Mick Clarke

It was in 1968 that Mick Clarke first drew notice, handling guitar duties for the South London outfit Killing Floor alongside Bill Thorndycraft on vocals and harmonica. The group issued two favorably received LPs, the self-titled Killing Floor in 1969 and Out of Uranus the year after. While active, Killing Floor performed across London and other U.K. venues, providing support for American bluesman Freddie King and sharing stages or jam sessions with visiting artists such as Howlin' Wolf. Though Killing Floor disbanded in mid-1972, Clarke briefly appeared with Daddy Longlegs and then launched his own project, Salt, during the mid-'70s, which cut the scarce EP All Wired Up in 1978.

Following a period spent in the United States, Clarke came back to the U.K. at the outset of the '80s and assembled the Mick Clarke Band. Over the ensuing twenty years the ensemble maintained a busy schedule, playing extensively throughout the U.K. and Europe while earning strong reviews for both concerts and recordings; American critics and listeners likewise responded with enthusiasm. By 2005 the lineup featured Chris Sharley on drums (formerly of Sassafras), bassist Dave Rea, and keyboardist Dave Lennox. Additional players who have appeared with Clarke across the decades include keyboard player Peter Terry; bass players Mick Phillips, Len Davies, Ian Ellis, Eddie Masters, and Russell Prett; blues harpists Stevie Smith, Dave Newman, and Mark Feltham; and drummers Ron Berg, Slash, Mike Hirsh, and Wilgar Campbell. Clarke's own songs have formed a central element of his bands' sets, among them "Murderers' Home," "Cheap," "Walking in the Dark," "The Killingest Place," "Second Hand Dream," and "New Star Over Texas."