I’d like to give some love to an underrated member of this new Asia lineup, Irish guitarist John Mitchell. Since 1997, he’s slowly been making a name for himself in the progressive-rock community. I first heard of him when he took over the vacant guitar slot in UK proggers Arena. Since then, he’s been a vital cog in the sound of this great Prog act. His guitar pyrotechnics and emotional playing can best be heard on the following Arena albums: The Visitor (1998), Pepper’s Ghost (2005), The Seventh Degree of Separation (2011) and most recently, The Theory of Molecular Inheritance (2022). His solos always wring deep feelings from within him, much like David Gilmour or Camel’s Andy Latimer. Yet, he also has the speedy type modern sheen and skill of Trevor Rabin. Check out his stinging six-string skills on “The Hanging Tree” or “The Visitor.” Truly a gifted guitarist. Besides his guitar wizardry, he’s also an ace lead - and backing - vocalist. He fronted British stalwarts It Bites in the 2000s, subbing for original guitarist/vocalist Francis Dunnery. Check out his fiery fretwork - and lead vocals - on the band’s “Cartoon Graveyard” or “Playground.” He also sang lead vocals and did guitar work for the short lived prog-rock supergroup Kino. Their debut album has prog, pop and rock elements, all blending into a melodic stew. Powerful album opener “Loser’s Day Parade” highlights both Mitchell’s guitar and vocal prowess. Mitchell has also played with UK prog-rock band Frost* as well as fronting his own own project Lonely Robot for the past near decade. John has additionally produced and engineered albums for over a dozen other artists and bands, too. A Jack of All Trades, perhaps? 🤔 Yes, most definitely. I’ll end with the fact that including studio albums, live records, DVDs 📀 and EPs, Mitchell is credited on over forty releases in the past 27 years. And that DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE his production credits with other artists, just releases he’s actually played on. An unheralded cat, how about that?! Keep up the cool reviews. Cheers from The Big Apple. 🍎 Rock Out and Prog On… … in each and every lexicon! Your clone and mine, ~ The Delirious Doppelgänger of Davey Cretin, from CRETIN CLASSICS.
I’d like to give some love to an underrated member of this new Asia lineup, Irish guitarist John Mitchell. Since 1997, he’s slowly been making a name for himself in the progressive-rock community. I first heard of him when he took over the vacant guitar slot in UK proggers Arena. Since then, he’s been a vital cog in the sound of this great Prog act. His guitar pyrotechnics and emotional playing can best be heard on the following Arena albums: The Visitor (1998), Pepper’s Ghost (2005), The Seventh Degree of Separation (2011) and most recently, The Theory of Molecular Inheritance (2022). His solos always wring deep feelings from within him, much like David Gilmour or Camel’s Andy Latimer. Yet, he also has the speedy type modern sheen and skill of Trevor Rabin. Check out his stinging six-string skills on “The Hanging Tree” or “The Visitor.” Truly a gifted guitarist.
Besides his guitar wizardry, he’s also an ace lead - and backing - vocalist. He fronted British stalwarts It Bites in the 2000s, subbing for original guitarist/vocalist Francis Dunnery. Check out his fiery fretwork - and lead vocals - on the band’s “Cartoon Graveyard” or “Playground.” He also sang lead vocals and did guitar work for the short lived prog-rock supergroup Kino. Their debut album has prog, pop and rock elements, all blending into a melodic stew. Powerful album opener “Loser’s Day Parade” highlights both Mitchell’s guitar and vocal prowess.
Mitchell has also played with UK prog-rock band Frost* as well as fronting his own own project Lonely Robot for the past near decade. John has additionally produced and engineered albums for over a dozen other artists and bands, too. A Jack of All Trades, perhaps? 🤔 Yes, most definitely.
I’ll end with the fact that including studio albums, live records, DVDs 📀 and EPs, Mitchell is credited on over forty releases in the past 27 years. And that DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE his production credits with other artists, just releases he’s actually played on. An unheralded cat, how about that?!
Keep up the cool reviews.
Cheers from The Big Apple. 🍎
Rock Out and Prog On…
… in each and every lexicon!
Your clone and mine,
~ The Delirious Doppelgänger of Davey Cretin, from CRETIN CLASSICS.