| Mick Holloway |
(Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Keyboards)
|
| Starting Out |
1956
Michael Thomas Holloway was born in London.
|
1963
My brother John and I were given a record player for Christmas along with some "single" records.
One of these records was The Beatles "She Loves You" and from then on knew I wanted to play drums. I spent the next seven years
playing on upturned cooking pots with knitting needles and pleading with my Mum and Dad to buy me a drum kit. By 1965 we were living in
Thetford, Norfolk.
|
| The 1970s |
1970
My best friend at school - David Hobbs - was given a Bass Guitar.
So with another friend - Mark Potton - a band was formed. (Mark wanted to play Drums but there was no choice - he HAD to
play Guitar). A short time later Mark got a Guitar, so there was only me without an instrument. After lots more pleading I finally
got my first drum kit in the summer of 1970. It was a Gigster kit in blue sparkle costing £21; it had a snare, bass drum, tom
tom and one cymbal. The band was now up and running, we called ourselves 'Purple Eye'. We played
a mix of rock ‘n’ roll and songs from the charts. It was not long before we were playing gigs at local youth clubs etc. By the way,
I was also the lead singer in 'Purple Eye' (Shock horror!).
|
1971
Gary Roberts joined the band on Guitar and Vocals and we changed our name to 'Heavy Water' as we
were by now playing a lot more Heavy Rock material from the likes of Hawkwind, Cream, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath to name but a
few. Gary was a year older than the rest of us and had a "girlfriend"; this would cause problems later in the band.
By this time I had a part time job at a local supermarket. Most of the money I earned was saved for a new drum kit with a little
going on records. When I finally had the money I bought a Carlton kit - costing £25 - in grey pearl. It consisted of snare, bass
drum, top tom, floor tom and one cymbal. I put both kits together and had a double bass drum kit (look out Ginger Baker).
|
This is an original advertisement for the Gigster kit.
|
1972
The band around this time got a manager, a local show band singer (I forget his name!) who got us some
bookings. At one gig at a community social club our Hawkwind covers went down so badly that he jumped on stage and proceeded to
sing "Distant Drums" as the rest of us tried to play along. It was a complete nightmare!
At this time we did our first and only recording in a studio under the local baker's shop. We recorded two songs, a cover
of "Honky-Tonk Woman" and one of our own - I still have a copy of the tape to this day.
|
1973
'Heavy Water' played more gigs, but Gary soon left the band (because his girlfriend had told him
to). He quit the afternoon before a gig, so we played as a three-piece with me singing. John Deacon (not the one in Queen) and Cliff
Bradley - both school friends - joined as singers and the band continued to play gigs. During this year I started working for Post
Office Telephones (now BT), this meant I now had money to spend but I had to move to Cambridge.
|
My Carlton kit as used in the
bands 'Heavy Water' and 'Speed'.
|
1974
'Heavy Water' fell apart for various reasons, but Mark and myself went on to form a new band. This
time with Gary playing Bass and singing, we called ourselves 'Speed'. We did not play any gigs and the band soon folded. Through
my work I met Robert (Bob) Winch. Bob played Guitar and was into Jazz - it was not long before we were jamming together. Sometime in
this year I buy a Shaftsbury aluminium snare drum and a black Ludwig 13x9 tom to expand my kit.
|
1975
'Triton' was formed by myself on Drums; Bob Winch on Guitar and Nigel Route on Bass and vocals.
Nigel was a friend of Bob’s from his hometown (King's Lynn). The band played mostly original material; jazzy instrumentals by Bob and
Progressive songs from Nigel, plus some Rock covers.
|
1976
'Triton' played its first and only gig in Kings Lynn.
By this time I had saved enough money to buy my first Professional Drum Kit. A black Hayman Showman Kit with 22in Bass, 14in Snare,
12in, 13in and 16in Tom Toms. Later the same year I got my first decent cymbals, a 22in Zildjian Ride, 16in and 18in Paiste 602 Crash
and 14in Paiste 602 High Hats. I still have the Ride and High Hats but the Two Crash cymbals cracked after about five years of use.
We became a four-piece group with the addition of Jonathan on Saxophone and changed our name to 'Met Office'. The band
stopped playing covers and concentrated on writing our own Jazz-Rock material.
|
1977
'Met Office' played their one and only gig and then split up. Punk is now in full flow and nobody
was interested in a Jazz-Rock band. I bought my first Ludwig kit. It was a "Big Beat" kit with a 22in Bass Drum, 12in, 13in
and 16in Toms and was in ‘Butchers Block’ finish plus 2 Roto-Toms 14 and 16in.
I joined another Jazz-Rock Band 'Occassional Table' but only stayed for about 3 months before
I left without playing a single gig. Some time in the late summer of ‘77 I answered an advert in the local paper for a Drummer.
It turned out to be for "Mandy Morton and Spriguns". A professional band, which had already made four albums. I went to an
audition and all went well until the old drummer decided not to leave (he was Alex Cooper of "Katrina and the Waves" fame).
Next I answered an advert that led me to joining
'The Zeds'. At the end of ‘77 I bought my first Ludwig 400 Snare Drum to add to my expanding kit.
|
1978
I sold my Hayman kit and bought my first Gretsch kit. A lovely marine pearl kit with a 20in bass drum, 13in and
16in toms and a metal snare drum. I added a 12in tom a short time later. I used this and the Ludwig kit when playing in
'The Zeds'. By now I also had a Synear Syn
Drum (peww peww) this was used on the song "Go Go Dancer".
|
1979
I did my first professional recording with 'The Zeds' at
Spaceward, a 16 Track studio in Cambridge. I also played on a few dates with 'The Mandy Morton
Band' in the autumn of ‘79. I bought a Ludwig Black Beauty brass snare drum, which I still use as my main snare.
|
|
| The 1980s |
My Butcher's Block Ludwig kit
at a gig
near Ely with the band
'Talkback'.
|
1980
The last gig for 'The Zeds' was in October. Rob Appelton
replaced Mike Green and the band was re-named 'Talkback'. Rob and Pete Simpson had written most of the songs at first in a similar
vein to 'The Zeds'.
My Paiste 602 crash cymbals cracked and
were replaced by Zildjian 16in and 18in crash cymbals.
|
1981
All was not going well in 'Talkback' and by spring Pete Boyd and myself were sacked! The others
changed the name of the band to 'Pure Thought' and continued on. Pete Boyd always says the band split up, but I seem to remember
being sacked for buying a Rainbow album!! (But we were very, VERY drunk at the time). I think it can be put down to "Musical
Differences"!
It was now time for me to buy a new Drum Kit. A Ludwig kit - 20in Bass Drum, 12in, 13in and 16in toms, this time in
Black. And another Ludwig 400 snare drum. (I still have this kit - but not the snare). I sold the other Ludwig to help pay for it but
also bought a Zildjian 18in china cymbal and Ludwig Colloseum snare drum. Later that year I swapped the Ludwig 400 snare for a Zildjian
20in pang cymbal and some other bits and pieces.
At the end of the year - after working for 6 months as a sound engineer - I hatched plans for a new band
'Out Of The East'.
|
|
1982
Mick Holloway on Drums/Vocals, Pete Boyd -Bass/Guitar/Vocals/Flute, Bill Terry - Bass/Guitar/Vocals and Bob
Winch -Guitar, made up 'Out
Of The East'. The story of OOTE can be found on the OOTE home page.
Alongside OOTE, Bill, Bob and myself became 'The Mandy Morton Band' to
play some dates in England and then tour Scandinavia playing 16 gigs in 20 days.
On our return we approached Graham Buxton to join OOTE as lead singer, when he
joined the band was complete. The band played its first gig in October 1982.
|
|
1983
'Out Of The East'
played more gigs but then split in the autumn. I sold my Gretsch kit to buy a car and I have regretted it ever since. A new band
was formed by myself, Pete Boyd, Graham Buxton and Stuart Pledger, later to become
known as 'Cheap Sneakers'.
|
|
1984
Graham left and Bob Winch joined the new band. A short time later Graham rejoined and brought with him Chris
Bartlett to play Keyboards. The band was finally named 'Cheap Sneakers'.
Most of the original songs played by the band were written by Pete Boyd and myself
plus a few from the other members of the band. I bought a small Blue Hayman kit
18in Bass Drum 12 and 14ins toms. Later I added a Ludwig 13ins tom and recovered
all the Drums black so that both my kits could be used
together. 'Cheap Sneakers'
played three gigs then split in August. 'PMS' was then formed by Pete Boyd, Mick
Holloway and Stuart Pledger but never played a gig.
|
The Ludwig/Hayman Kit 1984. |
A drummers-eye view. |
1985
I got my first Keyboard - a Roland RS01 string and organ synth - and started to teach my self to play. I began
a song writing partnership with Peter Boyd and we bought a Fostex X15 4 track recorder between us. In August I got married. Towards the
end of this year I upgraded my Keyboard to a Yamaha DX9.
|
1986-7
Most of this time was spent Recording with Pete Boyd. We did however play two gigs, one with me on Keyboards,
the other at a Wedding. We also attempted to form bands with Bob, Stuart, Richard, Rez and others but nothing came of this. I also
started to build my studio and I bought lots of equipment; mixer, effects units, compressors, amps, mikes etc. On the Recordings with Pete
Boyd I played Drums and Keyboards, Pete played Bass, Guitar, Flute, Sax and did all the Singing.
|
1988
I was still recording with Pete and by now we had a Tascam 8 track. I was approached to join a Rock/Heavy band
called 'Cheat'. The band is a three-piece with me on Drums, Nigel Pink on Guitar and the leader of the band Fil Brown on Bass and
Vocals.
|
1989
'Cheat' played their first gigs but at the end of the year Nigel left and was replaced by Fil's brother
Andy. In the spring Stuart was offered a gig but had no band to play it with so we put together Stuart Pledger, Bob Winch, Pete Boyd,
Graham Buxton and myself to play the gig. We called ourselves 'Current
Event'. The gig was a big success so we decided to continue. In 1989 my first child was born “Simon James Holloway”. He now plays
Drums.
|
| The 1990s |
1990
More 'Cheat' and a few 'Current
Event' gigs but - due to Grahams other commitments - 'Current
Event' splits. I continue with 'Cheat' but leave in the summer. I played a one off gig with Stuart in
'The Hemingford Band' plus I was still writing and
recording with Pete.
|
1991-2
I sold my Ludwig Colloseum Snare Drum. Not much happening musically but I was
still working with Pete. My second child was born in 1992 “Philip John Holloway”. He now plays Guitar.
|
|
1993
I joined a 60s band after answering an ad in the local paper. After a few months Stuart joined and the band became 'Matrix'. For more info see the 'Matrix'
page on this site. We played our first gig in November.
|
 |
1994
The 'Matrix' work started to build up
and by the end of the year we were playing gigs nearly every week.
|
1995
Lots of 'Matrix' gigs, nearly one a
week. Stuart and I attempted to form a band as a sideline to 'Matrix'
but this upset the others in the band a LOT. The new band which consisted of Me, Stuart, Bill Terry on Bass, Chris
on Keyboards and a singer called John never really got going. The keyboard player left and after a few rehearsals the band came to a
halt but the seeds of 'S.w.a.m.p.' had been sown but we have to wait two more years for that
to happen. My third child was born “Alice Jane Holloway” this year; as yet she only plays recorder but there is still plenty of time!
|
1996
Lots more 'Matrix' work. At the end of
the year I finally found a Gretsch kit for sale so I traded in my Hayman kit, Ludwig 13in tom and My Zildjian Pang cymbal to buy it.
It is 20in bass drum 13in and 16in toms all in natural maple finish.
|
1997
Still more 'Matrix' gigs. 'S.w.a.m.p.'
had their first Rehearsal in March. I added another 13in tom to my Gretsch kit.
|
1998
'Matrix' called it a day in January. Bill Terry was called in for rhythm guitar
duties to form 'The Timebeats'. Bill leaves
'The Timebeats' after just 8 gigs but the band carried on as a three-piece.
'S.w.a.m.p.' play their first gig in August at the Blockmore Festival.
|
|
1999
More 'S.w.a.m.p.' gigs. 'The
Timebeats' played their last gig on New Year’s Eve 1999.
|
| The New Millennium |
2000-1
More 'S.w.a.m.p.' gigs.
|
 |
2002
More 'S.w.a.m.p.' gigs plus 2 gigs in 2002 by
'The Timebeats'. I bought 14in Zildjian Quick Beat Hi-Hat Cymbals plus a 1972
Ludwig 400 snare drum.
|
2003
More 'S.w.a.m.p.' gigs and a few gigs with
'The Timebeats'. I was invited to join a new Folk Rock band
'Flat Earth' with ex members of the band 'Shave the Monkey' and we had one or two rehearsals at the end of this year. Bill
left 'S.w.a.m.p.' and was replaced by Ken Scullard from
'The Timebeats'. I added a Hayman Vibrasonic Snare Drum (Midnight Blue) to my
collection and a Gretsch 12in singal headed tom that I converted to Double Headed to use on my kit. I sold one of the Gretsch 13in toms.
|
2004
Lots of 'S.w.a.m.p.' gigs as Ken takes over the
bookings for the band. It is decided to change the name of 'Flat Earth' back to 'Shave the Monkey' and re-launch the band.
We had lots of rehearsals but the band did not work out, we parted company on good terms but the band split soon after. I added a 1964
Ludwig Acrolite Snare Drum to my collection also a Ludwig 10in x 8in tom tom, a 8in A. Zildjian splash Cymbal and a Sonor double bass
drum pedal.
|
|
Mick with the Green Sparkle
Gretsch
at The Haymakers, March 16th 2007.
|
|
2005
The number of 'S.w.a.m.p.' gigs is the most we have
ever done. I bought a Ludwig 10in x 6in single headed concert tom and converted it to double headed; now both studio and live kits are the
same layout. I also bought some new Ludwig boom cymbal stands and a Hi-Hat stand so that some of the older Pearl stands can be retired.
|
2006
Lots of 'S.w.a.m.p.' gigs again this year but by the
late Summer it is decided to call it a day. The last Gig was on 29th November 2006 at The King William IV in Fenstanton.
A new band was planned and later named 'The Kurmujun' (Peter
Boyd - Bass, Flute, Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar; Michael Holloway - Drums, Vocals and Stuart Pledger - Guitar, Vocals, Bass Pedals).
Rehearsals began in October with gigs booked for February 2007. The new band sees the return of the Mick and Pete rhythm section as first
seen in 1980 in 'The Zeds'.
I had to replace my Zildjian 14" Thin Crash with a new one as the old one had cracked. In October I reached the age
of 50 and for my Birthday I got a new (to me) drum kit. It is a 1965 Ludwig in Marine Pearl,
9" x 13" Tom Tom, 16" x 16" Floor Tom and 14 x 20" Bass Drum.
I finally got around to refurbishing my Gretsch kit. I have filled all the holes and re-covered it in Green Sparkle. See the
Before and After photographs. I have
also cut the Charcoal Ludwig 8" x 10" Tom Tom down to 6" x 10" and covered it in Green sparkle to match the Gretsch (See also
Gig Pictures). Now both the Black Ludwig and the Gretsch have the same configuration and can be
used for studio or gigs.
|
|
| |
| Gretsch Kit - 20" Bass, 12", 13" and 16" Toms Natural Maple, re-covered in Green Sparkle |
| Hayman 14" Vibrosonic Snare Drum (Midnight Blue) |
| Ludwig Black Beauty Snare Drum |
| Ludwig Hercules Snare |
| Ludwig Big Beat Kit - 20" Bass, 12", 13", 16" Toms Black |
| Ludwig Boom Cymbal stands x 2 |
| Ludwig Acrolite Snare 1964 |
| Ludwig 400 snare drum 1972 |
| Ludwig Speed King Pedal x 2 |
| Ludwig 10" x 8" Charcoal Tom Tom - Cut down to 10" x 6" and recovered in Green Sparkle |
| Ludwig 10" x 6" single headed concert tom - converted to double headed |
| Ludwig 70s Hi Hat stand |
| Ludwig 1965 Kit - - 9" x 13" Tom, 16" x 16" Floor Tom, 14" x 20" Bass Drum in Marine Pearl |
| Paiste 602 14" High Hats |
| Pearl Boom Cymbal stands x 2 |
| Pearl multi clamp and Boom arm x 2 |
| Pearl Snare |
| Pearl High Hat stand |
| Premier Drum stool |
| Roland D-110 Synth Module |
| Sonor double bass drum pedal |
| Tama Drum Stool |
| Tama Boom cymbal stand and multi clamp and boom arm |
| Yamaha DX9 Keyboard |
| Yamaha FB01 Keyboard Expander |
| Zildjian 8" Splash Cymbal |
| Zildjian 14" Quick Beat Hi-Hat Cymbals Brilliant Finish |
| Zildjian 14" Thin Crash - Replacement as old one has cracked |
| Zildjian 15" Thin Crash |
| Zildjian 18" Medium Crash |
| Zildjian 18" China Boy High Cymbal |
| Zildjian 20" Medium Ride Cymbals |
| Zildjian 20" Heavy Ride |
| |
| |
| Gigstar kit - 20" Bass Drum, 10" Tom and 14" Snare plus 1 Cymbal. Blue sparkle |
My first kit cost £21. This Kit had Calf heads |
| Ajax 14" High Hats and Zyn 70 18" Crash/Ride Cymbals |
Added to kit |
| Carlton kit - 20" Bass Drum, 12" and 16" Toms all grey pearl and 14" Olympic Snare drum in white pearl
plus 20" Krute Cymbal. |
Sold 1977 |
| Shaftsbury aluminium snare drum |
Sold 1977 |
| Ludwig 13" x 9" tom Black Panther |
Sold 1978 |
| Hayman Showman Kit - 22" Bass Drum, 12", 13" and 16" Toms, 14" Snare Drum Black |
Sold to buy first Gretsch |
| Ludwig 400 snare drum |
Sold with Butchers Block Kit |
| Paiste 602 16" and 18" Crash Cymbals |
Cracked 1980 |
| Ludwig Big Beat Kit - 22" Bass, 12", 13", 16" Toms in Butcher's Block |
Sold to buy Black Ludwig |
| 14" and 16" Roto Toms |
Sold |
| Synear Syn Drum |
Sold |
| Gretsch Kit - 20" Bass, 13" and 16" Toms in Marine Pearl and Brass/Chrome snare drum |
Sold |
| Gretsch 12" Tom Marine Pearl |
Sold |
| Ludwig 400 snare |
Swapped for Zildjian Pang |
| Ludwig Colloseum snare drum |
Sold |
| Zildjian 20" pang cymbal |
Sold |
| Ludwig 13" tom |
Sold |
| Roland RS09 Keyboard |
Sold |
| Gretsch 13" Tom |
Sold |
| |
 |
| A |
Ludwig Black Beauty 5” x 14” |
| B |
Ludwig 6” x 10” Tom Tom Black |
| C |
Ludwig 8” x 12” Tom Tom Black |
| D |
Ludwig 9” x 13” Tom Tom Black |
| E |
Ludwig 16” x 16” Floor Tom Black |
| F |
Ludwig 14” x 20” Bass Drum Black |
| |
All Heads Remo |
| |
|
|
| 1 |
Zildjian 13” Quick Beat High Hats |
| 2 |
Zildjian 15” Thin Crash |
| 3 |
Zildjian 8” Splash Crash |
| 4 |
Zildjian 18” Medium Crash |
| 5 |
Zildjian 20” Heavy Ride |
| 6 |
Zildjian 16” Thin Crash |
| 7 |
Zildjian 18” China Boy High |
| 8 |
Sonor Double Bass Drum Pedal |
| 9 |
Wind Chimes & Percussion Stand |
| |
|
|
 |
| A |
Ludwig Acrolite 5” x 14” |
| B |
Ludwig 6” x 10” Tom Tom Green Sparkle |
| B |
Gretsch 8” x 12” Tom Tom Green Sparkle |
| C |
Gretsch 9” x 13” Tom Tom Green Sparkle |
| D |
Gretsch 14” x 16” Floor Tom Green Sparkle |
| E |
Gretsch 14” x 20” Bass Drum Green Sparkle |
| |
All Heads Remo |
| |
|
|
| 1 |
Paiste 602 14” High Hats |
| 2 |
Zildjian 16” Thin Crash |
| 3 |
Zildjian 20” Medium Ride |
| 4 |
Zildjian 15” Thin Crash |
| 5 |
Sonor Double Bass Drum Pedal |
| 6 |
Wind Chimes & Percussion Stand |
| |
|
|
|
