“In a crowded room what I like to do the best is to sit down and really study the people and I just couldn’t put that down on paper. People are 3D so the piece has to be too. Besides, I’m terrible at drawing”.

“The artist’s will to pop”, interview by Lesley White, “The Face” magazine, June 1982.

Welcome to the account dedicated to musician and sculptor Mick Karn (Nicosia, 1958 - London, 2011).
Born Andonis Michaelides, he rose to fame with his unique fretless technique as the bassist of British post-punk band Japan.

#mickkarn #japantheband #japan #daliscar #jbk #jansenbarbierikarn

Happy heavenly Birthday, Mick ♥️

Fretless wonder, theatrical, colourful, flamboyant, alien, suave, sophisticated, intellectual, funny, wit, haunting, exotic, beautiful creature, master of bass guitar.

Photo: “Art of parties” UK tour, Hammersmith Odeon, London, 17th May 1981. Credit: Pete Still ©

Article from “Bass Player” magazine (1996), part 2.
#mickkarn #japantheband #japan

Article from “Bass Player” magazine (1996), part 1.
#mickkarn #japantheband #japan

Mick and Steve on West Street in London, 31st May 1985.
#mickkarn #stevejansen #japan #japantheband #raintreecrow #jansenbarbierkarn #jbk #mediumproductions

“Mick Karn...the only man in history to have dyed pink hair, wear a zebra print jacket and still look suave, sophisticated and intellectual”.

Comment from a fan on YouTube.

Photo: Koh Hasebe ©️ All rights reserved

#mickkarn #japantheband

“The abbreviation of superfluity is a quality of maturity rarely found in any artist barely touching 24 years of age”.

- Angela Bowie. Foreword to “Sculpture” catalogue, Hamiltons Gallery exhibition, Mayfair, London, 1982.

#mickkarn #sculpture #japan #japantheband

“In the band we’ve always worn masks as protection and it’s people like me, the ones who look the oddest, who have the most to hide. But over the years we’ve tended to wear less and less colour in our hair and make-up as we’ve become a little more confident”.

#mickkarn #japantheband

“Mick was probably the most colourful dresser in our band but he also enjoyed toning it down sometimes with more classic styles”.

- Steve Jansen answering a question from a fan on his Sleepyard blog, May 2018.

#mickkarn #japantheband

“In a crowded room what I like to do the best is to sit down and really study the people and I just couldn’t put that down on paper. People are 3D so the piece has to be too. Besides, I’m terrible at drawing”.

“The artist’s will to pop”, interview by Lesley White, “The Face” magazine, June 1982.