Michael Chapman

Another Fish

Today would have been the 81st birthday of the great Yorkshire guitarist Michael Chapman, who died last September. 

Recorded in 2019 and released with the blessing of his wife Andru, Another Fish is Michael’s planned follow-up to his 2015 album, Fish, a collection of astoundingly dextrous guitar instrumentals that feature some of the best playing of his career.

I was lucky enough to see him live in the later years of his career and, far from fading, his talents seemed to be at a peak – not only for playing his guitar, but his storytelling anecdotes.

He might not have ever become a household name (though he had a moment in 1969-70 with a pair of cult albums, Rainmaker and Fully Qualified Survivor) and his career began somewhat by accident.

“I had an art college education and on a rainy night in 1966 I went into a pub in Cornwall, but I couldn’t afford to pay to go in,” he recalled. “So I said, I’ll tell you what, I don’t want to stay outside in the rain, I’ll play guitar for half an hour for you. They offered me a job for the rest of the summer and I’ve been at it ever since.”

Over the subsequent 55 years he touched many with his music and was a huge inspiration and encouragement for future generations of guitar players such as Jack Rose, William Tyler, Ryley Walker, Thurston Moore and Steve Gunn.

I do advise you to listen at his Bandcamp page.