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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHOWLETT, MikeUK-based musician/prod. (b Fiji) who learned euphonium and guitar in his youth. Emigrated to Australia by age 18; played Sydney's Whiskey A Go Go in trio The Affair with girl vocalist; won talent contest in UK and decided to stay. After playing bass with short-lived groups early '70s he joined European hippie-rock band Gong '73-6, also prod. their postumous Live, Etc '77 (his Gong alias was Mr T. Being). At onset of punk, cut hair and formed new wave group Strontium 90 with Sting and Stewart Copeland; gigged with this group in Paris '77 at Gong reunion show having added Andy Summers, whereupon they left him to become Police. Early Virgin ventures as house producer were paying off; gave up playing except for odd sessions (with Nik Turner '78, Duffo '79): like many prod. of period, used knowledge of studio technique to help raw punks get onto vinyl with minimum loss of impact. Earliest assignments were with Penetration (Race Against Time '78), Punishment of Luxury (Laughing Academy '79), Fischer Z (Word Salad '79); described his studio modus operandi as "getting a guy to play within his limitations and to make the best of what he can do', skilfully overdubbing to achieve desired effects but maintaining a clear sound: worked with Martha and the Muffins, Any Trouble, synthesiser bands Orchestral Manoeuvres and Blancmange, new wave pop incl. Teardrop Explodes, Thompson Twins, China Crisis, A Flock Of Seagulls; also Joan Armatrading. |