Mick Tucker

Michael Thomas "Mick" Tucker (born July 17, 1947 in Harlesden , North West London , † February 14, 2002 in Welwyn Garden City , Hertfordshire ) was a British musician and the drummer and background singer of the British rock band The Sweet .

Bands

In 1965 Mick Tucker joined the band Wainwright's Gentlemen, of which Brian Connolly later also belonged. The band plays a mix of rhythm & blues, Motown and psychedelic songs. Some publications are documented, including a cover version of the Coaster / Hollies hit Ain't That Just Like Me , which was only officially released in 2011 (compilation CD "Rare Mod, Volume 3" under the label Acid Jazz, AJXCD 238). The band split in 1968.

Tucker was a founding member of the band Sweetshop in January 1968 along with Steve Priest , Brian Connolly and Frank Torpey. Torpey was later replaced by Mick Steward , who in turn was replaced by Andy Scott . In the same year the band name was shortened to The Sweet . With this line-up, The Sweet became the most commercially successful British glam rock band of the 1970s . All publications are documented on The Sweet / Discography .

Drums & style

From 1973 Mick Tucker used a Ludwig company drum kit . It consisted of two bass drums, a snare drum, three hanging toms and two floor toms. For this he used Paiste basins .

Tucker was considered a talented drummer. As with the other members of The Sweet, commercialization and chart successes narrowed the view of the overall musical effect; Mick Tucker and The Sweet were very often perceived to be reduced to teen pop and glam rock. Stage wardrobe, make-up or show effects often used by Tucker (turning the stick between the index and middle fingers of the right hand) were important components of the concerts.  

Stylistically, Mick Tucker can definitely be classified in the hard rock category, whereby he subordinated his style of playing to the respective piece. The two bass drums were on stage at The Sweet mainly for visual reasons, because complex drum technology on both feet would have done the songs more harm than good. When soloing, on the other hand, you can hear typical hand-foot figures, sometimes with one but also with two bass drums.

As early as the beginning of the 1970s, he played a long drum solo in concert with two video projections (one with drums, one with kettledrum ). The solo was embedded in the song The Man with the Golden Arm . The song was released by Sweet on the studio album "Desolation Boulevard" (1974) and performed live on "Strung Up" (1975).

With the drum intro of Sweet's Ballroom Blitz, Mick Tucker drummed himself into the memory of an entire generation.

Private

On August 16, 1973, Mick married his wife Pauline at the Church of the Secret Heart in Ruislip , Middlesex . They then lived there in a house on Beverly Road. He set up a recording studio in the basement. He enjoyed playing tennis, collecting glass figurines, and cooking. He loved his German shepherd “Zeus”, valuable cars, furs, watches and jewelry. He also owned countless pairs of shoes.

death

Mick Tucker died of leukemia in 2002 at the age of 54 in Welwyn Garden City , Hertfordshire. He was buried in an anonymous grave in Chorleywood House Cemetery. In his memory, fans set up a wooden bench with a brass plaque near the grave. He left his wife Janet and daughter Ayston from his first marriage to Pauline († 1979).

Steve Priest said of Mick Tucker: “He was the most underrated drummer that ever came out of England. He was the powerhouse of the band. He was technically marvelous. His timing was impeccable but he had a lot of soul as well and he really felt what he was playing. "

“He was the most underrated drummer ever from England. He was the powerhouse of the band. He was technically great. His timing was impeccable, but he also had a lot of feeling and really felt what he was playing. "

Andy Scott said, “Mick Tucker was the best drummer around in the Seventies. I played in the same band as him and was proud to do so. I feel extreme sadness therefore that he has now left us and my heart goes out to Janet and Ayston with their sad loss. Miss you Mick. "

“Mick Tucker was the best drummer there was in the 70s. I played in the same band as him and was proud of it. I am deeply saddened that he has now left us, and my heart goes out to Janet and Ayston in their painful loss. I miss you, Mick. "

Individual evidence

1. Perrone, Pierre (February 18, 2002). "Mick Tucker Obituary". London: The Independent. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
2. "Mick Tucker Obituary". London: The Daily Telegraph. February 16, 2002. Retrieved June 16, 2010.

Web links

• Homepage of Sweet (Andy Scott`s)
• Homepage of Sweet (Steve Priest`s)
• Sweet on laut.de