- Born
- Died
- Birth nameAndonis Michaelides
- Mick Karn was born on July 24, 1958 in Nicosia, Cyprus. He was an actor and composer, known for Identification of a Woman (1982), Japan: Gentlemen Take Polaroids (1980) and Japan: I Second That Emotion (1980). He died on January 4, 2011 in Chelsea, London, England, UK.
- Use of the fretless bass guitar, an unusual instrument in modern popular music, produces a distinctive sound and playing style, which makes his playing immediately recognizable.
- Bassist with successful British band Japan 1974 - 1982. Fellow members: David Sylvian, Steve Jansen & Richard Barbieri
- Played an aluminum-neck Travis Bean bass on all Japan albums up to Gentlemen Take Polaroids. In 1981 he moved to the renowned Wal basses, purchasing two Mark I instruments, one with rare African tulipwood facings, the other a cherry solidbody. He recorded Japan's last studio album Tin Drum with the Wal and has continued to use them, and now also plays the headless Klein 'K Bass'.
- I don't know about being the best, I still can't read music so I'm certainly not technically the best, I don't even know what the notes are on a bass. Sometimes I'm told I can't play that note with this chord, to which I reply: well, why not if it sounds good? The best? No, but having never heard anyone play in a similar way, I'd certainly consider perhaps being the most original!
- "Middle Eastern music, predominantly Turkish, has been a big influence on my writing. My mother listened to it a lot when I was young, not a popular choice for a Greek Cypriot, and often in secret, so I grew up believing there was something mysterious about it. It's clearly there in every solo project, together with my other two great musical loves, classical and funk/soul music".
- "I wanted to be able to slide and bend notes as I'd learnt to do with the violin and so decided to take all the frets off the bass guitar. I also began playing bass directly after the bassoon which, although a bass instrument, often plays lead melodies, both of these factors were major influences in shaping the way I play. I couldn't help but feel that bass players were always hidden somewhere in the background whereas I was determined to be heard".
- On his sculpture:- "Some were sold, others destroyed or left with friends that I've since lost contact with. I learnt, over the years, not to allow myself to become too attached to any completed work and thereby continuously move forward and on to the next project."
- Although I think Jazz is a natural progression for many musicians, ie: the more you learn about music, the more complex it tends to become, I wanted to go the opposite way, to simplify my writing, to let it come from within without too much forethought.
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