After 5 years spent playing with The CHARLATANS ,the influential psychedelic rock band that played a pivotal role in the development of the San Francisco music scene in the 60’s, 7 years with LOOSE GRAVEL, and 7 years with The FLAMIN' GROOVIES, one can say that MIKE WILHELM had one of the hell of a career !
Born in Los Angeles in 1942, MIKE learned the guitar at the age of 17. He spends the 50's listening to all kinds of popular music : blues, rock'n'roll, country... In the early 60's, he plays in californian clubs with other artists like Sonny & Brownie Mc Ghee, or The Chambers Brothers.Even if they just released one album, The CHARLATANS are still appreciated among JEFFERSON AIRPLANE and GRATEFUL DEAD fans, as one of the most influencial West Coast bands.
Mike was, unfortunately, luckless with LOOSE GRAVEL, who never released any records during all the time they were together. Maybe their image of rough boys (they were the californian Hell's Angel's favorite band !) scared the rock critics and records companies.
MIKE WILHELM joined The FLAMIN' GROOVIES in 1976. He recorded 2 LP with them but unfortunately, the Groovies never got the success they deserved , though they were one of the best rock bands ever. Well-respected by people like George THOROGOOD, Peter CASE or Chris BAILEY, MIKE also recorded 3 solo albums , which were all critically acclaimed.
After the release of « Wood and Wire » , his wonderful 3rd solo album, on New Rose, on which he showed what a master of 12 strings guitar he is, in 1993, we brought Mike over to play 3 nights at a great bar in Rennes, along with Jean Louis Mahjun and Alain Giroux, the greatest french blues duet ever.Poor Mike was sick as a dog with flu, and heavily jet- lagged, but once he was on stage , nobody could tell. All of a sudden, the ecstatic audience was transported to a Deadwood saloon .Alone on stage with his 12 strings guitar he took us back to the roots , with songs by Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Mc Tell and Lightnin’ Hopkins, but he also played a couple of Flamin ‘Groovies favourites, including the fabulous « Shake some action ».
Mike shared the bill with Mahjun and Giroux, and played first. As they had become friends the minutes they met, they joined for an encore together at the end of the show. The response of the audience was so incredible that they couldn’t leave the stage,and had to play five more songs, which were chosen on the spot and obviously had not been rehearsed. It was pure magic. 3 great musicians playing their guts off, like they had known each other for years.
Mike might never have been a highly commercial artist, even with the wonderful Flamin’ Groovies, whose « Shake some action » should have been a monster worldwide hit, but he is one who will stay. Very few reach that level of
musicianship, authenticity and sincerity.