Mike Scott
Mike Scott performing at a 2002 concert in The Hague.
Background information
Birth name	Michael Scott
Born	December 14, 1958 (1958-12-14) (age 48) Edinburgh, Scotland
Genre(s)	Rock
Instrument(s)	Singing, Guitar, Piano, Drums, Hammond organ, Bouzouki
Associated acts	The Bootlegs, Another Pretty Face, The Waterboys

Michael 'Mike' Scott (born December 14, 1958 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is the founding member and chief songwriter of rock band The Waterboys. He has also produced two solo albums, Bring 'em All In and Still Burning. Image File history File links Mike_Scott_at_The_Hague_2002_1. ... Arms of The Hague Flag of The city of The Hague. ... December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Scotland. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots3 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  -  First Minister Jack McConnell... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Rock and roll. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... Harry Belafonte singing, photograph by C. van Vechten Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with speech. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Greek (tetrachordo) Bouzouki The bouzouki (gr. ... The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. ... December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots3 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  -  First Minister Jack McConnell... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. ... Bring em All In (1995) was Mike Scotts first of two solo albums, the other being 1997s Still Burning. ... Still Burning is 1997s follow-up to Bring em All In (1995), and the last of Mike Scotts solo albums before re-forming The Waterboys in 2000. ...

Having begun a musical career in the 1970s which has continued into 2005, Scott has been described a "madman or genius, depending on your point of view" by Peter Anderson in Record Collector magazine^[1], and is well-known for his radical changes in music genres throughout his career. Scott is an accomplished vocalist, guitarist and pianist, and has played a large range of other instruments, including the bouzouki, drums, and hammond organ on his albums. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. ... Pianist Claudio Arrau, Carnegie Hall, 1954. ... Greek (tetrachordo) Bouzouki The bouzouki (gr. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Scott is divorced (from ex-wife Irene Keogh)^[2] and is currently remarried and living in Findhorn, Scotland,^[3] when not touring with The Waterboys. Findhorn is a village in Moray, Scotland. ...

Early life and education

Mike Scott reads aloud at a concert in Antwerp in 2004.

Scott was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father left the family when Scott was ten years old. Scott notes that he has "a lot of baggage to do with that, and [is] hurt over it and [is] vulnerable and [is] angry"^[4]. Image File history File links Mike_Scott_with_book_in_Antwerp_2004. ... Image File history File links Mike_Scott_with_book_in_Antwerp_2004. ... For other uses, see Antwerp (disambiguation). ...

Scott was interested in music from an early age. At age twelve, after the family had moved to Ayr, he began a serious interest in learning guitar^[1]. Scott remembers that, "from the minute [he] bought" Last Night in Soho by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich in 1968 "knew [he] had to be in music", and mentions listening to Hank Williams as a "life-changing" experience^[5]. The next year, Scott was playing in school bands and formed the band Karma, named after the tenet in Hinduism, with a friend named John Caldwell. Karma's sound was inspired by David Bowie, The Beatles and Bob Dylan^[1]. The Royal Burgh of Ayr (Scottish Gaelic, Inbhir Àir) in the south-west of Scotland is a burgh situated on the Firth of Clyde. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Audrey Williams be merged into this article or section. ... Karma (Sanskrit , act, action, performance[1]; Pāli kamma) ( ) is the concept of action or deed in Dharmic religions understood as denoting the entire cycle of cause and effect described in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist philosophies. ... David Bowie (IPA: []) (born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and audio engineer. ... The Beatles were a British rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. ... Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is a Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. ...

In 1977 Scott entered Edinburgh University, studying English literature and philosophy. Scott would later arrange poetry from William Butler Yeats, Robert Burns^[6], and George MacDonald for The Waterboys recordings. Other literary influences on Scott's career include C.S. Lewis and The Diary of Vikenty Angorov. Scott left Edinburgh University after his first year. The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1583 as a renowned centre for teaching in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... The term English literature refers to literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; Joseph Conrad was Polish, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, Salman Rushdie is Indian, V.S... The philosopher Socrates about to take poison hemlock as ordered by the court. ... The Chinese poem Quatrain on Heavenly Mountain by Emperor Gaozong (Song Dynasty) Poetry (from the Greek , poiesis, making or creating) is a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible meaning. ... W.B. Yeats in Dublin on 24 January 1908. ... Robert Burns, foremost Scottish poet Robert Burns (January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) was a poet and a lyricist. ... George MacDonald (December 10, 1824 – September 18, 1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister. ... Clive Staples Lewis (November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an author and scholar. ...

Scott became interested in the United Kingdom punk music scene, and began writing for fanzines, eventually starting his own, Jungleland. Scott was especially interested in the music of The Clash and Patti Smith, a tribute to whom, "A Girl Called Johnny", would become the first Waterboys' single. Punk Rock is an anti-establishment music movement that began about 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified by The Ramones,the Misfits, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... A fanzine (see also: zine) is a nonprofessional publication produced by fans of a particular subject for the pleasure of others who share their interest. ... The Clash were an English punk rock band who were active from 1976 to 1986. ... Patricia Lee (Patti) Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American musician, singer, and poet. ... Alternate meanings: Single In music, a single is a short (usually ten minutes or less) record, usually featuring one or two tracks as A-sides, often accompanied by several B-sides—usually remixes or other songs. ...

Pre-Waterboys musical career

Whatever Happened to the West?, the second single from Another Pretty Face, demonstrates an entirely different aesthetic and style than later Mike Scott projects.

Scott and a guitarist named Allan McConnell formed a band, The Bootlegs, which gave way to Another Pretty Face in 1978 when Caldwell and two other friends joined. The friends created their own record label, named New Pleasures, "obtained financial backing from the enigmatically named Z"^[1] and began releasing Another Pretty Face's singles. The band achieved remarkable success with their first single "All the Boys Love Carrie"/"That's Not Enough" when New Musical Express named it "Single of the Week". The band signed a contract with Virgin Records, was featured on the cover of Sounds magazine, and toured with Stiff Little Fingers. Virgin, however, after receiving a demo tape from Another Pretty Face, released the band four months after the signing. Nikki Sudden, who had interviewed Another Pretty Face in Edinburgh for ZigZag magazine, asserts that "the APF stuff is still some of Mike Scott’s best work"^[7]. Image File history File links Whatever_Happened_to_the_West_album_cover. ... Image File history File links Whatever_Happened_to_the_West_album_cover. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a weekly magazine about popular music published in the UK. It is unlike many other popular music magazines due to its intended focus on guitar-based music and indie rock bands, instead of mainstream pop acts. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... Stiff Little Fingers are a punk band from Belfast, Northern Ireland, formed in 1977. ... Nikki Sudden (July 19, 1956 – March 26, 2006) born Adrian Nicholas Godfrey in London, was a prolific British singer-songwriter and guitarist. ...

In 1980 through 1982 Scott, amongst other projects, worked occasionally with Sudden. Another Pretty Face continued to release music, and came to the attention of Nigel Grainge, founder of Ensign Records. Grainge signed Another Pretty Face to the label, and the band moved to London, changing its name to Funhouse (taken from the name of The Stooges' album Fun House). Scott had become dissatisfied with the band. He later described Funhouse's sound as "similar to a jumbo jet flying on one engine"^[1]. Scott began working on solo songs and recordings, a decision that led to the creation of The Waterboys. A December 1981 session at Redshop Studios formed the beginnings of The Waterboys' first album, The Waterboys. Ensign Records was started in 1976 by Nigel Grainge and Chris Hill as an independent Phonogram subsidiary. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Stooges are an American rock band that was first active from about 1967 to 1974, and then reformed in 2003. ... This article is about the album Fun House. For the game show of the same name, see Fun House (game show). ... This eponymously named debut album from The Waterboys was recorded between December 1981 and November 1982 at Redshop Studio, London and Farmyard Studio, Little Chalfont. ...

The Waterboys

For the main article, see The Waterboys.

The Waterboys' membership has changed a great deal throughout the group's existence. Anthony Thistlethwaite, Karl Wallinger, Kevin Wilkinson and Steve Wickham all made major contributions, but Scott describes the band as his project. "[T]o me there's no difference between Mike Scott and the Waterboys; they both mean the same thing. They mean myself and whoever are my current travelling musical companions."^[8]. The Waterboys' first release was a single of "A Girl Called Johnny" in March of 1983. The first album came out that June. Along with The Waterboys, the next two albums, A Pagan Place and This Is the Sea, released in 1984 and 1985, contained songs mostly written by Scott, and together formed the band's "Big Music" period. After the official addition of fiddler Steve Wickham and a move to Ireland, the next two albums Fisherman's Blues (1988) and Room to Roam (1990) were instead Celtic music-inspired folk music,^[9] a sound similar to that of We Free Kings, a band that Scott and Wickham performed with in 1986^[10]. Scott's musical style changed again when he, under the name The Waterboys but without any other members, recorded a hard rock album, Dream Harder, in 1993. It was the last album to come out under the band's name until 2000. The band had dissolved over personnel issues and Wickham's desire to remain with a folk-rock, or purely folk music, sound^[11]. After two Mike Scott solo albums, A Rock in the Weary Land was released under The Waterboys name, demonstrating yet another musical style, which Scott called "Sonic rock"^[8]. 2002's Universal Hall was a return to a folk-rock sound. It was followed by Karma to Burn, released in 2005, which was the groups' first official live album. The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. ... Anthony Thistlethwaite born 1955 was a member of 1980s folk rock group The Waterboys. ... Karl Wallinger (born October 19, 1957 in Prestatyn, Wales), is a Welsh musician. ... Kevin Wilkinson (1958 - July 17, 1999) was a musician from Swindon, England. ... Steve Wickham playing the fiddle at a concert in The Hague 2002. ... A Pagan Place was an album released in June 1984 by The Waterboys. ... This Is The Sea was The Waterboys third and last of their Big Music era albums. ... Steve Wickham playing the fiddle at a concert in The Hague 2002. ... The album Fishermans Blues marked a change in the sound of The Waterboys, abandoning their earlier grandiose rock sound for a mixture of traditional Irish music, country music and rock and roll. ... Room to Roam is an album by The Waterboys; it continued the folk-rock sound of 1988s Fishermans Blues, but was less of a commercial success, reaching one-hundred and eighty on the Billboard Top 200 after its release in September 1990 (see 1990 in music). ... Celtic music is a term utilized by record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples of Western Europe. ... “Folk song” redirects here. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Dream Harder was an album released in 1993 by The Waterboys. ... “Folk song” redirects here. ... A Rock in the Weary Land was an album released in 2000 by The Waterboys. ... Universal Hall is a 2003 (see 2003 in music) album released by The Waterboys. ... Folk rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. ... Karma to Burn is the first official live album from The Waterboys. ...

Solo albums

1997's Still Burning was the last Scott solo album before re-forming The Waterboys.

In addition to the albums he released with The Waterboys, Scott released two solo albums in the nineties. The first Bring 'em All In (1995), was recorded at the Findhorn Foundation in north Scotland, with Mike Scott playing all instruments himself. In contrast, for his second solo album, Still Burning (1997), Scott assembled a group of session musicians including Pino Palladino and Jim Keltner. Guesting on the album was former Icicle Works frontman Ian McNabb. Songs from the two albums appeared on 1998's compilation album The Whole Of The Moon: The Music Of Mike Scott And The Waterboys along with songs from The Waterboys. Image File history File links Still_Burning_Mike_Scott_Album_Cover. ... Image File history File links Still_Burning_Mike_Scott_Album_Cover. ... Still Burning is 1997s follow-up to Bring em All In (1995), and the last of Mike Scotts solo albums before re-forming The Waterboys in 2000. ... An album is a collection of related audio tracks distributed to the public. ... The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. ... Bring em All In (1995) was Mike Scotts first of two solo albums, the other being 1997s Still Burning. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Findhorn Foundation is a Scottish charitable trust registered in 1972 to act as a focal point for the work of the community that grew up around Eileen and Peter Caddy and Dorothy Maclean near Findhorn, Scotland, from 1962 onwards. ... Still Burning is 1997s follow-up to Bring em All In (1995), and the last of Mike Scotts solo albums before re-forming The Waterboys in 2000. ... Pino Palladino (born on October 17, 1957 in Cardiff, Wales, UK) is a noted rock and rhythm and blues electric bass player of Italian ancestry. ... Jim Keltner (born April 27, 1942 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a distinguished session drummer who has contributed to the work of many well-known artists. ... Named after a novel, The Icicle Works joined Liverpools early 1980s neo-psychedelia wave, which also propelled Echo & the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes to stardom. ... Robert Ian McNabb (born 3 November 1962) is known both for his work as leader and songwriter-in-chief of the Icicle Works in the 1980s, and his critically-acclaimed solo career throughout from the early 1990s to date. ... A compilation album is an album (music or spoken-word) featuring tracks from one or multiple recording artists, often culled from a variety of sources (such as studio albums, live albums, singles, demos and outtakes. ...

Scott created his own record label Puck Records in 2003, which released The Waterboys' Universal Hall. In 2005, Karma to Burn was released, also by Puck Records, and included tracks from Scott's solo career played by the current The Waterboys line-up. The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. ... Universal Hall is a 2003 (see 2003 in music) album released by The Waterboys. ... Karma to Burn is the first official live album from The Waterboys. ...

Discography

Solo

• Bring 'em All In (1995)
• Lion of Love (fan club only release.)
• Sunflowers (fan club only release.)
• Still Burning (1997)
• The Whole Of The Moon: The Music Of Mike Scott And The Waterboys (1998) (Best-of collection including material from The Waterboys)

Bring em All In (1995) was Mike Scotts first of two solo albums, the other being 1997s Still Burning. ... Still Burning is 1997s follow-up to Bring em All In (1995), and the last of Mike Scotts solo albums before re-forming The Waterboys in 2000. ...

Another Pretty Face

• I'm Sorry That I Beat You, I'm Sorry That I Screamed, But For A Moment There I Really Lost Control (1981)

Another Pretty Face released a number of music singles, including: Alternate meanings: Single In music, a single is a short (usually ten minutes or less) record, usually featuring one or two tracks as A-sides, often accompanied by several B-sides—usually remixes or other songs. ...

• All the Boys Love Carrie (1979)
• Whatever Happened to the West? (1980)
• Heaven Gets Closer Everyday (1980)
• Soul to Soul (1981)

The Waterboys

Mike Scott performs as the lead singer of The Waterboys at a concert in Antwerp 2003.

• See The Waterboys

Image File history File links Mike_Scott_in_Antwerp_2003_1. ... Image File history File links Mike_Scott_in_Antwerp_2003_1. ... The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. ...

Notes and references

October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 61 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 359 days (360 in leap years) remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 29 is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Mike Scott

• Mike Scott Waterboys Official Site
• The day I downloaded myself - When Mike Scott of the Waterboys looked at the Wikipedia entry on himself, he got quite a shockThe Guardian, 23 March 2007

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (83rd in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...