Mike Hugg

From left to right: Tom McGuinness, Dave Berry, Klaus Voormann, Mike Hugg, Manfred Mann, Mike d'Abo (The Netherlands, 1967)

Michael John "Mike" Hugg (born 11 August 1942) is a musician (drums, vibraphone, vocals, keyboards, songwriter) who achieved fame as a founding member of the 1960s group Manfred Mann.[1]

Biography

Hugg was born in Gosport, Hampshire in 1942. His parents condoned his jazz drumming as long as he continued his piano lessons. Pursuing a career in jazz, he met Manfred Mann while serving as a musician at Butlin's Clacton and they formed a seven-piece group. The Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers recruited Paul Jones and later Tom McGuinness.[2] On signing with HMV Records their producer, John Burgess, changed their name to Manfred Mann.

Hugg is a competent pianist and an able vibraphone player but his main role in Manfred Mann was drummer. However, he recorded several vibraphone solos with the band (e.g. "I'm your Kingpin") and used the instrument to augment hits such as "Oh No Not My Baby". He was credited as co-writer of the group's early hits and contributed solo compositions throughout its life, including jazzy instrumentals ("Bare Hugg") and wistful acid-pop ("Funniest Gig", "Harry the One Man Band"). His abilities as a songwriter grew throughout the group's career,[3] though Hugg became progressively unhappy with the band's commercial output, describing the group's single "Ha! Ha! Said the Clown", in an interview with Melody Maker as one of the five worst records he had ever heard.

He and his brother composed "Mister, You're a Better Man Than I" which was recorded by the Yardbirds in 1965. Hugg also composed the majority of the songs for the 1968 Paramount film Up the Junction.[4]By this time Hugg was already branching out into film and television composition. After composing for Up The Junction, he wrote incidental music to a BBC Wednesday Play, and contributed to the score for the Jesús Franco film Venus in Furs in 1969, together with Manfred Mann. He co-wrote the theme music to the BBC TV comedy series, Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads in 1972, followed by the score to the 1976 feature film.

When he and Manfred Mann formed the more progressive Manfred Mann Chapter Three, taking inspiration from Doctor John and free jazz and touring with a five-piece brass section, Hugg moved to electric piano and lead vocals. The latter, by his own account, purely for want of someone better. One of its themes was used as the soundtrack of TV advertisement for cigars. Hugg released two solo albums, and one album with the band Hug[5] in the 1970s.

Today, apart from his role as keyboard player with the Manfreds, a reformed version of the '60s band (without Manfred Mann) who tour the UK and Europe regularly, Hugg is part of the jazz trio, PBD.

Discography

Solo
Manfred Mann Chapter Three
Hug

References

  1. ↑ Rawlings, Terry (2002). Then, Now and Rare British Beat 1960–1969. Omnibus Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-7119-9094-4.
  2. ↑ Interview. Retrosellers.com. Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
  3. ↑ Manfred Mann. Starling.rinet.ru. Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
  4. ↑ Eder, Bruce. (11 August 1942) Mike Hugg. AllMusic. Retrieved on 27 August 2011.
  5. ↑ 'prognotfrog.blogspot.ca/2010/04/mike-hugg-hug-neon-dream-1975.html' retrieved Jan.25,2016
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