Mickey Finn (musician)

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For other uses of the name, see Mickey Finn

Mickey Finn or occasionally Micky Finn (born Michael Norman Finn on 3 June, 1947 in Thornton Heath, Surrey, England, died on 11 January, 2003), was the percussionist and sideman to Marc Bolan in his band Tyrannosaurus Rex (on one album, A Beard of Stars), and later, the 70s Glam Rock group, T. Rex. Often confused with other musicians by the same name, Michael Norman Finn (apart from T. Rex) only ever played with the Blowmonkeys, the Soupdragons, and, for a tour in the 60's, Hapshash and the Coloured Coat.

It was rumored that Bolan hired Mickey for his good looks, and because he liked his motorcycle, rather than for his musical ability; Finn was unable to recreate the complex rhythmical patterns of his predecessor, Steve Peregrin Took, and was effectively hired as much for a visual foil for Bolan as for his drumming.

In the early 1970s, Finn's contribution as bongocerro, backing vocalist, and, occasionally, bassist, to Bolan's music was essential, because Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex started off as a duo and Marc needed a replacement for Steve Peregrin Took. Something of a character both on and off stage, Finn was often to be seen wearing a hat (including a green bowler), a trademark that was adopted by a significant proportion of T. Rex fans.

However, due to T. Rex's sound becoming more and more electric-influenced, and the presence of a 'proper' drummer, Bill Legend, Mickey's bongo playing became effectively obsolete, and he left the band in late 1975.

Finn returned to the music scene in 1997, fronting a new, controversial version of T. Rex, Mickey Finn's T. Rex, playing old T. Rex singles. However, Finn died from liver problems, on 11 January, 2003, aged 55.