Mick Pointer
{{Short description|British drummer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Mick Pointer
| image = Mick Pointer (cropped).jpg
| caption = Pointer in 2009
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Michael Pointer
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1956|7|22}}
| birth_place = Brill, Buckinghamshire, England
| death_date =
| origin =
| genre = Neo-progressive rock
| occupation = Drummer
| years_active = 1979–present
| associated_acts = Marillion, Arena
| website =
}}
Michael Pointer (born 22 July 1956) is an English drummer. He is known for his work in the neo-prog bands Marillion and Arena.
Career
Pointer was the original drummer and a founding member of Marillion.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4845|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Marillion|last=Ankeny|first=Jason|author2=Jensen, Dale |publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=1 June 2010}} He appeared on the band's debut EP Market Square Heroes (1982) and debut LP Script for a Jester's Tear (1983). He was sacked from the band following the album's UK tour and ultimately replaced by Ian Mosley.{{cite web | url= https://ultimateclassicrock.com/marillion-fugazi/ | title= How Marillion fashioned an early neo-prog triumph on Fugazi | work=Ultimate Classic Rock | first=Eduardo | last=Rivadavia | date=12 March 2014 | accessdate=22 August 2020}} Lead singer Fish later told Classic Rock that Pointer had been dismissed because he had "never liked Mick's drumming", "his timing was awful" and "everybody was developing except him".{{cite web | url= http://www.daveling.co.uk/doc-fish.htm | title= Fish interview | work=Classic Rock | first=Dave | last=Ling | date=October 2001 | accessdate=3 August 2015}}
After his acrimonious departure from Marillion, Pointer did not perform music for another ten years. Instead, he became a kitchen designer, something he had served an apprenticeship in as a teenager.{{cite web | url= http://www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk/interviewsmickpointer.html | title= Friars interviews Mick Pointer | work=Aylesbury Friars | first=Mike | last=O'Connor | accessdate=3 August 2015}} Pointer eventually founded the British progressive band Arena, in which he continues to play with keyboardist Clive Nolan (from Pendragon).{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p37103|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Arena|last=Orens|first=Geoff|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=1 June 2010}} He is Nolan's business partner in his record label.
Pointer later gathered a band for "Mick Pointer's Script for a Jester's Tear tour", comprising Brian Cummins (Carpet Crawlers) on vocals, Nick Barrett (Pendragon) on lead guitar, Mike Varty (Credo) on keyboards and Ian Salmon (Arena) on bass guitar, to perform Marillion's debut album for its 25th anniversary.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Script-for-a-jesters-tour/23587671912#!/pages/Script-for-a-jesters-tour/23587671912?v=info |title=Script for a jester's tour |publisher=Facebook |date=2008-12-15 |accessdate=2011-10-24}} Pointer had originally intended to call it "Mick Pointer, ex-Marillion"; however, the remaining members of the band objected to him using the name, and threatened him with legal action.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.arenaband.co.uk/ Official site of Arena]
{{Arena}}
{{Marillion}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pointer, Mick}}
Category:British male drummers
Category:English rock drummers
{{UK-drummer-stub}}