Mike Rutherford looks back at 60 years onstage and the art of cheap rock theatre

This one starts with memories of Genesis at Farnborough Tech in 1972 – Batwings? Fox heads? - looks back at school bands and the early ‘70s and ends with the current Mike & the Mechanics tour. But it mostly centres on the first live shows Mike Rutherford ever saw and played which features …

… his mum making him wash the Brylcreem from his hair before seeing Cliff & the Shadows when he was 17.

… buying an electric guitar before you realised it needed an amplifier.

… playing the same theatres he played with Genesis when he was 19.

… Cream at the Marquee Club - “the volume was like an atom bomb!”

… supporting Mott the Hoople at Farx in Southall, “the moment I felt we were getting somewhere”.

… the contract for their £7 fee he still has for Genesis on the Eel Pie Island, “like ancient fading parchment”.

… the non-competitive days of Yes, King Crimson, Rare Bird and the rock underground when there was room for everyone.

… making an album in three days with Jonathan King in Regent Sound (where the Stones recorded).

… Peter Gabriel developing his on-stage theatre because no-one could hear the words.

… ‘Man up!’ Note to self after breaking a hip skiing with his grandchildren.

Mike & the Mechanics tour dates and tickets:

https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/mike-the-mechanics-tickets/artist/1673635

Pre-order Looking Back: Living The Years here:

https://found.ee/MikeATM_LBLTY

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