Mick Taylor
Under The Bridge, Fulham
6 July 2012

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Biography

Mick Taylor’s career spans five decades and takes in some of the most important names in rock ’n’ roll history.

From small beginnings in his native Hertfordshire; Taylor found his way into the major league when he stood in for an absent Eric Clapton at a Bluesbreakers’ gig. A year later John Mayall was looking for a guitarist to replace Peter Green, at only 17 Taylor joined and was soon touring and recording with Mayall’s legendary blues band.

Following Brian Jones’ departure, Taylor came to the attention of the Rolling Stones as a session musician on the “Let It Bleed album,” although he soon became a permanent replacement playing his first live appearance in front of 250,000 people at their 1969 free concert in Hyde Park.
Taylor stayed with the Stones for half a decade, contributing his trademark vibrato, slide and songwriting to numerous hit albums including “Sticky Fingers” and the influential “Exile On Main Street.” Having toured the world and recorded some of the key songs of the Stones’ 70s output, it surprised many people when he left to pursue a solo career and was later replaced by Ronnie Wood.

While many people associate him with the Rolling Stones; Taylor has worked on soundtracks and film scores, including Nicholas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell To Earth, appeared with Mike Oldfield for performances of Tubular Bells, recorded with Gong, Jack Bruce, Little Feat, Stones associates Nicky Hopkins and Billy Preston and played a major role in the careers of many other musicians.

1979 saw Taylor release his first solo material with a self-titled album mixing rock, jazz and Latin-flavoured blues musical styles. During the 80s Taylor spent time working with Bob Dylan on notable albums “Empire Burlesque” and “Infidels.” He was even present in the studio when Dylan penned the song “Blind Willie McTell,” which is a live favourite in Taylor’s repertoire.

After being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 with the Stones and the release of the album “A Stranger in this Town” in 1990, Taylor continued to tour heavily. He was also working in the studio and playing live with Carla Olson, added his handprints to Hollywood’s RockWalk in autumn 1998 and continued to write material for “A Stone’s Throw” which was released in 2000.

In 2003, Taylor reunited with John Mayall for his 70th birthday concert in Liverpool along with Eric Clapton. A year later, in late 2004, he joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers for a UK theatre tour.

The 2010 re-release of “Exile on Main Street” has seen Taylor contribute additional guitar work to some previously unheard tracks, including the limited release single, “Plundered My Soul.” Now playing with a line-up of long-time friends and musicians, Taylor has been performing around the UK, in Europe, Japan and the US, while writing and recording for his next album release.