Mick Hucknall on his musical inspirations, at 5x15

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Mick Hucknall on his musical inspirations, at 5x15

04 May 2011

Speakers: Mick Hucknall

Mick Hucknall, the singer-songwriter and Simply Red frontman, describes his ‘personal social history’ to the 5X15 audience. Born in 1960, Hucknall recounts the ‘renaissance in British music’ during his childhood years, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin among his personal favourites. He admits that as a musician, these legends were a tough act to follow. He recalls how in 1976, as a spotty 15 year old, he saw bands like the Sex Pistols and the Buzzcocks, and realised that ‘we could do that’. But by 1977, Hucknall had fallen out of love with punk, which had by now betrayed its anti-establishment roots. Then came Hucknall’s greatest discovery of all: that he could sing. And so, a passion that was triggered by ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll, and inspired by the primitive sounds of the punk movement, would lead to a career in melodic soul music with Simply Red. The rest, as they say, is history.