RIP Mike Henderson

[Jules]

I know that when someone dies the thing to do is talk nice about that person...

But I never liked what Mike Henderson brought to MK band in terms of guitar playing. For me he was always too noisy and too loud.

When it comes to fiddle, harp and mandolin, he was great.

He had a name in Nashville and blues and country scene, actually he worked very close with one of nowadays names in that scene, which is Chris Stapleton.

[border_reiver]

I know that when someone dies the thing to do is talk nice about that person...

But I never liked what Mike Henderson brought to MK band in terms of guitar playing. For me he was always too noisy and too loud.

When it comes to fiddle, harp and mandolin, he was great.

He had a name in Nashville and blues and country scene, actually he worked very close with one of nowadays names in that scene, which is Chris Stapleton.

Funny. I'm the direct opposite. The loud and barky guitar gave proper character to MKs songs. 

[Robson]

‘We’re bidding goodbye to an old friend: Mike Henderson, bluesman extraordinaire and one of the founding members of bluegrass group The SteelDrivers. Mike was an extraordinary talent: as at home with bluegrass and old time fiddle music as he was with the blues. He was a superb blues harp player too. I first saw him backing singer/songwriter Kevin Welch at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and subsequently with blues band the Kingsnakes. On both those gigs the tall man at his side playing either his old upright string bass or his Fender Precision, was one Glenn Worf, who would share the studio and the stage with me from around that time until today. Mike joined my band for our tour in 1981 and we saw a big chunk of the world together. I’m thinking of Mike’s family and friends at this time.’ – MK

1981?

[ds1984]

Typo, every fan will correct.

[quizzaciously]

Typo, every fan will correct.

...or parallel universe.

[Peter1981]

Oh no, RIP.
I think he was a welcoming rough touch to the live band, which made it surely more rock'n'roll than the tours that followed. Preferences differ, but I found it rather electrifying.

[quizzaciously]

Oh no, RIP.
I think he was a welcoming rough touch to the live band, which made it surely more rock'n'roll than the tours that followed. Preferences differ, but I found it rather electrifying.

Man, I wish Mark would experiment with musicians like Mike and Jack more. I hate when a superstar "finds" "his" musicians and tours with them for the rest of their lives with the same sound. Like Paul McCartney — all his tours are basically the same for the last, I don't know, 30 years?

It's ridiculous to think it's their solo career, and yet they form a band that won't change for decades. Of course, Mike sounds cool in Mark's band, in fact, any decent musician will! As long as they let him on stage!

[dustyvalentino]

I know that when someone dies the thing to do is talk nice about that person...

But I never liked what Mike Henderson brought to MK band in terms of guitar playing. For me he was always too noisy and too loud.

When it comes to fiddle, harp and mandolin, he was great.

He had a name in Nashville and blues and country scene, actually he worked very close with one of nowadays names in that scene, which is Chris Stapleton.

Funny. I'm the direct opposite. The loud and barky guitar gave proper character to MKs songs. 

Agreed. I thought it was cool and mixed things up. MK finally had another lead guitarist, not just a side man who got a token solo.

And he introduced MK to Silvertone guitars, and that led me to buy a Silvertone guitar, and it’s a very cool guitar!

[dmg]

Was never a fan of his playing style, his tone or even his dress on stage with the western shirts and stetson.  All very attention seeking and fine if you're the main attraction, but he wasn't and should've toned it down in every sense.

[JF]

Was never a fan of his playing style, his tone or even his dress on stage with the western shirts and stetson.  All very attention seeking and fine if you're the main attraction, but he wasn't and should've toned it down in every sense.

that's why I found it was a little bit the same as Jack Soni's attitude imho

[dmg]

Was never a fan of his playing style, his tone or even his dress on stage with the western shirts and stetson.  All very attention seeking and fine if you're the main attraction, but he wasn't and should've toned it down in every sense.

that's why I found it was a little bit the same as Jack Soni's attitude imho

I can see the similarity but Jack didn't have many solos or "fancy dress" to be fair. 

[superval99]

Was never a fan of his playing style, his tone or even his dress on stage with the western shirts and stetson.  All very attention seeking and fine if you're the main attraction, but he wasn't and should've toned it down in every sense.

I agree. It was the first time I came away from an MK concert feeling disappointed and let down and it was because Mike seemed to take over the concert.   

[Knut]

It feels a bit of a waste to put all those great musicians on a stage, if their job is just to "make the Master look good". This sounds like the same complaints that someone has against Ian. Maybe MK should've gone full solo...

I'm sure there are alot of up-and-coming players who would love to take the "submissive role" in MKs bands just for the learning experience. That might be a better choice if you want someone who just does some basic background stuff and says "yes, sir"? The fact that a guy like Mike H wanted to be heard and seen, is not strange at all - he had a skill level that justified it.

[dustyvalentino]

It feels a bit of a waste to put all those great musicians on a stage, if their job is just to "make the Master look good". This sounds like the same complaints that someone has against Ian. Maybe MK should've gone full solo...

I'm sure there are alot of up-and-coming players who would love to take the "submissive role" in MKs bands just for the learning experience. That might be a better choice if you want someone who just does some basic background stuff and says "yes, sir"? The fact that a guy like Mike H wanted to be heard and seen, is not strange at all - he had a skill level that justified it.

MK hired him because he saw him and wanted him in the band as a showman. He didn't need another boring guitar player in the band, he already had one!

[ds1984]

Mike was way more than a guitar player.