Mick Tucker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mick Tucker
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Tucker in 1972
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| Background information | |
| Born | 17 July 1947 Kingsbury, London, England |
| Died | 14 February 2002 (aged 54) Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
Michael Thomas Tucker (born July 17, 1947 – died February 14, 2002) was an English musician. He was famous as the drummer for the rock band Sweet. This band played both glam rock and hard rock music.
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Mick Tucker's Early Life
Mick Tucker was born in Kingsbury, North West London. His parents were Hubert and Ellen Tucker. He was married twice during his life. His first wife, Pauline, passed away in 1979. He then married Janet, who was with him until he died.
Mick loved music and had a special music room in his home. This room was decorated with silver and gold albums. These awards came from all over the world.
Starting His Music Career
By 1965, when Mick was 18, he began his journey in pop music. He played drums in a band called Wainwright's Gentlemen. They performed in pubs and clubs. Later, Brian Connolly joined the band as a singer. They played a mix of R&B, Motown, and early psychedelic music.
The band eventually broke up in 1968. Some of their recordings still exist today. One song, "Ain't That Just Like Me," was released in 2011. Mick played drums on this track.
Forming The Sweet
In January 1968, Mick helped start a new band called Sweetshop. The original members were Mick, Steve Priest, Brian Connolly, and Frank Torpey. Frank was later replaced by Mick Stewart. Then, Andy Scott joined as the guitarist.
The band's name, "Sweetshop," was soon shortened to "The Sweet" in 1968. This band would become very famous.
Mick's Drumming Style
When Mick was a boy, he first enjoyed drawing. But by age 14, his interest changed to drums. He was inspired by drummers like Sandy Nelson, Buddy Rich, and Gene Krupa. Mick's father, Hubert, offered him a drum kit. He only agreed if Mick would take drumming seriously.
Hubert Tucker really supported his son. He even helped Mick get his first gig. Mick filled in for Brian Bennett of the famous British band the Shadows. This happened at a local workingman's club. Mick's wife, Janet, said he did very well. She added that he would have been scared if he knew who he was replacing.
Mick taught himself how to play the drums. He became very skilled. By 18, he was playing in Wainwright's Gentlemen. In 1968, Mick was let go from the band. The reason given was that he was "too flamboyant." Singer Brian Connolly then said he would leave too. Mick and Brian looked for new bandmates. Soon after, the band Sweetshop was formed.
Mick was very serious about making music. He always stood up for his band's artistic freedom. Once, during recording, he disagreed with producer Mike Chapman. Mick said that if they weren't needed, they could just erase the track. This showed how much he cared about the band's integrity.
Steve Priest, the bassist for Sweet, praised Mick's drumming. He said Mick was "the most underrated drummer that ever came out of England." Priest also called him "the powerhouse of the band." He noted Mick's excellent technique and perfect timing. Mick also played with a lot of emotion and feeling.
Mick's Drum Kit
From late 1972, Mick Tucker used the same drum kit. It was an eight-piece Ludwig set. The drums were chrome-plated over wood. Mick's way of twirling his drumsticks was as famous as his drum kit.
He used a five-piece Ludwig kit while on tour in Belgium. After the tour, he added these drums to his existing four-piece Ludwig set. He then re-wrapped all of them in chrome.
His Ludwig drum set included:
- 2 – 14″×22" bass drums
- 2 – Speed king 201 bass drum pedals
- 1 – 12″x8″ tom-tom
- 1 – set of two 13″x9″ tom–toms
- 1 – set of two 16″x16″ floor toms
- 1 – 14″ Supraphonic snare drum
- His cymbal stands were special Ludwig Hercules stands. Ludwig made them just for Mick.
For cymbals, he used Paiste (Formula 602):
- 1 – Dark hi-hat (14")
- 1 – Mellow Ride (20")
- 1 – set of 2 Dark Crash (18", 20")
- 1 – Short Crash (18")
From the early 1980s, Mick used Promark American Hickory 419 drum sticks. His sticks had the Sweet logo and his autograph printed on them.
Amazing Drum Solos
Mick Tucker was known for his tireless and creative drum solos. He often started and ended his solos with a version of the theme from the 1955 film The Man With the Golden Arm.
During his solos, Mick used two large projection screens. These screens were placed above his drum riser. One screen showed a video of him playing drums. At the same time, the other screen showed him playing timpani. He would play back and forth with these videos. Then, he would come to the front of the stage. He would play the timpani along with a fast, Christmas-style recording.
Before the band returned, he would play the "Bernstein melody" on tubular bells and timpani. Mick wanted his solos to entertain everyone in the audience. He believed a great performance needed both amazing playing skills and a good show.
Mick Tucker's Legacy
Many musicians admired Mick Tucker. Bassist Steve Priest highly praised him. Guitarist Andy Scott said Mick was "the best drummer around in the '70s." He was proud to have played in the same band as Mick.
Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos remembered when Sweet opened for Cheap Trick in 1979. Carlos said Sweet was "rockin' live," and Mick was fun to watch. He felt Mick's style was like an early Keith Moon. Carlos noted that Mick was one of the few drummers who used two bass drums. He could play them easily, even on fast songs like "Ballroom Blitz."
Other drummers influenced by Mick Tucker include Jack Irons (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam), Snowy Shaw (King Diamond), and Jason Hartless (Ted Nugent).
Jack Irons said Mick was a "great drummer." He had a "fluid, '60s/'70s rock 'n' roll freedom." Irons added that Mick's drumming was "super-tight and musical, technical, and rocking."
Snowy Shaw said Mick's "tastefulness, precision, and strong signature" made him a top drumming hero. Shaw felt Mick was technically as good as Ian Paice and John Bonham. He learned many of Mick's drumming tricks. Shaw said Mick Tucker's drumming influenced him the most and taught him how to play music.
Mick's Passing
Mick Tucker passed away on February 14, 2002. He was 54 years old. He died in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, from leukaemia. His funeral was held on February 25, 2002. His wife Janet, his daughter Aiston, and his niece Angela were with him when he died.
Mick is buried in an unmarked grave in Chorleywood House cemetery. Fans funded a wooden bench with a brass plaque. This bench is placed near his grave as a dedication to him.
Five years before his death, Mick had a bone marrow transplant. This was to help him fight leukaemia. He had repeated infections before he died in the hospital. Steve Priest said Mick went into remission after the operation. But he was never as strong afterward. Priest called Mick "the best drummer England ever produced." He said Mick's death was a sad loss to the music world.
