Mick Kelly
I'm a straight forward 70's and 80's blues based and punk influenced hard and glam rock n roll guitar player. I also play the drums and the bass guitar, and can occasionaly sing. I have played in many bands like the Whispering Trees, Kynslinn Tobacco, Nightrain, the Wasted Sisters, Exceed and I'm currently playing with the Parisian rock band COMIC STRIP.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
"Mick Kelly (also known as Kobe) has been one of the most essential Rock N' Roll musicians in the lebanese Rock scene since 1999. His former band, The Whispering Trees, was a very popular band with a big number of fans who followed them from their very first show at Janna's Night Club (Broummana), a show that sealed Mick's (who was 16 years old) destiny as a Rock guitar player. In 2000, he fronted the band Kynslinn Tobacco as a side project for a few shows, opening for The Whispering Trees. In 2001, Mick contacted former Leviathan drummer Ramzy and former Silent Screams bassist Amino and formed NIGHTRAIN, a band that was fronted by "Eddy-Vedder-like-singer" Nadim Jamal. The Whispering Trees fell apart and NIGHTRAIN became Mick's number one focus. Jimmii Guns will join the band as a rythm guitarist and they will stay active for about a year and a half. In 2002, Mick sang and played accoustic guitar with his "Unplugged" band The Wasted Sisters, with Tamtam on guitar, Salam Koumayra on bass and Haytham Khoja on drums. They toured in pubs during 3 months. Finally, Mick joined the legendary band EXCEED in the beginning of the summer 2002, but unfortunately, the band never got out of the jam room because Mick had to move to Paris.
Mick is now living in Paris, studying Cinematography and working on his debut solo album, as well as his french band Comic Strip's album."
E.S
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
I've played in many lebanese local concerts since 1999. I'm now touring with COMIC STRIP in France, and I occasionaly join some lebanese bands on stage as a guest to jam with them.
Highlights of my career so far: 2300 people attending a Nightrain concert, and also a two songs jam session on stage with Lucky Peterson himself.
Your musical influences
Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, Velvet Revolver, Motley Crue, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Slash's Snakepit, Poison, Skid Row, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Richie Kotzen, Hanoi Rocks, Izzy Stradlin and the Juju Hounds, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, the New York Dolls, ACDC...
What equipment do you use?
Gibson Les Paul guitars
Marshall amplifiers
