New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Michael has had a fantastic response to the new record and is picking up great support in the UK and overseas. He has a full diary of live UK dates over the summer, including solo shows, plus guest supports with The Hollies' lead singer,
Peter Howarth and T'Pau, followed by a major national tour of 25 dates with Leo Sayer (which are fast selling out). See below for details.
He is a life long
Beatles and McCartney fan and on 14th June 2015, it all came full circle for Michael. He and his band were invited to preview the album at the infamous Cavern Club in Liverpool. The place was buzzing and was attended by some very prestigious fans. Amongst them were Nigel & Debbie Greenberg. Debbie's father owned and ran The Cavern in its heyday.. There are still photos displayed on the walls there of Debbie with the Fab Four! Nigel owned the recording studio above it and their stories of those heady days are just fabulous (Debbie is in the process of writing a book about her memoires). Another attendee was Freeda Kelly, who was The Beatles' secretary and trusted friend throughout their reign, and is now in charge of The Beatles' fan club. They were also blessed with the company of Colin Hall, who is the live-in custodian of Mendips, John Lennon's childhood home in Liverpool, which is now part of music and cultural history.
Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, The Eagles, Billy Joel, Jeff Lynne, Super tramp - all legends and some of the greatest songwriters of our time. Michael Armstrong grew up living and breathing every note, every chord change and every lyric from his musical heroes. It opened up a creative outlet that allowed him to pour his heart and soul onto a piece of paper written in the make shift studio of his family home. Here he taught himself the guitar and piano and in those early years his future career path as a songwriter was moulded.
Flash forward 20 years and the quotes of the famous songwriters from above still echoed in his head. They were driving him as he managed the family construction company by day and toured the gig circuit by night, but as he married, had his children and worked flat out in building up a successful company he could not shake off the songs and the born gift of story telling he was clearly destined for.
Then things changed…….forced to close the company amidst family ill health and economic turmoil, Michael was presented with an opportunity that would see his life alter beyond all recognition. It was now or never. A chance meeting with his future manager sparked a series of events that would lead to the release of his 2012 debut EP and literally take him from the building site to Buckingham Palace, where he found himself at the Queen's Jubilee Concert side by side with his musical idols including Paul McCartney,
Elton John and Stevie Wonder.
National airplay, great reviews, industry and media reaction , plus another golden opportunity enabled Michael to pursue the dream of his own album, and immersing himself in the music business, he was able to present his songs and gain access to some of the finest players around, making this a debut album like none before……
Co-produced by music maestro Keith Bessey (Elton John, 10cc, Cliff Richard, The Ramones) the album includes guest appearances by many guitar legends including the iconic Albert Lee, Elliott Randall (Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers) and Phil Palmer (Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Robbie Williams), plus the amazing vocals of The Hollies front man
Peter Howarth, among others.
2015 will see the release of 'Michael Armstrong'. It's been a long awaited labour of love but it was certainly worth it. 12 songs of quality and beauty, written with intensely sensitive and intelligent aplomb, alongside 2 very special cover versions. From the autobiographical love song to the wireless 'The
Radio Years', to the tongue-in-cheek country ballad 'The
Innocence Of Men', from the commuter train chaos of 'Back To Work', to the wry look at immigration 'Johannesburg', Michael's unique lyrical wit and honesty lift these memorable tunes onto a level rarely heard before. These are songs that everyone can relate to. These are songs that tell a story. These are songs that will last a lifetime.
Biography:
My obsession with music started when I was a child, when I first picked up a guitar, and when I fell in love with the music of The Beatles. Although the band had long split-up, my parents owned the red & blue greatest hits albums on cassette and this was all I ever listened to in the car, singing along and harmonising with my brother. We would watch 'Top of the Pops' on a
Thursday night, and listen to the chart run down on a Sunday evening, waiting to find out who held that prestigious No.1 slot. It was all I cared about. I lived and breathed music.
After becoming quite a proficient drummer by the age of 12, I decided I wanted to write my own songs and emulate my heroes and idols. Maybe this would be my chance of meeting and joining them on TV and at shows. I took guitar lessons and as soon as I could play three chords I had my first attempt at song writing. Thankfully I improved over time. Not happy with just playing the guitar and drums, I taught myself to play the piano by listening to
Billy Joel and
Elton John songs during rugby practice at school, which the teachers allowed as I was clearly no sportsman!
As soon as I could drive, the first place I headed for was Liverpool, the birthplace of The Beatles. I dragged my poor girlfriend around all the sites: - their homes, Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, on the Magical Mystery Tour bus, the museum and of course The Cavern.
Whilst paying my dues and performing my newly penned songs along with my band, across some of the country's dirtiest and frightening venues, real life began to take its toll. Marriage, children and a mortgage meant that my part-time job in the family construction business was becoming a necessity and not just a fall-back for my life as a wandering musician.
John Lennon once sang "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".
Not one to give up, I continued to write, record and perform my songs at every opportunity, always on the look out for some one who could make that dream come true…….and then it happened.
A chance meeting with a music business impresario who loved my songs; wanted to manage me; wanted to make a record.
I found myself with a recording deal and the chance to make my debut EP in, of all places, Liverpool?! It couldn't have been more perfect and we bedded down at Elevator Studios to make a recording that would ultimately change my life. The vibe of the city, the people and it's rich musical heritage inspired all of us.
Next I found myself mingling with some of the biggest stars in the business. Singing and working with Sir Cliff Richard, Mark Knopfler, Chris de Burgh, and then the man, the very reason I ever picked up a guitar or sat down at a piano, with the thinking that one day I might be able to write songs that would lead me to meet my idol, Sir Paul McCartney. This childhood dream was impossible, yet it came true in the Summer of 2012 at The Queen's Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace. McCartney was of course headlining and I got the chance to hang out with him back stage after the sound-check when he caught me looking longingly at him and introduced himself with "Hi, I'm Paul"! You're told that you shouldn't meet your idols, but he could not have been nicer and more down to earth. I was able to give him a copy of the CD we had recorded in Liverpool, where-after he nick-named me 'Rock Star'! Unbeknownst to him, perhaps until now, I cheekily managed to sneak onto the stage that night and join him and the entire ensemble in the sing-a-long finale 'Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da' .……by posing as one of 'The Military Wives'!!
The EP has led to me being able to record my full debut album, with some of the finest musicians around and a world class producer. This in turn has unbelievably led me back to Liverpool for something else I am sure I will never forget. On the 14th June 2015, my band and I will be launching the album at The Cavern, which has very generously given me the use of both the main 'Beatles stage' for a
Beatles set in the afternoon (it has to be done!) and the Live Lounge venue for the night, for the evening performance/album launch itself with my band.. In honour of my hero, the new album includes a very special rendition of McCartney's 'Maybe I'm Amazed' - surely one of the greatest love songs ever written. Playing this, my songs, and a whole host of
Beatles classics is going to send a shiver down my spine. It's come full circle. Maybe I'm the child still dreaming? We'll see....
MICHAEL ARMSTRONG UK TOUR DATES 2015
(Solo and special guest performances)
Thursday, 2nd July, 2015 (T'Pau guest support) - VAUXHALL TAVERN, LONDON
Wednesday 22nd July 2015 (Peter Howarth Unplugged) -CHEQUER MEAD, EAST GRINSTEAD
Friday, 24th July, 2015 - (Peter Howarth Unplugged) - THE PHEASANTRY, LONDON
Wednesday, 29th July, 2015 (Peter Howarth Unplugged) - THE CELLARS, EASTNEY
Saturday, 22nd August (Peter Howarth Unplugged) - PIZZA EXPRESS, MAIDSTONE
Wednesday 9th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - BIRMINGHAM JAM HOUSE
Thursday 10th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - MANCHESTER LOWRY
Friday 11th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - WORTHING ASSEMBLY HALL
Saturday 12th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - EAST GRINSTEAD MEAD THEATRE
Monday 14th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - LANCASTER GRAND THEATRE
Tuesday 15th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - HUNSTANTON PRINCESS THEATRE
Thursday 17th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - NORWICH ST ANDREWS HALL
Friday 18th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - BUXTON OPERA HOUSE
Saturday 19th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - MUSSELBURGH BRUNTON
Sunday 20th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - GLENROTHES ROTHES HALL
Tuesday 22nd
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - LEEDS CITY VARIETIES
Wednesday 23rd
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - PORTHCAWL GRAND PAVILLION
Friday 25th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - LONDON HIPPODROME
Saturday 26th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - HARLOW PLAYHOUSE
Sunday 27th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - MILTON KEYNES STABLES
Tuesday 29th
September 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - DURHAM GALA THEATRE
Thursday 1st October 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - ISLE OF WIGHT SHANKLIN THEATRE
Friday 2nd October 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - SOUTHAMPTON CONCORDE
Saturday 3rd October 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - WIMBORNE TIVOLI THEATRE
Sunday 4th October 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - BURY ST EDMUNDS APEX
Tuesday 6th October 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - LONDON HIPPODROME
Thursday 8th October 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - WOLVERHAMPTON ROBIN 2
Saturday 10th October 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - HOLMFIRTH PICTUREDOME
Sunday 11th October 2015 (With Leo Sayer) - WARRINGTON PYRAMID & PARR HALL
Saturday, 17th October 2015 (Solo) - EPSOM PLAYHOUSE, EPSOM, SURREY
Saturday, 19th March, 2016 (Solo/headline) - THE DUGDALE CENTRE, ENFIELD
www.michaelarmstrongmusic.co.uk
