Micki
Free - Solo/Crown Of Thorns
Interview
By Dougie
(Source:
www.hardrockhouse.com)
Micki
Free, one time guitarist with Crown Of Thorns, has returned to
his rock roots with the re-release of his debut solo album
Gypsy Cowboy and a new album, 'Experience' through the
Livewire label. HardRockHouse caught up with Micki to discuss
his past, present and what the future holds for the man.
Micki,
to kick things off would care to introduce yourself the
readers of HardRockHouse.Com
My
name is Micki Free, but my friends in the UK call me The “Gypsy~Cowboy”!
Micki
Free
As
I stated in my recent reviews of both the Gypsy Cowboy &
Experience albums I first became aware of your name with the
release of the debut Crown Of Thorns album. However I believe
you were a member of the band Shalamar before that, how
would describe Shalamar' music and how did you join the band
as I believe they were very successful ?
Shalamar
was a disco-funk band in the eighties, with Gold &
Platinum Records to their credit. As a matter of fact Shalamar
was bigger in the UK than they were in the US ever! They were
looking for a Prince like guy to join the band. At the time I
was in the studio and they liked my look and style plus my
“axe slinging”, and asked me to join the band.
Wasn't
the late great Tony Thompson a member of Shalamar at one point
?
You
are a bit confused, but very close. Tony was never in Shalamar,
but was in another disco band in the eighties, called
“Chic”, with Nile Rogers.
I'm
lead to believe that you also work with Prince at one point,
is this true and what was he like to work with ?
Totally
true! You must understand that the Hollywood music scene is
very small. Prince and I use to run into each other all the
time in the LA Club Scene. Price saw mw with Shalamar, like my
style and asked me to record with him in his studio in
Minnesota. I was to be in his next movie after “Under the
Cherry Moon”, but my record company executive, Dick Griffey
prevented it.
Moving
on to the Crown Of Thorns era, how did you & Jean Beauvoir
first meet ?
As
you may or may not know, I was discovered by Gene Simmons of
Kiss when I was very young, and he is my mentor, Jean and Paul
Stanley of Kiss were best of friends. I had been writing songs
with Gene for years, and Jean with Paul. They knew us both as
killer song writers and thought we should get together and try
and write a few songs. Well theses few songs turned out to be
the “debut COT album”, “The Black CD” and other CD’s
with the same songs that I see being released in Europe and
the UK. We actually met in Paris at a night club, Jean had
three or four girls hanging on him, and I had about the same
hanging on me. We laughed and promised to write together in
L.A. as soon as we both got back…the rest, shall we say....
is history!
Crown
Of Thorns debut album was originally recorded for the record
label Interscope, but was never actually released by
them. What was the reason for this ?
Again
as you may or may not know, Crown of Thorns signed one of the
biggest record deals in the nineties at Interscope. We were
signed personally by owner Ted Fields and Jimmy Iovine, and
with Gene and Paul managing us we got huge deals all around.
We had a seven album deal with Interscope Records, and were
primed and ready to take over the world….then Nirvana and
the whole grunge sound broke onto the scene, and Rock and Roll
as we knew it, melodic rock… was dead… Interscope had so
much money invested in us already, and was under the gun and
obligated to pay us even more money, they decided to jump on
the alternative band wagon and not release the album.
Interscope gave Jean and me the record back, because they
really respected us, and said…Good luck boys!
Why
was that ? was it due to the falling out that Beau hill had
with his partners ?
No
it had nothing to do with Beau Hill…nothing at all.
The
debut album eventually saw the light of day via
the then fledgling Now And Then record label. How did you link
up with Mark Ashton and Co ?
Jean
was killer at business deals in those days, so we license the
album in most countries around the world, except the
US…..too this day COT debut CD has never seen the light of
day in America. Our Japanese label Alfa/Brunettes, told us
about Mark Ashton, we liked him and went with his Now &
Then Records.
The
debut album is one of my personnel favorite albums of all time
and personal favourites include 'Dying For Love, Hike It
Up, Winterland and Are You Ready. How did Jean and yourself
come up with that material ?
Jean
and I wrote all of those songs, I think, it might even be two
months, over a three month period. We had a system; we
listened to the music that was making noise at the time,
Winger, Journey, Kiss, and we liked, and formulated our songs
accordingly. I would come over to Jeans demo studio everyday
to write and record. We would have lunch, (Jean would cook all
the meals, as he is a fabulous cook), and we would write all
day and night. Interscope called us the “musical short order
cook hit makers”. They would request a few songs based on
what they thought we need for the record, Jean and I would
write, produce, perform and record them in one day and deliver
them to Interscope the next day….needless to say they were
blown away by the quality and urgency of our work. The songs
you picked as your favorites are also my faves! I would
usually come up with the “killer riff”, Jean the melody,
and we would sit down and together write the lyrics.
Are
You Ready in particular, IMO, was a track that was ahead of
its time combining a mixture of hard rock and rap, who's
idea was that ?
Yea
I agree, I love the track too, I think it was Jeans idea to
have a guest rapper” on the song, we both knew rap was
strong and Are you Ready was the perfect song for it.
Tony
Thompson was responsible for the drums tracks on that debut
album but then did not tour with the band in support of the
record ,was there any particular reason for this ?
Tony…I
loved his drumming…and he was my friend…always funny and
laughing, May god rest his soul, was sometimes “hard to
handle”. I think we all were fighting at that point about
something or another…and Tony opted not to go with us as far
as I can remember.
I
first saw the band live the night before the start of your
first full UK tour at Crocodiles nightclub in
Chester-Le-Street of all places! The band did a short acoustic
set and the following night played the Riverside in Newcastle
and were stunning! After playing the big stages with Shalamar
was it a come down to be playing smaller clubs again and who's
idea were the acoustic gigs in the first place?
I
loved performing with Jean…we had a magic that all could see
in us…in my opinion we were COT’s Jimmy Page and Robert
Plant, Steve Stevens and Billy Idol, Gene & Paul, Paul
& John. Man…the whole COT trip was so magical in the
beginning. I was used to doing huge shows with Shalamar, but
this was different…this was Rock and Roll baby, my way…the
way I was born to play…and we loved it. We did those
acoustic shows for fun and chicks!...and then we would rock
like dogs the next night!
The
band returned for two more shows in Newcastle in Nov 94 in
support of the Raw Thorns demo album, are the tracks on Raw
Thorns really only 12 track recordings as they sound great and
what are you're favourite tracks from these demos ?
Yea
they are the actual 12 track demos fro Jeans studio. My Faves;
Little Stone House, Downed, Hang On Sugar, Straight to My
Head, Man On a Tight Rope….just to name a few!
The
band only ever played Hang On Sugar live from the Raw
Thorns release if I remember correctly, why didn't you
play other tracks from the album?
Correct,
it was such a killer live song. When I wrote that riff for
Hang on Sugar, I was thinking of a song that I like by Motley
Crue', and I wanted to have a riff like it. We had sooooo many
killer songs… and at that time, we were trying to break the
debut CD….and as you know it was full of smashes!
The
track Feel My Thunder was written by yourself, Jean and Beau
Hill, the exact same backing track was then used on an Unruly
Child demo with different lyrics and called Falling, have you
heard this track ?
Never…I
hated that song…we were pushed into writing it with Beau, as
you know Jean and I really didn’t need his help.
After
the tour your first solo album Gypsy cowboy was released,
looking at your website www.mickifree.com
you released an album called Black Moon-Black Sun as well,
what does that album sound like ?
Very
dark like the title says….I was very depressed at the time
and felt my life was closing in on me…I was listening to a
lot of Sound Garden and Chris Cornell…..Temple of The Dog
and sorts……that CD will never be heard again.
The
next thing I heard, just before the Gods 1995, was that you
had left the band, I've always wondered why as COT
seemed to be yours & Jeans band. In fact one of your
tattoos is the bands logo.
COT
was Jeans and my band…..we started it together…from the
ground up….and yes the logo is my tattoo…no denying that
now is there!....my COT leaving at the time was not
very….shall we say “pretty”…there was a lot of issues
Jean and I were going through, some brought on because of my
Gypsy Cowboy CD, even though Jean re-mixed it for
me……..let’s just put it this way; we were like an old
married couple we fought….and 9 years later we made
up….listen to COT CDs after I left…truly a different
monster…good…but really not the same magic as the debut
CD…a sound that only Jean and I can produce together.
Did
you record any of the second album Breakthrough as you
co-wrote Only One Who's Lonely, Heartbeat and You. Actually my
version of the album also includes The Black EP, do you know
what is this ?
All
three of those songs you mentioned were actually recorded for
COT second CD while I was still in the band. I wrote and
played on all of them….I never have heard them so I don’t
really know if Jean replaced my guitars and all…. I don’t
understand the second part of your question regarding The
Black CD…those songs were the “actual demo” we made that
got us signed by Interscope records.
In
terms of the "rock world" things went quite at that
point. But you had returned to your "roots" so to
speak. As a Native American I believe you have recorded
several albums of Native American music and are active in
several native America organizations. Could you give me some
info on these organizations and your Native American music as
what I've heard on website reminds me of South American wind
pipe music?
Yea
for a while I was not happy with the way music was
evolving...everything looked and sounded the same….so I went
to my heritage as a Native American…and wrote and performed
Native American Flute CD’s…which I have won, as you can
see on my site, numerous awards for them….a different side
of me…a different time…I will continue to make these CDs
as they keep me connected to my people…did you know Randy
Castile from Ozzies Band, once a drummer for COT, was Native
American too…
So,
what else have you been up to for the last ten years ?
Trying
to stay centered and make my way in this world…I am a
musician, and will always be one…I have been performing my
Native CD’s as well as my Rock & Roll CDs across the US
in Hard Rocks and huge Native American Casinos. I also have a
ranch and horses, I am into, and acting as well…so I have
kept myself very busy.
This
year has seen the re-issue of Gypsy Cowboy and also the
release of your new album Experience, there is a marked
difference between the two albums what would you put this down
to ?
There
is a definite difference in both of these CD’s as you have
mentioned; Gypsy Cowboy is the real Micki Free style, writing
in the style I love the most…classic rock I guess you would
call it…I have always loved bands like Aerosmith, Kiss,
Cream, Cheap Trick, Tommy Bolin, The Who and Stones…that is
my love of rock.
Experience
is a modern take on some songs, I was experimenting with
different tunings and things…but still trying to have some
Gypsy Cowboy flavor…Melodic Rock said it was not very
melodic….WELL!...thanks for noticing boys!..It was not
meant to be MELODIC!!!! When I write CD’s I am not
thinking if the COT fans will like them…….these CD’s are
for Micki Free fans regardless of what band I am in….savvy?
When I was in COT that was the sound you got…if I ever do
another CD with Jean as COT…that will be the sound you will
get! Solo CD’s are just what they say…solo…doing it your
way…your outlet for self expression…and after you finish
the work…if you are happy with it…well first and fore most
that is what makes me happy…if I can sell a few at the same
time….the world is lovely baby…just peachy!
Both
of these albums are available through Livewire Records,
how did you link up with that particular label ?
A
very good friend of mine named Stevie Salas, told me about
Cargo/Livewire, and said I should send John Dryland my latest
CD…he said Cargo was a cool label and a huge distributor and
he thinks John would like my stuff…..he is doing a greatest
hits CD for them soon as well I think. So John loved the new
CD and was interested in Gypsy Cowboy as well since it was
never released in Europe or the UK. John is the one which gave
me the name; “The Inimitable Micki Free”…meaning “the
original” or “can’t be copied”…I love that!
Jimi
Hendrix is obviously a hero of yours, why does his music have
such a big influence on you ?
Beside
the fact I saw Jimi when I was 12 or 15 (can’t remember) in
Stuttgart Germany…there is no doubt Jimi is my all time
favorite…I am just inspired by his vision and song writing
ability, as well as his guitar playing…his style was
sooooooo….soooooo… ENGLISH COOL!...I love that about
him…and he was part Indian as well….the biggest compliment
critics give me is; “Micki Free is a Jimi Hendrix
innovator”…not a Jimi Hendrix imitator”…I am no doubt
inspired by Jimi…from Electric Lady land to “All Along The
Watch Tower”…each and every time I listen to Jimi my mind
is in a Purple Haze!
What's
next for Micki Free, I've heard rumours of a live album and
tour ?
I
have just re-mixed and mastered a live CD called: Micki Free
Live….World Wide!...dates from 2005 with my three piece band
performing songs from The Gypsy Cow Boy CD as well as three
Jimi Hendrix songs, Spanish Castle Magic, Hey Baby and Voodoo
Chile….a killer live CD with NO OVERDUBS!....look for it in
the UK in 2006! I would love to come home to the UK and do
some club dates…small and cozy and just rock the
house…with songs from all my CD’s….Look for The return
of The gypsy Cowboy…I have a debt to settle in England
…and owe it to my fans…in SPADES!!!!I still miss a “half
Philippino and English girl I once met in COT…if you read
this darling… contact me at www.mickifree.com!...my live
band is killer; John Brant from Cheap Trick on Bass, and
Dennis Tieken from the Buddy Miles Group on drums….real
three piece rock ala The Cream & Hendrix.
Another
piece of news that both surprised and excites me is that you
are working on a new project with Jean Beauvoir called the9.
How did the two of you get back together and what does the
music sound like ?
After
9 years I contacted Little Steven to contact Jean, and we met
talked kissed and made up…we decide to write a record for
the US…we wrote songs in the vain of COT, but with a touch
of Audio Slave and some other US influences. I call it the9,
as it took 9 years before we got back together to make it…we
have about six songs done and it is killer…Jean sounds
better than ever…with titles like; Cold Dark December, The
Faceless Ones…it’s Commin Right Now… to name a few…and
COT fans, we have the killer ballad and MELDOIC vocals, and
“killer riffs” for you as only we do together! I don’t
know when we will finish as Jean is very busy these day
working with little Steven, and I am writing touring all the
time as well….but never say never…we will get it to you
sometime in 2006…..PROMISE!
And
finally the standard HardRockHouse question:- is there any
thing you would like to say to our readers that we may not
have covered so far?
Stay
tuned for The return of “The Gypsy Cowboy” in 2006…I owe
my fans who have stood by me in Shalamar…COT…and my solo
CD’s….I am coming soon and I will not let you
down!...calling all girls….let’s party!
Many
thanks to Micki for taking the time to speak to HardRockHouse.
You can find out more about Micki via his official website at www.mickifree.com.
