Tribute to Mick Speight

A friend and music colleague: 1981-1993

Pandora's Box 1981

Reflex 1984

This Way Up 1986

Reflex1984-87

Mick with the shades!

Title

THIS WAY UP: 1988-93

Mick Speight was in a major part of my life since the late 1970's. We once went to the Isle of Wight back in 1978 with my cousin, Dave Kelsey. We stayed in a tent with my Aunty and Uncle and the weather was very sunny for a fortnight (those were the days!) My Aunty was always frugal with food at meal-times (a habit she got into during the rationing years). I remember Mick and myself seeking out a local bakery for extra nosh to fill us up... and that was after every meal! Mick liked his sausage rolls and pasties.

Mick was a very big Beatles and Elvis fan and I believe these influences can be heard in his vocal performances during the many years we worked together in bands around South Elmsall.

Sadly, Mick passed away after a serious illness on Monday 14th April 2014:

Mick wasn't a religious person but I do think he thought the same as myself about the answers to 'Life the Universe and Everything' ...

In the beginning there was darkness and by some miracle a tiny spark ignited the whole bloody thing and the universe erupted in all it's glory. This I call "THE SPARK OF LIFE" and is the creator of all that we see on earth and in the cosmos. Every one of us are in some way closely connected to this light as it burns inside us making us what and who we are. When that spark is extinguished I believe it is sent back into the universe from where it originated ... there it stays for all of eternity. If we look up to the stars and pick out a distant light, this will always remind you of those who have passed on to another place and are just waiting for us to join them!

Mick's live performances:

These live performances are some of the last known recordings of Mick, myself and Mick's Brother-in-law (Koke Everitt). They were recorded during rehearsals at the old Green Hut in Moorthorpe, South Elmsall. Music technology was entering the band scene of the late 80's and early 90's and Mick was always a little hesitant in using backing trax ... so most of our band's performance featured Mick playing drums live. He had the unique ability to be able to keep a good solid beat whilst singing and remembering thousands of words to lots of songs.

The band line -up changed from time-to-time and featured friends and musicians from the South Elmsall area but Mick was always the singer:

1981: Rob Sixsmith (Guitar and keyboards) : Koke Everitt (Bass Guitar and Chocolate)

1984: Steve Wagstaff (Lead Guitar): Rob Sixsmith (Keyboards): Koke Everitt (Bass Guitar and More Chocolate)

1985: Paul Gifford (GIFF) joined the band as the drummer and Mick had the opportunity to shine as a performer as the main FRONT MAN.

1986: I retired from the band to learn about music technology and recording whilst Mick, Koke, Steve and Giff formed a superb band featuring a secondary female singer, Kay Wagstaff.

1988 - 94: Mick, myself and Koke reformed the original line-up and enjoyed a good few years playing in some top venues and night clubs all over the country.

The work schedule was getting very tough and began to play it's toll on all of us! I believe these were the last days of success for all our music aspirations and nothing very much after 1995.

Please feel free to download the following MP3 and video files:

LIVE RECORDINGS OF MICK, ROB, KOKE: (This Way Up 1988-93) This is the order that Mick actually performed during gigs.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOWNLOADING ZIP FILES

The audi files are Zipped Mp3's: If you download to a windows based PC then just right click on the zip file and select EXTRACT:

If you download to a windows based TABLET, then go to app store and download (FREE) UNARCHIVER: Simply select the zip file in the archive utility and select the file to unarchive ... this will show an .mp3 file (this is the file you can then play.

Click to Download File (Deeply Dippy)