Nostalgia: Mick was at the top of his fame

Mick Hucknall, the lead singer of Manchester band Simply Red, celebrates his 60th birthday today (Monday). Did you know he was originally from Denton? Mike Wallbank explains more...

With a No 1 single in America and a UK chart-topping album, 1989 proved to be the best year yet for Manchester’s Simply Red. 

A New Flame, the band’s third LP, included the soul classic ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’ which became one of their biggest hits on both sides of the Atlantic.

Singer Mick Hucknall admitted he had always loved the ‘70s original by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes and could remember dancing to their music when he was growing up in Denton.

Having enjoyed a long and successful career including album sales of over 50 million and a string of sold-out stadium concert tours, Mick is about to celebrate another milestone - his 60th birthday on June 8.

In an exclusive interview with the Tameside Reporter’s Bridget Aherne back in 2007, he traced his musical roots to a family wedding at the Festival Hall, Denton, when he was just five years old.

A young Mick Hucknall

His singing talents blossomed in the friendly close knit surroundings of St Lawrence’s Primary School, but at the age of 11 Mick found his creativity stifled by the strict discipline and formality of Audenshaw Grammar School.

“I had a horrible time... I did not fit in. It was a complete culture shock to me,” he said.

After five long years, a place at Tameside College beckoned. Mick’s future prospects suddenly looked much brighter.

“It saved me. I would really have gone off the rails. The staff and teaching standards were very high... from 16 onwards, education was brilliant.” 

After leaving college he went on to study for a fine art degree at Manchester Poly.

Musically he progressed from fronting the punk band Frantic Elevators to forming Simply Red - the name chosen in honour of his beloved Manchester United and his trademark hair. 

The Elevators’ best known song Holding Back The Years - written by Mick and his then bandmate Neil Moss in Mick’s bedroom in Denton - later became a worldwide hit for Simply Red.

Mick’s story has been told many times but the only ‘official’ account is the one which he co-wrote in 2007 with music journalist Brian Southall, taking its title from the 1989 hit ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’.

Main image:

Mick Hucknall singing in 1989.