Mike, born in London, grew up in Richmond, the cradle of the English Blues Boom with the 'Crawdaddy Club' and 'Eel Pie Island', where many bands including the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds started.
« Why BG ? For me, from guitar to amplifier, every link in the chain is important and includes guitar straps »
These musicians will be among his first influences when he starts playing guitar, after his arrival in France in Montpellier at the age of 13.
Encouraged by a friend of his mother, the pianist Raymond Fol (Hot club de France with Django Reinhardt and friend of Duke Ellington) who invited him to join him in festivals.
At boarding school in Nîmes, Mike ran a 'music club' which allowed him to order English music newspapers. One of the covers marked him: a photo of the singer Elkie Brooks with Robert Palmer.
While buying records, he scans the names of the credited musicians (e.g. Roy Buchanan with pianist Jean Alain Roussel, guitarist Ray Gomez, drummer Andy Newmark and bassist Willie Weeks).
18 years old: Becomes a professional musician playing in the south of France.
At 24 years old, leaves for Los Angeles to study at the G.I.T. (Guitar Institute of Technology). Finds himself in the class with Jeff Buckley, Jimmy Herring, Enzo Todesco, Kurt Bisquera etc. Classes with Robben Ford, Jennifer Batten, Joe Pass, Frank Gambale etc.
Coincidentally, he meets in a club the guitarist Ray Gomez, with whom he takes some lessons and who invites him to accompany him to see some rehearsals. The sound engineer Murray McMillan takes him to a Black Sabbath rehearsal, Alex Van Halen's ex-wife is a neighbor.
« I need the blend of reliability, comfort, esthetics and practicality »
Back in Paris, recording sessions and tours follow one another.
Marriage with the British singer Amanda Fahey, the daughter of the musical director/arranger Brian Fahey (BBC orchestra, Shirley Bassey, Ella Fitzgerald).
He meets the producer/keyboardist Jean Alain Roussel who offers him to join a team of musicians in England to accompany, tour and record with artists such as Elkie Brooks, Suzi Quattro. At Elkie's house he found the same photo he had seen in Melody Maker when he was in high school.
During this period he met many musicians and participated in sessions. Ray Davies at Konk Studios, Peter Green, Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake), Geoff Whitehorn (The Who, Bad Company), Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) etc.
Today's event
Sessions for Elkie Brooks' next album. Collaborations and compositions with Duncan Mackay (Gary Moore, Kate Bush), Roger Inniss (Blues Caravan, Mike Taylor), Jean Alain Roussel (Bob Marley, Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens), Steve Forward (Paul McCartney) Steve York (Eric Clapton, Dr John, Marianne Faithfull.
Personal projects.
Solo albums: Acoustic & Electric guitar compilation 1, Unplugged at Home, The Japanese Crannes wife (Speegra Records)
RogMikEnzo : 'Power trio' with bassist Roger Inniss and drummer Enzo Todesco.
The Absia Project (with Indian musicians)
Other projects :
Van Wilks-Mike Cahen duo: with Texan guitarist Van Wilks
Sal Bernardi-Mike Cahen duo
Guitar demos and material :
The Holy Grail Guitar Show (Berlin): Andy Manson guitars (Led Zeppelin) M-tone guitars (US), Tao guitars (B), Hilko guitars (B), Seth Baccus guitars (UK), Norwegian Wood guitars (Finland), Daguet guitars (F), Meloduende guitars (F), Pistol guitars (F), Greyhound guitars (Es) etc
Bare Knuckle Pickups: guitar pickups.
VL Effects: Effects pedals, 3Monkey Amplification (Brad Whitford, Aerosmith)
Cornford and Sheldon: guitar amps
