Mick Hale

MICK HALE

Mick Hale, London 2009
Background information
Genres House, tribal house, pop, EDM, EBM, electro, garage, dub
Years active 1984-present
Labels Metropolis, SPV GmbH, Fifth Colvmn, Semaphore GmbH, Sub/Mission Italy, Midnight NYC, Get Hip, Cryptovision
Associated acts Croc Shop, Mod Fun
Website www.djmickhale.com

Mick Hale is an American musician, songwriter, producer, remixer,[1] DJ,[2] and graphic artist. Credited on over three dozen commercial releases, his body of work spans 30 years from 1984 onwards.[3]

DJ, writer, and graphic artist

Hale began his DJ career in the mid-1980s as a guest on the College radio stations WPRB, Princeton and WRSU, New Brunswick. His focus ran from Motown/Stax "soul" and Trojan "dub-reggae" sounds to 60's British "psyche-pop" and various "indie-alternative" of the day. Subsequently, he found himself invited to spin at clubs such as "Maxwell's" in Hoboken and many other NYC area "Dives." By the early 90's Hale's musical style had grown to encompass House, Electro, Tribal House, New Beat, Jungle, and Techno. By the mid-90's Hale found himself employed 3-nites a week at New Brunswick's The Roxy as the head resident DJ. Hale then moved on to residencies at both "The Melody" and "Ground Zero" in the late 90's into the early 2000s. During this same period, Hale was invited to contribute a column to "Jersey Beat" Magazine called "Danse Assembly" (reviewing electronic & alternative dance music.) "Danse Assembly" (aka "DAMn!") also eventually became the title of a fanzine he published until 2002, acting as both writer and editor/graphic designer. From there, he went on to design many projects including CD covers for the Philadelphia-based EDM labels "Metropolis" and "Pendragon," as well as designing for the NJ-based "Tinman." Hale also contributed many dance music reviews to other fanzines such as "Fusion" and "The Splatter Effect." Private events and guest DJ gigs at many Tri-state area venues between 2002-2010 allowed Hale to keep his foot in the "dance music" field until 2010 when he finally landed a new residency with Asbury Park's "Swell" niteclub. Many Asbury Park nite-club engagements followed, which eventually led to a residency in 2012 at Shep Pettibone's "Paradise" nite-club.[4] In 2014, Hale continues doing occasional remix and film soundtrack work and has also contributed articles to the local "arts weekly" publication the "TriCity News."

Band history

Hale got his start as the guitarist/singer and songwriter/producer with New Jersey/NYC garage band Mod Fun. From 1983 to 1987 he guided the band through a musical evolution from mod/punk to a more polished, energetic pop sound. In the process, Hale (who used the moniker "London" at the time,) contributed to 5 releases as Mod Fun, and appeared on many compilations in the USA and UK.[3] After two American and one European tour with Mod Fun in 1987, Mick and drummer (future Rolling Stone editor,[5]) Jim DeRogatis were invited by the legendary 70's British Art-punks Wire to have their Wire cover-band "The Ex-Lion Tamers" tour the USA and Canada as the support-act. While the members of Wire were performing new "alt.dance" material from The Ideal Copy Mick and company would open the show by playing the entire classic Pink Flag album, in order.[6]

In 1987 Mick and former Mod Fun bandmate Bobby "Werner" Strete teamed with the psychedelic act Lord John's drummer and formed a new outfit known as Crocodile Shop.[7] Drawing on heavier and dark-pop influences such as The Jesus and Mary Chain and Skinny Puppy, this new band was a definite departure from the jangly, guitar-driven sound that Hale had produced earlier. Their first release is the hard to find EP entitled "Head," (which MTV's 120 Minutes labeled "Sickly Psychedelic.") This original trio then worked closely with producer Dave Fielding of The Chameleons UK on their follow-up LP "Lullaby," released on a Twin Cities based label in 1988. As with Mod Fun Hale also saw to it that Crocodile Shop[8] evolved as a musical unit with each new release. After a brief reunion with drummer Chris Collins, the group opted to use samples and drum machines for their subsequent work. Original member Bobby "Werner" Strete continued working with Hale thru many lineup changes until 1997, at which point they had combined forces with keyboardist/programmer v.Markus. By 2004 the group had toured all over the US, Canada & Germany and released some 15 CD's on American, German and Italian labels which explored styles ranging from electro-industrial to techno-electronica and synth-pop which still permeates the group's sound to this day (now known simply as Croc Shop[8]).

The 2004 release of Croc Shop's double CD retrospective "S.E.A. (Self-Extracting Archive)"[9] coincided with a re-release by Pittsburgh's Get Hip Records of the Mod Fun retrospective CD called "Past... Forward."[10] Many of the original members of both bands reunited for a release party for these discs. The positive vibe among Hale, Strete and Collins coupled with the timliness of the Mod Fun CD re-release ultimately led to the reformation of that band for another 6-year run. Mod Fun went on to perform in Nashville, Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia, DC and all over their NYC/NJ home-base. In addition, the reunited Mod Fun released a double CD in June 2007. Entitled "Now...and Again,",[11] which contained 10 new tracks and 10 re-recordings of Mod Fun classics from their 80's vinyl catalogue. In 2010 Mod Fun released another CD entitled "Futurepresent"[12] with 15 new tracks.

Side projects and remixes

Hale has also produced electronic 'solo' projects such as "Division #9" (with 2 critically acclaimed CDs of techno-house-dub,[13]) "pro.GREX.iv" (a drum N bass, east-coast meets west-coast collaboration,[14]) and "Hand Of God" (electro-goth,[15]) all 3 with full-length CDs released on DC and New Brunswick based labels. Hale and Croc Shop cohort v.Markus also worked together on a drum 'N bass project "Genetik,[16] " which never saw light of day; tho many of the duo's remixes of other EDM artists were released (credited to Crocodile Shop.) To this day, Hale continues to remix other artists and has a SoundCloud page with many mixes available as free downloads.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Mick Hale's sounds on SoundCloud - Hear the world's sounds". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  2. ↑ "dj Mick Hale". dj Mick Hale. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  3. 1 2 "Mick Hale Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  4. ↑ "dj Mick Hale". dj Mick Hale. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  5. ↑ Will Hermes (1996-06-19). "A GOOD BLOWFISH IS HARD TO FIND - Page 1 - Music - Minneapolis". City Pages. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  6. ↑ "The Ex-Lion Tamers and Wire- the amazing story via cassette «". Gojohnnygojohnny.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  7. ↑ "Crocodile Shop: Songs, Albums, Pictures, Bios". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  8. 1 2 "Croc Shop: Songs, Albums, Pictures, Bios". Amazon.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  9. ↑ "Croc Shop | SEA | CD Baby Music Store". Cdbaby.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  10. ↑ "Past Forward: Mod Fun: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  11. ↑ "Now and Again by Mod Fun @ ARTISTdirect.com - Shop, Listen, Download". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  12. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Futurepresent by Mod Fun". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  13. ↑ "div9 | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  14. ↑ "proGREX.iv | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  15. ↑ "Hand Of God | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Myspace.com. 2008-09-21. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  16. ↑ "genetik | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  17. ↑ "Mick Hale's sounds on SoundCloud - Hear the world's sounds". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
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