone interested should contact Mick at the bands myspace webpage or stillgigging.
The following is the piece about Mick Rutherfords 1979 album, Saga of the Ice King. This album is probably Micks most successfull album untill the Blues Matters album Are you Ready.
RECORD COLLECTOR APRIL EDITION page 28.
THE UKs MOST COLLECTABLE PROGRESSIVE ROCK RECORDS
ICE Saga Of The Ice King (Storm, with booklet. 1979) £150***
This quintet (derived mostly from Tamworth band Willow) led by ex-Alexis Korner Blues Incorporated singer, Mick Rutherford, was formed in March 1978 and issued their debut concept album a year later, before splitting in 1982. Featuring the Staffordshire Youth Orchestra, with string arrangements by Rutherford, its riven with changes of both mood and tempo, as well as boasting some blaring horns and sweet electric and acoustic guitar from Andy Radek, as highlighted on airy tunes like The Bridge. This LP has been described as the rarest album of 1979, but as Rutherford recalls. It was recorded in Lichfield in a garden shed studio. The control room was an added lean to attached to the side. I got the idea for the story from a Marvel comic on Thor and told the musicians in the band-Colin, Andy, Paul Watts and Steve Sheldon-what kind of song I wanted for each part of the saga. We borrowed a Revox four-track from a musician friend of ours. Paul Hinch, who used to work in Abbey Road Studios. He told us that the machine was one of two used to record The Beatles Sgt Pepper. There was going to be narration a la The War of the Worlds, but I soon realised that this would take too long, so we didnt use it. We recorded it between November 1978 and February 1979. Once the thing was finished and mixed, I took the master to Blackpool, where the pressings were done. As the engineer went through the tape it broke during Journey into exile. Although it was repaired, half of one verse is missing on the finished release. I wrote all the lyrics and arranged the strings on The Ice King. What I didnt know was that, although we tuned all our instruments by ear, the Staffordshire Youth Orchestra tuned to concert pitch, so throughout the song were out of tune with the orchestra! The album was released in the summer of 79 and sold well, but 10 years later I binned 20 copies that were cluttering up the house! Apparently, by then the album was much sought after in Scandinavian countries because of the Viking myth element, and a copy sold for £375 at a Birmingham record fair in 1994.
Mick Rutherford has had hits in Germany, Scandinavia, USA and the UK.
To see the whole story check out the following:
www.myspace.com/mickrutherfordbandinfo
www.myspace.com/mickrutherfordsolo
www.tamworthbands.com
www.bluesmatters.com
After a very successful tour of the UK with The Brew, which included a visit to the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool The Mick Rutherford Band will be gigging up untill the 26th of December. The band will be taking most of January off but not Mick. He will be doing some solo gigs (for the first time in over 10 years) which will include songs, stories, a question and answer section and will even get the audience to write lyrics which he will sing at the end of the show.
Mick is hoping that CDs will be available at these shows.
During the summer of 2008 the band is hoping to embark on a Europian tour with still gigging artist Demian Bell and the Maypole Blues Band and this tour will include some UK dates. |