MICK HAMPSHIRE

Mick Hampshire lives in a boat moored on the River Medway, and has been making noise since '81, making a nice stamp in the shape of Mickey & The Milkshakes, which led onto The/Thee Milkshakes.

The Milkshakes were a very prolific group, with joint song-writing from Mick Hampshire and Billy Childish, drums bashed by Bruce Brand, and bass notes hit by Mark Gilbert/John Gawen/Russell Wilkins. A female variation followed the band, The Delmonas, which included Mick's long-term partner, and musical collaborator, Miss Ludella Black. Following the demise of The Milkshakes, Mick has also released his musical wonders under Micky & the Salty Sea Dogs, and Mickey and Ludella. Mick currently raids sound systems with The Masonics, a stripped- back trio of guitar, bass and drums, mixing 60s Beat, Garage and Instrumental vibes, but with a Punk ethic, and has been since '91..! Armed only with his Grimshaw semi-acoustic guitar (unamplified), Mick played and sang through a single microphone, and the sound was crisply collected by a mobile recording device under the direction of long-term friend Kevin Younger (The High Span, Armitage Shanks, Ye Ascoyne d'Ascoynes, etc), in a back room. This twelve song recording is a one-take operation, and shows that there's no stopping this man...