Barry Bumps into……………………MICK MEPHAM
Barry Taylor I first came to Hastings in the 70’s and spent a summer promoting gigs on the pier – that’s how we met?
Mick Mepham Yes indeed, cos I always attended those famous old gigs, if I wasn’t playing somewhere.
BT You lived in an eccentric flat in St Leonards, the door to which always seemed open….?
MM Well, I was a young man who was always going out!
BT You had joined Die Laughing….and I got involved. We raised some money to make some recordings, a cassette in Bexhill, then vinyl in London. For those Chiswick sessions we travelled up in my old Jag!
MM There were some good gigs with that Die Laughing line up, especially supporting Saxon and Girlschool.
BT Yes the Folkestone gig(Girlschool) was a cracker, a big crowd and a good P.A.!
MM After Die Laughing, I formed Savage Hearts, including an interesting Pier gig supported D/L! A few years later we worked together again in the 90’s.
BT Yes, Ocean Artistes, when we scoured the local area for musical talent. You came into your own as a producer, in your little home studio…You did really well with people like Glenn Richardson and Tasha Sims. However we had no luck at all with record companies, it was a bad time to get a deal. So what are you up to now?
MM Well 90% Proof is working out really well and I still play some solo electric gigs.. At the other end of the spectrum are Titus. Folk music which I enjoy immensely.
BT Future ambitions?
MM My songwriting is very important to me and I would love to have one of my songs recorded by another artist.
Barry Taylor
