Mic Christopher
Encyclopedia
Mic Christopher was an Irish
singer-songwriter
, best known for his posthumously-released debut album Skylarkin'.
to Irish parents Harry Christopher from Dublin and Vaun Heaney from Sixmilecross
. Because of his parents' Irish heritage they moved back to Dublin, Ireland in 1972 and together with an all-Irish school upbringing in Coláiste Chilliain Clondalkin, Christopher started to play traditional Irish music with school groups until he was about fifteen years old when he started busking
.
Christopher was a busker in Dublin for about five years where he met many of the numerous musicians on the Dublin circuit, including Karl & David Odlum and Glen Hansard
of The Frames
, among many others.
In 1994 The Mary Janes signed a publishing deal with Warner-Chappell. In 1996 the band acquired the drumming talents of Mark Stanley from Australia and went on to record their second album Sham in 1998. Over the following years The Mary Janes played everywhere from the Feile and the Fleadh music festivals in Ireland, to Glastonbury Festival
in England
, to the CMJ in New York
. The band also performed a six-week stint in Bosnia
with the War Child
charity organization. The Mary Janes finally split in 1999 and Christopher embarked on a three month solo tour of Victoria, Australia.
In the autumn of 2001, having recovered from a bad motorbike accident, Christopher released his solo Heyday EP and announced that he would be supporting The Waterboys
on their next tour.
The accident that caused his death was described by Glen Hansard
: 'He went for a few beers after the show and simply slipped on some steps. It could have happened anywhere, at any time.'
' prior to his death. The album was incomplete but Christopher had left instructions as to how the recordings could be improved. During November 2002, work from many of his friends and family resulted in the posthumous release of Christopher's first and only solo album. Skylarkin later won Best Album at the 2003 Meteor Awards
. His family were present to collect the award on his behalf.
Since Mic Christopher's death, Glen Hansard of The Frames has dedicated each of their albums to him. They also dedicate their cover version of his hit "Heyday" to him when played live. The Damien Rice
album, O, is also dedicated to Mic Christopher. Also Lisa Hannigan
dedicated the song "Splishy Splashy" to him on her debut album Sea Sew
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, best known for his posthumously-released debut album Skylarkin'.
Early life
Mic Christopher was born in the Bronx, New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to Irish parents Harry Christopher from Dublin and Vaun Heaney from Sixmilecross
Sixmilecross
Sixmilecross is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Its toponym is said to be derived from a Celtic cross that stood in a field at the top of the village and also from its distance of six Irish miles from Omagh. The village has a wide, tree lined main street and a population of 282...
. Because of his parents' Irish heritage they moved back to Dublin, Ireland in 1972 and together with an all-Irish school upbringing in Coláiste Chilliain Clondalkin, Christopher started to play traditional Irish music with school groups until he was about fifteen years old when he started busking
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
.
Christopher was a busker in Dublin for about five years where he met many of the numerous musicians on the Dublin circuit, including Karl & David Odlum and Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard is the Academy Award–winning principal songwriter and vocalist/guitarist for Irish group The Frames and one half of folk rock duo, The Swell Season...
of The Frames
The Frames
The Frames are an Irish band based in Dublin. Founded in 1990 by Glen Hansard, the band has been influential in the Dublin rock music scene. The group has released six albums...
, among many others.
Musical career
In 1990 Christopher formed the band The Mary Janes with former Kila bass player and fellow busker Karl Odlum, and added Simon Good on guitar and Steven Hogan on drums. Over the next nine years The Mary Janes played together a number of guises. Firstly with Hogan on drums and, after Hogan left the band, as a three piece without drums. It was at this time that the band recorded their first album Bored Of Their Laughing.In 1994 The Mary Janes signed a publishing deal with Warner-Chappell. In 1996 the band acquired the drumming talents of Mark Stanley from Australia and went on to record their second album Sham in 1998. Over the following years The Mary Janes played everywhere from the Feile and the Fleadh music festivals in Ireland, to Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to the CMJ in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The band also performed a six-week stint in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
with the War Child
War Child (charity)
War Child is a non-governmental organisation founded in the UK 1993, which focuses on providing assistance to children in areas of conflict and post-conflict. They use their film and entertainment background to raise money for aid agencies operating in former Yugoslavia...
charity organization. The Mary Janes finally split in 1999 and Christopher embarked on a three month solo tour of Victoria, Australia.
In the autumn of 2001, having recovered from a bad motorbike accident, Christopher released his solo Heyday EP and announced that he would be supporting The Waterboys
The Waterboys
The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
on their next tour.
Death
On 18 November 2001 in Groningen, the Netherlands, after he had played his set supporting The Waterboys, Christopher was found unconscious, having apparently struck his head on some steps following a fall. On arrival at a local hospital, he was found to have lapsed into a coma as a result of severe swelling to the brain. He never regained consciousness and died on 29 November 2001, aged 32.The accident that caused his death was described by Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard is the Academy Award–winning principal songwriter and vocalist/guitarist for Irish group The Frames and one half of folk rock duo, The Swell Season...
: 'He went for a few beers after the show and simply slipped on some steps. It could have happened anywhere, at any time.'
Skylarkin
Mic Christopher had been working on a solo album entitled Skylarkin2003 Meteor Awards
The 2003 Meteor Music Awards were hosted by comedian Dara Ó Briain. It was the third edition of Ireland's national music awards. Actors Colin Farrell, Colm Meaney and Stephen Rea were among the awards presenters.- Performances :...
. His family were present to collect the award on his behalf.
Since Mic Christopher's death, Glen Hansard of The Frames has dedicated each of their albums to him. They also dedicate their cover version of his hit "Heyday" to him when played live. The Damien Rice
Damien Rice
Damien Rice is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who plays guitar, piano, clarinet and percussion....
album, O, is also dedicated to Mic Christopher. Also Lisa Hannigan
Lisa Hannigan
Lisa Margaret Hannigan is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. For several years she was a member of Damien Rice's band before beginning her solo career in 2008. She has been the recipient of various award nominations and critical praise both in Ireland and the USA...
dedicated the song "Splishy Splashy" to him on her debut album Sea Sew
Sea Sew
-Recording and production:The album was recorded in a cold barn in the Irish countryside and produced in the studio of one of Hannigan's friends over the course of a fortnight. Jason Boshoff produced, recorded and mixed the whole album....
.