60 Seconds with...
A minute’s all it takes to find out what makes a great guitarist tick. This month the amazing MICK JONES of Foreigner
Les Paul.
Mick Jones is the guitarist and founding member of Foreigner. He previously played guitar with Spooky Tooth.
Who was your first influence to play the electric guitar? What was the first electric guitar you really lusted after?
Anything I could get my hands on! Fender ‘57 Stratocaster.
What was the best gig you ever did?
The first time Foreigner headlined at Wembley Arena London in 1982.
And your worst playing nightmare?
The night I looked out into the audience and saw my three ex-wives sitting together chatting among themselves!
What’s the most important musical lesson you ever learnt?
Not to ever take a musical lesson.
Do you still practise?
Not as much as I should.
Do you have a pre-gig warm-up routine?
A nice cup of tea.
If you could put together a fantasy band with you in it, who would the other players be (dead or alive)?
Steve Winwood on lead vocals and keyboards, Paul McCartney on bass, the Everly Brothers on background vocals, Nile Rodgers on rhythm guitar, and Jim Keltner on drums.
Present company excepted, who’s the greatest guitarist that’s ever lived?
Les Paul, one of the pioneers of the solidbody electric guitar, and the Belgian-born French guitarist, Django Reinhardt.
Is there someone else’s solo you really wish you had played?
Good Times Bad Times by Jimmy Page. For the lead guitar solo, guitarist Jimmy passed his
My greatest guitarists of all time would be the early pioneers Les Paul and Django Reinhardt.
Hot Blooded. Fender Telecaster guitar through a Leslie speaker to create a swirling effect.
What’s the solo/song of your own that you’re most proud of? And finally, what would you most like to be remembered for?
Doing the best I could at the time. Many thanks! Foreigner tour the UK in April with special guests Europe and FM. Dates include Manchester O2 Apollo (April 3), Newcastle City Hall (April 4), Glasgow Clyde Auditorium (April 5), Nottingham Royal Centre (April 7), Sheffield City Hall (April 8), Portsmouth Guildhall (April 9), Bristol Colston Hall (April 11), London Eventim Apollo (April 13), Wolverhampton Civic Hall (April 15). Foreigner will also perform a rare acoustic show at London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Saturday April 12.