Mick Karn 1980s

Mick Karn (b 1958) is best remembered today as the bass player in the most influential pop/art band of the 80s, Japan. Formed with schoolfriends David Sylvian (b 1958), Richard Barbieri (b 1957) and Steve Jansen (b 1959) in the 70s in South London, Japan's most commercially succesful albums, Gentlemen Take Polaroids and Tin Drum were released in the early 80s. Having been famous in the country Japan long before they have achieved success in the UK, they had absorbed Far Eastern influences and fused them with a British sensibility - no more striking than on the single, Ghosts, which made the top 5 in the UK.

After Tin Drum and when their most commercially succesful period beckoned, they split up. The break up seemed madness at the time, though with the strength & striking originality of David Sylvian's subsequent solo career it now appears an obvious decision as it perhaps could never have been created in the contraints of a band.

The band reformed briefly in the early 90s with the critically successful Rain Tree Crow project. But as quickly as they appeared the group was disbanded. Many rumours persist to why and to why they didnot reform as Japan but the album was so far removed musically to anything Japan had done before that Sylvian's determination not to use the Japan logo seems justified.

Nevertheless, Mick Karn's distinctive bass playing (heavy with a Far Eastern 'feel') was an intregal part of Japan's success and cannot be understated. Karn developed it during the 80's, releasing three albums: 1982's Titles, 1987's Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters and a collaboration with Peter Murphy in 1984 titled Dalis Car.

Karn's bass playing was much in demand for session work. He can be found on albums by Bill Nelson, Kate Bush, Midge Ure, Joan Armatrading and Gary Numan.

Jansen, Barbieri and Karn remained close friends after Japan's split and founded Medium, a record label dedicated to releasing collaborative efforts from the trio. Releases included 1993's Beginning To Melt the 1994 follow-up EP Seed.

In 1993, Mick Karn resumed his solo career with Bestial Cluster. His friend, guitarist David Torn co-produced & heavily influenced the album. This led to the 1994 Polytown project.

He presently resides in South London & continues to work with Jansen & Barbieri.

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