Mick Quinn

Mick Quinn (born 17 December 1969 in Cambridge) is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known as founding member of English rock band Supergrass. He is a permanent member of fellow Oxford band Swervedriver.

Mick Quinn
Mick Quinn performing with the DB Band in Montpellier, 2010.
Background information
Birth nameMichael Milton Quinn
Also known asBiff Hymenn, Barry McQueen[1]
Born (1969-12-17) 17 December 1969
Cambridge, England
GenresAlternative rock, Britpop
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, producer
InstrumentsVocals, bass guitar, guitar, harmonica, drums, keyboards
Years active1993–present
LabelsDirty Water Records
Associated actsSupergrass, Swervedriver, DB Band, Beat Seeking Missiles
Websitewww.cotmb.com

Career

1984–1993

Mick Quinn started playing bass at the age of 14. A year later moving on to guitar. He played with The Asylum in 1986, a band featuring Kid Wig, guitarist with the Beat Seeking Missiles, in and around Oxford including the Port Meadow Festival.[2]

In the late 1980s he became interested in record production, renting and borrowing equipment to experiment with at home. He also travelled to Spain and France to play with local musicians before returning to England in 1992.

1993–2010: Supergrass
Main article: Supergrass

Quinn formed Supergrass with Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey in February 1993. In 1995 the band released I Should Coco selling over a million copies worldwide. Singles, Caught by the Fuzz and Alright confirmed the band's popularity and they went on to release five further albums, four reaching the top ten in the UK Albums Chart.

Children of the Monkey Basket, a website created by Quinn under the name Big Arm Technology was awarded best 'Rock Website' at the UK Online Music Awards in both 2000[3] and 2002. Other nominations in the category were Coldplay, Idlewild, Radiohead and U2.[4]

In 2008 the band parted ways with Parlophone records, recently acquired by Guy Hands of Terra Firma, and released single Rebel in You on Supergrass Records, overseen by Quinn.[5]

Following the difficulties of recording Release the Drones, the band announced in April 2010 that they were to split.[6]

2010–2014: DB Band

In May 2010, Quinn formed the DB Band with former Shake Appeal bass player Paul Wilson. Described as heavier and hairier than the 'Grass, they released two EP's, Stranger in the Alps in 2011[7] and Loosen Up, in 2013.[8]

Quinn was also a founding member of garage band The Beat Seeking Missiles with former members of The Wig Outs and Thee Headcoats. Signed to Dirty Water Records, the band released their single, "Break My Fall" / "Dr. Strangelove" in October 2011.

2015–Present: Swervedriver

During the release of I Wasn't Born to Lose You in 2015, Quinn was tour stand-in for Oxford band and childhood friends Swervedriver. He became a full member of the band during the recording of its follow up, Future Ruins in 2017.

Personal life

Quinn's father is the Australian lipid biochemist Professor Peter Quinn, who is currently based at King's College London.[9] Though born in Cambridge, Quinn spent his very early childhood living in America before relocating to Oxford, England in the 1970s.

On 21 August 2007, Quinn was hospitalized in Toulouse, France for an operation to repair two broken vertebrae and a smashed Calcaneus, sustained after falling out of a first floor window of a rented villa he was staying in with his family.[10][11] He subsequently made a full recovery, returning to perform with the Diamond Hoo Ha Men in January 2008.

Quinn lives in Oxfordshire with his wife and children.

References
  1. "DB Band Facebook Page".
  2. "Oxford New Age Fayre". ukrockfestivals.com. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  3. "...Supergrass honoured..." BBC News. 24 November 2000.
  4. "The Strange Ones Supergrass Site". Strangeones.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  5. "Bassist Mickey Quinn explain why they parted ways with EMI". BBC 6 Music. 12 December 2008.
  6. "Supergrass to split after 17 years". The Guardian. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  7. "The DB Band website". Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  8. "DB Band - Loosen Up". Discogs. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  9. Home Page
  10. "Quinn breaks back". Daily Mirror. 1 September 2007.
  11. "Supergrass bass man breaks back while sleepwalking". Reuters. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
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