Mick Hucknall

Hucknall, born at Saint Mary's Hospital, Manchester, on 8 June 1960,{{cite web|url=http://www.lifetimetv.co.uk/biography/biography-mick-hucknall|title=BIOGRAPHY: Mick Hucknall|publisher=Lifetime|access-date=14 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118001917/http://www.lifetimetv.co.uk/biography/biography-mick-hucknall|archive-date=18 November 2014|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=michael&lastname=hucknall&eventyear=1960&eventyear_offset=0|title=Michael Hucknall|publisher=Findmypast|access-date=14 November 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.simplyred.com/faq/|title=Mick Hucknall FAQ|publisher=Simply Red|access-date=4 July 2019|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428045518/http://www.simplyred.com/faq/|url-status=live}} was an only child. His mother abandoned the family when he was three; the upheaval caused by this event inspired him to write "Holding Back the Years", which would become one of Simply Red's biggest and best-known hits. He was brought up in Denton{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9903633/Mick-Hucknall-on-his-daily-routine-going-solo-and-etching.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9903633/Mick-Hucknall-on-his-daily-routine-going-solo-and-etching.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Mick Hucknall on his daily routine, going solo and etching |last=Wintle |first=Angela |date=23 February 2013 |website=telegraph.co.uk |access-date=29 November 2018}}{{cbignore}} by his father, Reginald (1935–2009),{{cite web|url=http://www.simplyred.com/index.php?id=550|title=Reginald Hucknall 1935–2009 R.I.P.|publisher=Mick Hucknall – Simply Red – Official Site|access-date=22 November 2009}} a barber in Stockport.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1375942/Simply-Red-star-cleared-after-arrest-for-rape.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1375942/Simply-Red-star-cleared-after-arrest-for-rape.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Simply Red star cleared after arrest for rape|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=19 June 2001|access-date=11 October 2008 | first=Hugh | last=Davies}}{{cbignore}} According to Hucknall he had a happy childhood until the age of 10, when he began to clash with his father "because there was no woman to act as referee".

Hucknall attended Audenshaw School,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/traditional-values-pay-off-for-school-with-best-results-897547.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/traditional-values-pay-off-for-school-with-best-results-897547.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Traditional values pay off for school with best results|work=The Independent |location=UK |date=9 August 2008|access-date=5 October 2008 | first=Sarah | last=Cassidy}} before continuing his education at Tameside College and Manchester Polytechnic's School of Art, where he was a fine art student: whilst at art school he lived in Hulme.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-manchester-20076598/mick-hucknall-thanks-manchester-for-amazing-start |title=Mick Hucknall thanks Manchester for 'amazing start' |date=24 October 2012 |work=BBC News|access-date=29 November 2018}} It would not be until the mid-1990s that he would reconnect with his mother, Maureen, who was by then living in the US city of Dallas.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2003/mar/23/features.review17|title=The mother of all bachelors|newspaper=The Observer|date=23 March 2003|author=Ellen, Barbara|location=London|archive-date=17 December 2013|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217151918/http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2003/mar/23/features.review17|url-status=live}} As of a 2008 interview, he had only seen her twice since she left.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/simply-red-star-mick-hucknall-293929|title=Simply Red star Mick Hucknall exclusive: Day one|date=18 February 2008|website=Mirror.co.uk|access-date=23 October 2021}} He is of Irish ancestry from his mother, whose father was from County Offaly, along with his paternal grandmother.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/i-felt-ugly-i-was-an-easy-target-to-be-bullied-mick-hucknall-reveals-negative-impact-of-being-abandoned-by-irish-mother-at-3-31248926.html|title='I felt ugly, I was an easy target to be bullied' – Mick Hucknall reveals negative impact of being abandoned by Irish mother at 3|work=Irish Independent|date=24 May 2015|access-date=13 October 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/seeing-red-1.26049|title=Seeing Red|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=27 January 1996|first=Sheila|last=Wayman|access-date=13 October 2019}} His maternal grandmother was Jewish.{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Something-got-him-started-456737|title=Something got him started|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=14 June 2016|first=Josh|last=Soloman|access-date=13 October 2019|archive-date=13 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013055911/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Something-got-him-started-456737|url-status=live}}

File:Mick Hucknall 2010 Tour Image.jpg

Hucknall was among the people present at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester in June 1976 where the Sex Pistols were playing.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2003/mar/21/artsfeatures3|title=What thrills me|work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=21 March 2003|access-date=5 October 2008 | first=Will | last=Hodgkinson}} His interest in the music scene led to the launch of his career in the late 1970s, when he was part of the band Frantic Elevators. The Frantic Elevators released four singles, including a version of "Holding Back the Years", which he later recorded with Simply Red.

As lead singer and core member of Simply Red, he became the identifiable face of the band. His face and long curly red hair were featured prominently on album artwork and in videos.

In 1997, Hucknall won an Outstanding Achievement award from the Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBO Awards) despite being white.{{cite news | last = Staff writer | title = Are the Mobos good for black music? | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5362960.stm | work = BBC News | date = 20 September 2006 | access-date = 24 December 2017 | archive-date = 11 January 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080111133421/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5362960.stm | url-status = live }}

Hucknall is one of the founders of the reggae label Blood and Fire.{{cite web | url= https://thequietus.com/articles/27394-mick-hucknall-interview-favourite-music-simply-red | title= Something Got Him Started: Mick Hucknall's Favourite Albums | work=The Quietus | first=David | last=Bennun | date=13 November 2019 | access-date=25 March 2024}}

In October 2007, on David Jensen's show on the Gold network, he announced Simply Red would split in 2009.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7060650.stm|title=Pop group Simply Red to split up|work=BBC News|date=24 October 2007|archive-date=16 June 2013|access-date=24 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616111031/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7060650.stm|url-status=live}} In 2008, he released his first solo album Tribute to Bobby, a tribute to the blues musician Bobby "Blue" Bland.{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/5h54/|title= BBC music review of Tribute to Bobby|date= 20 May 2008|access-date= 26 June 2008|archive-date= 6 January 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090106015738/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/5h54/|url-status= live}}

In October 2009, Hucknall appeared at a charity performance as vocalist for a re-formed version of Faces, replacing Rod Stewart. In October 2011, he was awarded with a BASCA Gold Badge award in recognition of his contribution to music.{{cite web|url=https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/features/gold-badge-awards-in-pictures|title=Gold Badge Awards in pictures|date=26 October 2011|work=M Magazine|access-date=20 January 2018|archive-date=20 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120012838/https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/features/gold-badge-awards-in-pictures/|url-status=dead}}/

In October 2012, he released American Soul, a collection of his favourite music re-recorded with his vocals.

Hucknall was active in politics as a prominent celebrity supporter of the Labour Party during the New Labour era. In 1997, he declared his support for the party at that year's general election – which it won by a landslide under the leadership of Tony Blair to return to government after 18 years in opposition.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4464557.stm|title=Who's backing whom at the election?|work=BBC News|date=21 April 2005|access-date=13 April 2011|first=Jenny|last=Matthews|archive-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211132339/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4464557.stm|url-status=live}} In 1998, Hucknall was named in a list of those who donated more than £5,000 to the party.{{cite news | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/161057.stm | title= 'Luvvies' for Labour | work= BBC News | date= 30 August 1998 | access-date= 26 March 2010 | archive-date= 18 September 2003 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030918021349/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/161057.stm | url-status= live }} In 2003, Hucknall backed Blair's stance on the Iraq War, stating he had "more respect for Blair than ever" and pointed out that British critics of the war were lucky to be living in a country where they could express their opinions. Hucknall said in 2008 that his conscience prevented him from donating to the party again because of the war, although he would still vote for them.{{cite news | url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1896141/Mick-Hucknall-has-nothing-to-hide-any-more.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1896141/Mick-Hucknall-has-nothing-to-hide-any-more.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title= Mick Hucknall has nothing to hide any more | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | first=Chris | last=Hastings | date=20 April 2008 | access-date=12 May 2010}}{{cbignore}}

Hucknall has been strongly critical of more recent Labour leaders: after the 2015 general election, he said that Ed Miliband "veer(ed) close to Marxism" and that the electorate had acted "with collective wisdom" by defeating Labour in favour of electing a Conservative government, which he described as "the inheritor of the Blairite mantle".{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/01/simply-red-mick-hucknall-labour_n_7485532.html |title=Simply Red Singer Mick Hucknall Praises Electorate For Keeping Out 'Marxist' Labour |last=Bennett |first=Owen |date=1 June 2015 |website=HuffPost |access-date=28 November 2018}} The following year he described Jeremy Corbyn as a "shabby, spineless coward" for what he regarded as an insufficiently strong commitment to the Remain campaign for the 2016 Brexit referendum.{{cite web |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/news/75817/jeremy-corbyn-bizarre-simply-red-bust |title=Jeremy Corbyn in bizarre Simply Red bust-up |last1=Schofield |first1=Kevin |last2=Casalicchio |first2=Emilio |last3=Chambre |first3=Agnes |last4=Ashmore |first4=John |date=6 June 2016 |website=PoliticsHome |access-date=28 November 2018 |archive-date=29 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129055824/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/news/75817/jeremy-corbyn-bizarre-simply-red-bust |url-status=live }} Hucknall publicly declared he would not vote for Labour ahead of the 2017 general election and 2019 general election, and that he had ended his longstanding support for the party, citing Corbyn's stance on antisemitism. In 2019, he described himself as "politically homeless."{{cite web | url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2022/08/mick-hucknall-interview/ | title=Mick Hucknall interview: "I feel politically homeless at the moment" | work=Classic Pop | first=Will | last=Simpson | date=15 August 2022 | access-date=25 March 2024 | archive-date=25 March 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325233354/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2022/08/mick-hucknall-interview/ | url-status=live }}

Hucknall has said that derogatory references to his red hair are a form of bigotry.Richard Jinman, 5 July 2003, [http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=SMH0307056M7PI1I1P8U "Taking the Mick" ], Sydney Morning Herald, {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208052903/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?docID=SMH0307056M7PI1I1P8U|date=8 December 2013}}

Hucknall was a guest on the panel for the BBC's political discussion series Question Time, broadcast on 27 March 2014, and declared his support for same-sex marriage.{{cite web|url=http://www.christian.org.uk/news/bbc-hears-how-over-600000-ignored-on-gay-marriage/|title=BBC hears how over 600,000 ignored on gay marriage|publisher=The Christian Institute|date=28 March 2014|access-date=1 April 2014|archive-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331164640/http://www.christian.org.uk/news/bbc-hears-how-over-600000-ignored-on-gay-marriage/|url-status=live}}

Hucknall and his wife Gabriella Wesberry married in 2010 at the 16th-century Forter Castle in Glenisla, Perthshire, Scotland.{{cite web | url= https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/simply-red/mick-hucknall-age-wife-daughter-songs/ | title= Mick Hucknall facts: Simply Red singer's age, wife, children and more revealed | work=Smooth Radio | date=17 June 2021 | access-date=25 March 2024}} Their daughter Romy True Hucknall was born in June 2007.{{cite web| website= dotspotter.com| url= http://www.dotspotter.com/news/76241_Mick_Hucknall_and_Gabriella_Wesberry_Are_Having_a_Baby | title= Mick Hucknall and Gabriella Westberry Are Having a Baby | archive-url= https://archive.today/20070319104609/http://www.dotspotter.com/news/76241_Mick_Hucknall_and_Gabriella_Wesberry_Are_Having_a_Baby |archive-date=19 March 2007 }}

Hucknall spends a considerable amount of time in Ireland, where he purchased the Glenmore Estate near the village of Cloghan, County Donegal, with bandmate Chris De Margary. Hucknall and De Margary are keen fishermen. They operate a fishing and hunting tourism business from the estate.{{cite news| url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1204/1224260043208.html| title=Mick Hucknall in dispute over rights on Donegal estate| date=4 December 2009| newspaper=The Irish Times| access-date=26 May 2011| format=requires paid subscription to view the full article| archive-date=24 October 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024145514/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1204/1224260043208.html| url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/something-got-him-started-hucknall-takes-neighbour-to-court-1834646.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/something-got-him-started-hucknall-takes-neighbour-to-court-1834646.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title= Something got him started: Hucknall takes neighbour to court|work=The Independent|date=5 December 2009|first=Kevin|last=Rawlinson|access-date=19 September 2013}} In March 2014, Hucknall settled a hunting and fishing rights lawsuit, ongoing for five years, with a neighbour in Ireland. As the case opened in 2009, Judge O'Hagan had instructed both sides to go away and talk about reaching an agreement or else it would drag on for years.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/simply-red-duo-settle-hunting-and-fishing-rights-case-1.1736901| title= Simply Red duo settle hunting and fishing rights case|date=25 March 2014|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=22 January 2017}}

Hucknall co-owns Ask Property Development, a company that constructs city squares and public buildings.{{cite news| url= https://www.thetimes.com/article/fame-and-fortune-mick-hucknall-gm7mhhkq875|title=Fame & Fortune: Mick Hucknall|work=The Sunday Times |location=UK |date=20 December 2009|access-date=27 September 2024| url-access=subscription|first=Nick | last=Boulos}}

Hucknall spends time in Catania, Sicily, where he produces wines under the label "Il Cantante" (The Singer).{{cite news|url= http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/12/1081621878040.html|title= Mick's red is not so simple|work= The Sydney Morning Herald|date= 12 April 2004|access-date= 13 August 2009|archive-date= 8 November 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121108184356/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/12/1081621878040.html|url-status= live}}

Hucknall is a football fan and a supporter of Manchester United.{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-mick-hucknall-sir-alex-ferguson-1038142.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-mick-hucknall-sir-alex-ferguson-1038142.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=How We Met: Mick Hucknall & Sir Alex Ferguson|work=The Independent|date=30 November 2008|first=Adam|last=Jacques|access-date=5 September 2019}}{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2300952/Champions-League-final-It-simply-must-be-United-says-frontman-Mick-Hucknall.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2300952/Champions-League-final-It-simply-must-be-United-says-frontman-Mick-Hucknall.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Champions League final: It simply must be United, says frontman Mick Hucknall |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=20 May 2008 |first= Sandy |last= Macaskill |access-date=5 September 2019}}{{cbignore}} His song "We're in This Together" was the competition anthem of the 1996 UEFA European Football Championship and he performed it at its opening and closing ceremonies.

{{See also|Simply Red discography}}

In 1986, he provided backup vocals for the musical film Little Shop of Horrors.

• List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.simplyred.com Simply Red official site]
• {{IMDb name|id=0399619|name=Mick Hucknall}}

{{Simply Red}}

{{Faces}}

{{Brit British Male}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hucknall, Mick}}

Category:1960 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Manchester Metropolitan University

Category:British ballad musicians

Category:Brit Award winners

Category:English contemporary R&B singers

Category:English businesspeople

Category:English male singer-songwriters

Category:English people of Irish descent

Category:English people of Jewish descent

Category:English pop singers

Category:English record producers

Category:English singer-songwriters

Category:English soul singers

Category:Faces (band) members

Category:Labour Party (UK) donors

Category:New Labour

Category:People from Denton, Greater Manchester

Category:Simply Red members

Category:Singers from Manchester