Jump to content

Mick Farren: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Jlamastra (talk | contribs)
24 edits
m →Music: Added Lemmy's formal name
 
(46 intermediate revisions by 27 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|English journalist, author and singer}}
{{Short description|English journalist, author and singer (1943–2013)}}
{{citations needed|date=April 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
Line 7: Line 7:
| background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Michael Anthony Farren
| birth_name = Michael Anthony Farren
| image = Mick & Pat.jpg
| image = MickFarren.jpg
| caption = Farren in January 1970
| caption = Mick Farren (left) with Patrick Boissel at the signing of the Bomp! book at Freakbeat Records in [[Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles|Sherman Oaks, California]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|9|3|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|9|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]], United Kingdom
| birth_place = [[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucestershire]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|7|27|1943|9|3|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|7|27|1943|9|3|df=y}}
| death_place = {{Nowrap|[[London]], [[England]], United Kingdom}}
| death_place = London, England
| genre = {{Flatlist|
| associated_acts = [[The Deviants (band)|The Deviants]]
* [[Acid rock]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-mick-farren-20130807-story.html |title=Mick Farren dies at 69; British rocker embodied '60s spirit |last=Appleford |first=Stece |date=6 August 2013 |newspaper=LA Times |access-date=30 December 2021}}</ref>
| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[proto-punk]]
* [[garage rock]]
* [[proto-punk]]
* [[psychedelic rock]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mick-farren-mn0000892495|title=Mick Farren Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=28 October 2023}}</ref>
}}
| occupation = Singer, journalist
| occupation = Singer, journalist
| website =
| website =
}}
}}


'''Michael Anthony Farren''' (3 September 1943 – 27 July 2013)<ref>{{cite web|title=Mick Farren collapsed on stage at The Borderline on 27th July while playing with his old friends, and failed to recover|url=http://www.reallylivemusic.com/the-atomic-sunshine-one-day-festival-borderline-saturday-27072013|access-date=28 July 2013}}</ref> was an [[English people|English]] journalist, author and singer associated with [[counterculture]] and the [[UK underground]].<ref name=Guardian>{{cite web|author=Richard Williams |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/29/mick-farren |title=Mick Farren &#124; Music |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=1943-09-03 |access-date=2013-07-29}}</ref>
'''Michael Anthony Farren''' (3 September 1943 – 27 July 2013)<ref>{{cite web|title=Mick Farren collapsed on stage at The Borderline on 27th July while playing with his old friends, and failed to recover|url=http://www.reallylivemusic.com/the-atomic-sunshine-one-day-festival-borderline-saturday-27072013|website=Reallylivemusic.com|access-date=28 July 2013}}</ref> was an English rock musician, singer, journalist, and author associated with [[counterculture]] and the [[UK underground]], who had a significant influence on the development of British [[proto punk]] [[garage rock]] music.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news|author=Richard Williams |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/29/mick-farren |title=Mick Farren &#124; Music |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=1943-09-03 |access-date=2013-07-29}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Farren was born in [[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucestershire]] and after moving to [[Sussex]] attended [[Worthing College#Grammar school|Worthing High School for Boys]], which was a state grammar school. In 1963 he moved to London, where he studied at [[Saint Martin's School of Art]].<ref name=Guardian /><ref name=Independent>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/mick-farren-musician-and-writer-who-played-a-leading-role-in-the-uks-counterculture-8737151.html Mick Farren Obituary ''The Independent'']. Retrieved 31 July 2013</ref>
Farren was born in [[Cheltenham]], [[Gloucestershire]], and after moving to [[Worthing]], [[Sussex]],<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=842/3}}</ref> attended [[Worthing College#Grammar school|Worthing High School for Boys]], which was a state grammar school. In 1963, he moved to London, where he studied at [[Saint Martin's School of Art]].<ref name=Guardian /><ref name=Independent>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/mick-farren-musician-and-writer-who-played-a-leading-role-in-the-uks-counterculture-8737151.html Mick Farren Obituary ''The Independent'']. Retrieved 31 July 2013</ref>


==Music==
==Music==
{{main|The Deviants (band)}}
{{main|The Deviants (band)}}
[[File:Thedeviants.jpg|thumb|Farren performing with The Deviants]]
Farren was the singer with the [[proto-punk]] band [[The Deviants (band)|The Deviants]]<ref name="archive1">{{cite web|title=Mick Farren on Outsight Radio Hours|url=https://archive.org/details/MickFarrenOnOutsightRadioHours|work=Archive.org|access-date=24 September 2012}}</ref> between 1967 and 1969, releasing three albums.
Farren was the singer with the [[proto-punk]] [[garage rock]] R&B band [[The Deviants (band)|The Deviants]]<ref name="archive1">{{cite web|title=Mick Farren on Outsight Radio Hours|url=https://archive.org/details/MickFarrenOnOutsightRadioHours|work=Archive.org|access-date=24 September 2012}}</ref> between 1967 and 1969, releasing three albums.
During 1970 he released the solo album ''[[Mona – The Carnivorous Circus]]'' which also featured [[Steve Peregrin Took]], [[John Gustafson (musician)|John Gustafson]] and [[Paul Buckmaster]], before ending his music business to concentrate on writing.
During 1970 he released the solo album ''[[Mona – The Carnivorous Circus]]'', which also featured [[Steve Peregrin Took]], [[John Gustafson (musician)|John Gustafson]] and [[Paul Buckmaster]], before ending his music business to concentrate on writing.<ref name="LarkinGE"/>


During the mid-1970s, he briefly revived his musical career, releasing the single Play With Fire featuring Marky (soon-to-be Ramone) Bell, Jon Tiven, and Doug Snyder, the EP ''Screwed Up'', album ''[[Vampires Stole My Lunch Money]]'' and single "Broken Statue". The album featured fellow [[NME|New Musical Express (NME)]] journalist [[Chrissie Hynde]] and [[Dr. Feelgood (band)|Dr. Feelgood]] guitarist Wilko Johnson. He also contributed song ideas and music for short-lived
During the mid-1970s, he briefly revived his musical career, releasing the single "Play With Fire" featuring Marky Bell ( later in [[The Ramones]] ) , Jon Tiven, and Doug Snyder, the EP ''Screwed Up'', album ''[[Vampires Stole My Lunch Money]]'' and single "Broken Statue". The album featured fellow ''[[NME|New Musical Express (NME)]]'' journalist [[Chrissie Hynde]] and [[Dr. Feelgood (band)|Dr. Feelgood]] guitarist [[Wilko Johnson]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/> He also contributed song ideas and music for short-lived Ladbroke Grove ensemble Warsaw Pakt's 1977 ''Needle Time'' LP.
Ladbroke Grove ensemble Warsaw Pakt's 1977 "Needle Time" LP.


He sporadically did musical work after that, collaborating with [[Wayne Kramer (guitarist)|Wayne Kramer]] on ''Who Shot You Dutch?'' and ''Death Tongue'', Jack Lancaster on ''The Deathray Tapes'' and Andy Colquhoun on The Deviants albums ''[[Eating Jello With a Heated Fork]]'' and ''[[Dr. Crow]]''.
He sporadically did musical work after that, collaborating with [[MC5]]'s [[Wayne Kramer]] on ''Who Shot You Dutch?'' and ''Death Tongue'', Jack Lancaster on ''The Deathray Tapes'' and Andy Colquhoun on The Deviants albums ''[[Eating Jello With a Heated Fork]]'' and ''[[Dr. Crow]]''.


Aside from his own work, he provided lyrics for various musician friends over the years. He collaborated with Ian Fraser Kilmister [[Lemmy]], co-writing "Lost Johnny" for [[Hawkwind]], and "Keep Us on the Road" and "Damage Case" for [[Motörhead]]. With [[Larry Wallis]], he co-wrote "When's the Fun Begin?" for the [[Pink Fairies]] and several tracks on Wallis' solo album ''Death in the Guitafternoon''. He provided lyrics for the Wayne Kramer single "Get Some" during the mid-1970s, and continued to work with and for him during the 1990s.
Aside from his own work, he provided lyrics for various musician friends over the years. He collaborated with Ian Fraser Kilmister ([[Lemmy]]), co-writing "Lost Johnny" for [[Hawkwind]], and "Keep Us on the Road" and "Damage Case" for [[Motörhead]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/> With [[Larry Wallis]], he co-wrote "When's the Fun Begin?" for the [[Pink Fairies]] and several tracks on Wallis' solo album ''Death in the Guitafternoon''. He provided lyrics for the Wayne Kramer single "Get Some" during the mid-1970s, and continued to work with and for him during the 1990s.


== Discography ==
===Singles===
===Singles===
:'''Solo'''
⚫
*1968 - The Deviants - "You've Got To Hold On" / "Let's Loot The Supermarket" (Stable Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Deviants-Youve-Got-To-Hold-On-Lets-Loot-The-Supermarket/release/2151534 |title=Deviants, The (2) - You've Got To Hold On / Let's Loot The Supermarket (Vinyl) at Discogs |website=Discogs.com |access-date=2013-07-29}}</ref>
*1976 – Mick Farren – "Play With Fire" / "Lost Johnny" (Ork records)
*1976 – "Play with Fire" / "Lost Johnny" (Ork records)
*1978 – "Half Price Drinks" (Logo Records)
*1978 – "Broken Statue" / "It's All in the Picture" (Logo records)

:'''Other appearances'''
⚫
*1968 - The Deviants - "You've Got to Hold On" / "Let's Loot the Supermarket" (Stable Records)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Deviants-Youve-Got-To-Hold-On-Lets-Loot-The-Supermarket/release/2151534 |title=Deviants, The (2) - You've Got To Hold On / Let's Loot The Supermarket (Vinyl) at Discogs |website=Discogs.com |access-date=2013-07-29}}</ref>
*1977 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – ''Screwed Up'' EP ([[Stiff Records]])
*1977 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – ''Screwed Up'' EP ([[Stiff Records]])
*1978 – Mick Farren – "Half Price Drinks" (Logo Records)
*1987 – [[Wayne Kramer]] & Mick Farren – ''Who Shot You Dutch?''
*1978 – Mick Farren – "Broken Statue" / "It's All In The Picture" (Logo records)
*199? – Lunar Malice – "Gunfire in the Night" / "Touched by the Fire"
*1987 – [[Wayne Kramer (guitarist)|Wayne Kramer]] & Mick Farren – ''Who Shot You Dutch?''
*199? – Lunar Malice – "Gunfire In The Night" / "Touched By The Fire"


===Albums===
===Albums===
:'''With The Deviants'''
*1967 – [[The Deviants (band)|The Deviants]] – ''[[Ptooff!]]'' (Impresario/[[Decca Records]])
{{Main article|The Deviants (band)}}
*1968 – The Deviants – ''[[Disposable (album)|Disposable]]'' (Stable Records)

*1969 – The Deviants – ''[[The Deviants 3]]'' ([[Transatlantic Records]])
:'''Solo'''
*1970 – Mick Farren – ''[[Mona – The Carnivorous Circus]]'' (Transatlantic Records)
*1978 – Mick Farren – ''[[Vampires Stole My Lunch Money]]'' (Logo Records)
*1970 – ''[[Mona – The Carnivorous Circus]]'' (Transatlantic Records)
*1984 – The Deviants – ''[[Human Garbage]]'' – live (Psycho Records)
*1978 – ''[[Vampires Stole My Lunch Money]]'' (Logo Records)
⚫
*2005 – ''To the Masterlock'' – live ([[Captain Trip Records]], Japan)

:'''Other appearances'''
*1991 – Wayne Kramer – ''Death Tongue'' (Progressive Records)
*1991 – Wayne Kramer – ''Death Tongue'' (Progressive Records)
*1993 – Tijuana Bible – ''Gringo Madness''
*1993 – Tijuana Bible – ''Gringo Madness''
*1995 – Mick Farren and Jack Lancaster – ''The Deathray Tapes'' ([[Alive Records]])
*1995 – Mick Farren and Jack Lancaster – ''The Deathray Tapes'' ([[Alive Records]])
*1996 – Deviants IXVI – ''[[Eating Jello With a Heated Fork]]'' ([[Alive Records]])
*2013 – Mick Farren and Andy Colquhoun – ''[[Black Vinyl Dress]]''
*1999 – The Deviants – ''[[Barbarian Princes]]'' – Live In Japan
*2002 – The Deviants – ''[[Dr. Crow]]'' (Track Records)
*2004 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – ''Taste The Blue'' – live ([[Captain Trip Records]], Japan)
⚫
*2005 – Mick Farren – ''To The Masterlock'' – live (Captain Trip Records, Japan)
*2013 – Mick Farren and Andy Colquhoun - ''[[Black Vinyl Dress]]''


===Compilations===
===Compilations===
*1996 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – ''Fragments of Broken Probes''
*1996 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – ''Fragments of Broken Probes''
*1996 – The Social Deviants – ''Garbage'' ([[Alive Records]])
*1996 – The Social Deviants – ''Garbage'' ([[Alive Records]])
*1999 – The Deviants – ''The Deviants Have Left The Planet''
*1999 – The Deviants – ''The Deviants Have Left the Planet''
*2000 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – ''This CD Is Condemned'' ([[Alive Records]])
*2000 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – ''This CD Is Condemned'' ([[Alive Records]])
*2001 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – ''On Your Knees, Earthlings'' ([[Alive Records]])
*2001 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – ''On Your Knees, Earthlings'' ([[Alive Records]])


==Writing==
==Writing==
During the early 1970s he contributed to the UK [[Underground press]] such as the [[International Times]], also establishing ''Nasty Tales'' which he successfully defended from an obscenity charge. He later wrote for the mainstream ''[[New Musical Express]]'', for which he wrote the article ''The Titanic Sails At Dawn'', an analysis of what he considered the malaise afflicting then-contemporary rock music and which described the conditions that subsequently resulted in [[Punk rock|punk]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thanatosoft.freeserve.co.uk/damagedfiles/articles/titanic.htm |title=The Titanic Sails At Dawn |access-date=2008-06-12 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607212655/http://www.thanatosoft.freeserve.co.uk/damagedfiles/articles/titanic.htm |archive-date=7 June 2008 }}, ''NME'', 19 June 1976, pp. 5-6</ref>
During the early 1970s he contributed to the UK [[Underground press]] such as the ''[[International Times]]'', also establishing ''Nasty Tales'' which he successfully defended from an obscenity charge. He later wrote for the mainstream ''[[New Musical Express]]'', for which he wrote the article "The Titanic Sails At Dawn", an analysis of what he considered the malaise afflicting then-contemporary rock music and which described the conditions that subsequently resulted in [[Punk rock|punk]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thanatosoft.freeserve.co.uk/damagedfiles/articles/titanic.htm |title=The Titanic Sails At Dawn |access-date=2008-06-12 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607212655/http://www.thanatosoft.freeserve.co.uk/damagedfiles/articles/titanic.htm |archive-date=7 June 2008 }}, ''NME'', 19 June 1976, pp. 5–6</ref>


He wrote 23 novels, including the ''[[Victor Renquist]]'' novels and the ''DNA Cowboys'' sequence. His 1989 novel ''The Armageddon Crazy'' dealt with a post-2000 United States dominated by [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalists]] who subvert the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]]. He began writing fantasy literature in the 70s.<ref name="archive1"/>
He wrote 23 novels, including the ''[[Victor Renquist]]'' novels and the ''DNA Cowboys'' sequence. His 1989 novel ''The Armageddon Crazy'' dealt with a post-2000 United States dominated by [[Fundamentalism|fundamentalists]] who subvert the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]]. He began writing fantasy literature in the 70s.<ref name="archive1"/>


Farren wrote 11 works of non-fiction, a number of biographical (including four on [[Elvis Presley]]), autobiographical and culture books (such as [[The Black Leather Jacket]]) and much poetry.
Farren wrote eleven works of non-fiction, including a number of biographical (including four on [[Elvis Presley]]), autobiographical and culture books (such as ''[[The Black Leather Jacket]]''), and much poetry.


From 2003 to 2008, he was a columnist for the weekly newspaper [[Los Angeles CityBeat]].
From 2003 to 2008, he was a columnist for the weekly newspaper ''[[Los Angeles CityBeat]]''.


In his 3 May 2010 Doc40 blog, Farren announced that he was writing another Victor Renquist novel, with the working title of ''Renquist V''.
In his 3 May 2010 Doc40 blog, Farren announced that he was writing another Victor Renquist novel, with the working title of ''Renquist V''.


[[File:Mick Farren & Patrick Boissel, 2007.jpg|thumb|Farren in 2013]]
In 2013 he worked with digital imprint [[Ink Monkey Books]] on audio inserts (with Andy Colquhoun of The Deviants) for reissues of ''The Texts of Festival ''and the ''DNA Cowboys sequence.''
In 2013, he worked with digital imprint Ink Monkey Books on audio inserts (with Andy Colquhoun of The Deviants) for reissues of ''The Texts of Festival ''and the ''DNA Cowboys sequence''.


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==

===Fiction series===
===Fiction series===

====Car Warriors====
====Car Warriors====
:* ''Back From Hell: Car Warriors #2'' (1999)
:* ''Back From Hell: Car Warriors #2'' (1999)
Line 93: Line 98:
# ''Conflagration'' (2006)
# ''Conflagration'' (2006)


====Jeb Stuart Ho====
====Jeb Stuart Ho====
:Also known as ''The DNA Cowboys Trilogy''.
:Also known as ''The DNA Cowboys Trilogy''.
# ''The Quest of The DNA Cowboys'' (1976)
# ''The Quest of The DNA Cowboys'' (1976)
Line 125: Line 130:
===Story collections===
===Story collections===
* ''Short Stories (1972–1973)'' (2001)
* ''Short Stories (1972–1973)'' (2001)
* ''Dead Cats Bouncing'' (2002) (a collection?)
* ''From the anthology – Dead Cats Bouncing, edited by Gerard Houarner and GAK, Bedlam Press'' (2002) a short story: Dead Cat Meets Slide
* ''Zones of Chaos'' (2009)
* ''Zones of Chaos'' (2009)


Line 131: Line 136:
*''Watch Out Kids''
*''Watch Out Kids''
*''Get On Down''
*''Get On Down''
*''Elvis In His Own Words''
*''Elvis in His Own Words''
*''The Rolling Stones In Their Own Words''
*''The Rolling Stones in Their Own Words''
*''The Rock & Roll Circus''
*''The Rock & Roll Circus''
*''Elvis – The Illustrated Record''
*''Elvis – The Illustrated Record''
*''[[The Black Leather Jacket]]''
*''[[The Black Leather Jacket]]''
*''Elvis And The Colonel''
*''Elvis and the Colonel''
*''The Hitchhiker's Guide to Elvis''
*''The Hitchhiker's Guide to Elvis''
*''The CIA Files''
*''The CIA Files''
*''Conspiracies, Lies And Hidden Agendas''
*''Conspiracies, Lies and Hidden Agendas''
*''Give The Anarchist A Cigarette''
*''Give the Anarchist a Cigarette''
*''Gene Vincent: There's One In Every Town''
*''Gene Vincent: There's One in Every Town''
*''Words of Wisdom From the Greatest Minds of All Time''
*''Words of Wisdom From the Greatest Minds of All Time''
*''Who's Watching You?: The Chilling Truth about the State, Surveillance and Personal Freedom''
*''Who's Watching You?: The Chilling Truth About the State, Surveillance and Personal Freedom''
*''(Who put the) Bomp! Saving the World One Record at a Time''
*''(Who put the) Bomp! Saving the World One Record at a Time''
*''Zones of Chaos'' (an anthology)
*''Zones of Chaos'' (an anthology)
*''Speed-Speed-Speedfreak - A fast history of amphetamine''
*''Speed-Speed-Speedfreak – A fast history of amphetamine''


==Counterculture activity==
==Counterculture activity==
Farren organised the [[Phun City]] Festival in 1970. He has long been associated with the [[Hells Angels#Worldwide charters|Hells Angels]] (UK) who provided security at Phun City; they even awarded Farren an "approval patch" in 1970 for use on his first solo album ''Mona''.
Farren organised the [[Phun City]] Festival in 1970. He has long been associated with the [[Hells Angels#Worldwide charters|Hells Angels]] (UK), who provided security at Phun City; they even awarded Farren an "approval patch" in 1970 for use on his first solo album ''Mona''.{{fact|date=December 2023}}


He was a prominent activist in the [[White Panthers]] UK movement, a group that most notably organised free food and other support services for [[free festival]]s from the [[Windsor Free Festival]] onwards.
He was a prominent activist in the [[White Panthers]] UK movement, a group that most notably organised free food and other support services for [[free festival]]s from the [[Windsor Free Festival]] onwards.{{fact|date=December 2023}}


==Death==
==Death==
Farren died at age 69 in 2013, after collapsing while performing with the Deviants at the Borderline Club in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reallylivemusic.com/the-atomic-sunshine-one-day-festival-borderline-saturday-27072013 |title=Mick Farren |publisher=Really Live Music |access-date=2013-07-29}}</ref> The cause of death was stated to be a heart attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/01/arts/music/mick-farren-british-rock-n-roll-renaissance-man-dies-at-69.html|title=Mick Farren, British Rock ’n’ Roll Renaissance Man, Dies at 69|website=Nytimes.com|access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref>
Farren died at age 69 in 2013, after collapsing while performing with the Deviants at [[The Borderline (music venue)|The Borderline]] in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reallylivemusic.com/the-atomic-sunshine-one-day-festival-borderline-saturday-27072013 |title=Mick Farren |publisher=Really Live Music |access-date=2013-07-29}}</ref> The cause of death was stated to be a heart attack.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/01/arts/music/mick-farren-british-rock-n-roll-renaissance-man-dies-at-69.html|title=Mick Farren, British Rock 'n' Roll Renaissance Man, Dies at 69|work=The New York Times |date=August 2013 |access-date=31 October 2018|last1=Weber |first1=Bruce }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 175: Line 180:
[[Category:Alive Naturalsound Records artists]]
[[Category:Alive Naturalsound Records artists]]
[[Category:Alumni of Saint Martin's School of Art]]
[[Category:Alumni of Saint Martin's School of Art]]
[[Category:Collectivist anarchists]]
[[Category:Cthulhu Mythos writers]]
[[Category:Cthulhu Mythos writers]]
⚫
[[Category:English anarchists]]
[[Category:English biographers]]
[[Category:English biographers]]
[[Category:English male journalists]]
[[Category:English male journalists]]
[[Category:English rock singers]]
[[Category:English rock singers]]
⚫
[[Category:Musicians from Gloucestershire]]
[[Category:People educated at Worthing High School]]
[[Category:People educated at Worthing High School]]
[[Category:People from Cheltenham]]
[[Category:Musicians from Cheltenham]]
⚫
[[Category:Writers from Cheltenham]]
[[Category:Pink Fairies members]]
[[Category:Pink Fairies members]]
[[Category:Protopunk musicians]]
[[Category:Protopunk musicians]]
[[Category:The Deviants (band) members]]
[[Category:The Deviants (band) members]]
⚫
[[Category:English male biographers]]

Latest revision as of 12:38, 16 December 2024

Mick Farren
Farren in January 1970
Farren in January 1970
Background information
Birth nameMichael Anthony Farren
Born(1943-09-03)3 September 1943
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
Died27 July 2013(2013-07-27) (aged 69)
London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, journalist

Michael Anthony Farren (3 September 1943 – 27 July 2013)[3] was an English rock musician, singer, journalist, and author associated with counterculture and the UK underground, who had a significant influence on the development of British proto punk garage rock music.[4]

Early life

[edit]

Farren was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and after moving to Worthing, Sussex,[5] attended Worthing High School for Boys, which was a state grammar school. In 1963, he moved to London, where he studied at Saint Martin's School of Art.[4][6]

Music

[edit]
Main article: The Deviants (band)
Farren performing with The Deviants

Farren was the singer with the proto-punk garage rock R&B band The Deviants[7] between 1967 and 1969, releasing three albums. During 1970 he released the solo album Mona – The Carnivorous Circus, which also featured Steve Peregrin Took, John Gustafson and Paul Buckmaster, before ending his music business to concentrate on writing.[5]

During the mid-1970s, he briefly revived his musical career, releasing the single "Play With Fire" featuring Marky Bell ( later in The Ramones ) , Jon Tiven, and Doug Snyder, the EP Screwed Up, album Vampires Stole My Lunch Money and single "Broken Statue". The album featured fellow New Musical Express (NME) journalist Chrissie Hynde and Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson.[5] He also contributed song ideas and music for short-lived Ladbroke Grove ensemble Warsaw Pakt's 1977 Needle Time LP.

He sporadically did musical work after that, collaborating with MC5's Wayne Kramer on Who Shot You Dutch? and Death Tongue, Jack Lancaster on The Deathray Tapes and Andy Colquhoun on The Deviants albums Eating Jello With a Heated Fork and Dr. Crow.

Aside from his own work, he provided lyrics for various musician friends over the years. He collaborated with Ian Fraser Kilmister (Lemmy), co-writing "Lost Johnny" for Hawkwind, and "Keep Us on the Road" and "Damage Case" for Motörhead.[5] With Larry Wallis, he co-wrote "When's the Fun Begin?" for the Pink Fairies and several tracks on Wallis' solo album Death in the Guitafternoon. He provided lyrics for the Wayne Kramer single "Get Some" during the mid-1970s, and continued to work with and for him during the 1990s.

Discography

[edit]

Singles

[edit]
Solo
  • 1976 – "Play with Fire" / "Lost Johnny" (Ork records)
  • 1978 – "Half Price Drinks" (Logo Records)
  • 1978 – "Broken Statue" / "It's All in the Picture" (Logo records)
Other appearances
  • 1968 - The Deviants - "You've Got to Hold On" / "Let's Loot the Supermarket" (Stable Records)[8]
  • 1977 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – Screwed Up EP (Stiff Records)
  • 1987 – Wayne Kramer & Mick Farren – Who Shot You Dutch?
  • 199? – Lunar Malice – "Gunfire in the Night" / "Touched by the Fire"

Albums

[edit]
With The Deviants
Main article: The Deviants (band)
Solo
Other appearances
  • 1991 – Wayne Kramer – Death Tongue (Progressive Records)
  • 1993 – Tijuana Bible – Gringo Madness
  • 1995 – Mick Farren and Jack Lancaster – The Deathray Tapes (Alive Records)
  • 2013 – Mick Farren and Andy Colquhoun – Black Vinyl Dress

Compilations

[edit]
  • 1996 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – Fragments of Broken Probes
  • 1996 – The Social Deviants – Garbage (Alive Records)
  • 1999 – The Deviants – The Deviants Have Left the Planet
  • 2000 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – This CD Is Condemned (Alive Records)
  • 2001 – Mick Farren and The Deviants – On Your Knees, Earthlings (Alive Records)

Writing

[edit]

During the early 1970s he contributed to the UK Underground press such as the International Times, also establishing Nasty Tales which he successfully defended from an obscenity charge. He later wrote for the mainstream New Musical Express, for which he wrote the article "The Titanic Sails At Dawn", an analysis of what he considered the malaise afflicting then-contemporary rock music and which described the conditions that subsequently resulted in punk.[9]

He wrote 23 novels, including the Victor Renquist novels and the DNA Cowboys sequence. His 1989 novel The Armageddon Crazy dealt with a post-2000 United States dominated by fundamentalists who subvert the Constitution. He began writing fantasy literature in the 70s.[7]

Farren wrote eleven works of non-fiction, including a number of biographical (including four on Elvis Presley), autobiographical and culture books (such as The Black Leather Jacket), and much poetry.

From 2003 to 2008, he was a columnist for the weekly newspaper Los Angeles CityBeat.

In his 3 May 2010 Doc40 blog, Farren announced that he was writing another Victor Renquist novel, with the working title of Renquist V.

Farren in 2013

In 2013, he worked with digital imprint Ink Monkey Books on audio inserts (with Andy Colquhoun of The Deviants) for reissues of The Texts of Festival and the DNA Cowboys sequence.

Bibliography

[edit]

Fiction series

[edit]

Car Warriors

[edit]
  • Back From Hell: Car Warriors #2 (1999)

Flame of Evil

[edit]
  1. Kindling (2004)
  2. Conflagration (2006)

Jeb Stuart Ho

[edit]
Also known as The DNA Cowboys Trilogy.
  1. The Quest of The DNA Cowboys (1976)
  2. Synaptic Manhunt (1976)
  3. The Neural Atrocity (1977)
  4. The Last Stand of the DNA Cowboys (1989)

The Victor Renquist Quartet

[edit]
  1. The Time of Feasting (1996)
  2. Darklost (2000)
  3. More Than Mortal (2001)
  4. Underland (2002)

Novels

[edit]
  • The Texts of Festival (1973)
  • The Tale of Willy's Rats (1974)
  • The Feelies (1978)
  • The Song of Phaid the Gambler (1981), reissued as:
  1. Phaid the Gambler (1986)
  2. Citizen Phaid (1986)
  • Protectorate (1985)
  • CORP*S*E (1986), aka Vickers
  • Their Master's War (1987)
  • Exit Funtopia (1988), aka The Long Orbit
  • The Armageddon Crazy (1989) aka Armageddon Crazy
  • Mars – The Red Planet (1990)
  • Necrom (1991)
  • Jim Morrison's Adventures in the Afterlife (1999)
  • Road Movie (2012)

Story collections

[edit]
  • Short Stories (1972–1973) (2001)
  • From the anthology – Dead Cats Bouncing, edited by Gerard Houarner and GAK, Bedlam Press (2002) a short story: Dead Cat Meets Slide
  • Zones of Chaos (2009)

Nonfiction

[edit]
  • Watch Out Kids
  • Get On Down
  • Elvis in His Own Words
  • The Rolling Stones in Their Own Words
  • The Rock & Roll Circus
  • Elvis – The Illustrated Record
  • The Black Leather Jacket
  • Elvis and the Colonel
  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to Elvis
  • The CIA Files
  • Conspiracies, Lies and Hidden Agendas
  • Give the Anarchist a Cigarette
  • Gene Vincent: There's One in Every Town
  • Words of Wisdom From the Greatest Minds of All Time
  • Who's Watching You?: The Chilling Truth About the State, Surveillance and Personal Freedom
  • (Who put the) Bomp! Saving the World One Record at a Time
  • Zones of Chaos (an anthology)
  • Speed-Speed-Speedfreak – A fast history of amphetamine

Counterculture activity

[edit]

Farren organised the Phun City Festival in 1970. He has long been associated with the Hells Angels (UK), who provided security at Phun City; they even awarded Farren an "approval patch" in 1970 for use on his first solo album Mona.[citation needed]

He was a prominent activist in the White Panthers UK movement, a group that most notably organised free food and other support services for free festivals from the Windsor Free Festival onwards.[citation needed]

Death

[edit]

Farren died at age 69 in 2013, after collapsing while performing with the Deviants at The Borderline in London.[10] The cause of death was stated to be a heart attack.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Appleford, Stece (6 August 2013). "Mick Farren dies at 69; British rocker embodied '60s spirit". LA Times. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Mick Farren Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Mick Farren collapsed on stage at The Borderline on 27th July while playing with his old friends, and failed to recover". Reallylivemusic.com. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  4. ^ a b Richard Williams (3 September 1943). "Mick Farren | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 842/3. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  6. ^ Mick Farren Obituary The Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2013
  7. ^ a b "Mick Farren on Outsight Radio Hours". Archive.org. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Deviants, The (2) - You've Got To Hold On / Let's Loot The Supermarket (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  9. ^ "The Titanic Sails At Dawn". Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), NME, 19 June 1976, pp. 5–6
  10. ^ "Mick Farren". Really Live Music. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  11. ^ Weber, Bruce (August 2013). "Mick Farren, British Rock 'n' Roll Renaissance Man, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Mick_Farren&oldid=1263396996"