John Mizarolli, one of Uks leading guitarists, after 4 years in the USA returned to the UK in 1978, spent 2 years Gigging, Recording and Touring and giving Guitar Lessons. He achieved fame in 1980, joining Ginger Baker's 'Energy' touring Europe, UK, Iron Curtain doing TV, Clubs & Arenas. John shared vocals in the band and was Ginger's lead guitarist, singled out by Europe's music magazines as "the Revelation of the band", quoting Italy's leading mags after 4 encores at a 15000 seater in Rome. John toured the Uk with the Kinks, in "Jody St" featuring Henry Thomas - Bass, Brett Morgan - Drums and Noel McCalla - Lead Vocals, whilst always giving Guitar Lessons, ironically turning down giving Andy Summers of Police, Guitar Lessons because he was too busy! When Gary Moore left Thin Lizzy, John met Phil Lynott to discuss joining, but decided that Ginger had more to offer in Music and Experience, so he stayed with the Cream's Wild Drummer, but still he was supported by Guitar Lessons.
In 1982 he toured with the infamous "Atomic Rooster" in the UK & Yugoslavia and guested on their last album Headline News, sharing guitar with Bernie Torme and Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd. Atomic Rooster flew on a private jet to Yugoslavia with Motorhead and the Ian Gillan Band. Lemmy stated of John's drunken noise "that's the loudest spic I've ever seen!" In the early 80's he guested on Jim Capaldi's album "Fierce Heart", where he played with Stevie Winwood. In the same year he completed a second 6-week European tour with Ginger Baker. Again giving Guitar Lessons was always in demand.
Apart from giving guitar lessons John Mizarolli's guitar performances have been compared to such greats as Clapton, Jeff Beck, Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen. He was born in Fulham, London, England and took up the guitar when he was 7. He has been in bands since the age of 12. At 21 he left England for the USA and spent 4 years on the Californian music scene. Here he did endless gigs, tours and recording sessions gaining as much practical musical experience as possible across the musical spectrum. He was at the centre of the Jazz/Funk - Jazz/Rock movement in LA around 1974. John took guitar lessons from Caldera's guitarist Jorge Strunz, who developed John's Jazz awareness a great deal. He also gigged with names like Canned Heat, Big Joe Turner(The Original!),The Platters and was developed in the studio by Little Richard's bass player and keyboard player.
Johns parents were from Cyprus & and emigrated to the UK in the early 50's. They left an island wartorn and soon became refugees during the 1974 invasion. His roots were from many neighbouring lands as Cyprus is the crossover between Africa, Asia & Europe. He has bloodlines in Gypsy, Greek-Cypriot, Egyptian , Ethiopian & Italian.
John's mother came from a small village called Leonarisson, his father was from another village in Kyrenia called Karavas. John's father left home at the age of 12 and became amongst other things a tailor by profession whilst learning music and acting. He played classical guitar, trumpet and mandolin and spent many years studying & reading pieces by Segovia and worked with some of the best composers in the Middle-East. He was also a Singer and travelled many places on the Island of Venus performing old cypriot folk songs. His mother came from a family of 13 that worked in tobacco fields as children. When she arrived in the Uk in the early 50's she worked hard in the factories and eventually took on the rag trade as well.
John suffered greatly during the British Coal Pollution years between 1952 and 1963 when he had acute asthma for 10 years. He was a Great Ormond Street Hospital survivor and in 1 year over ¼ of a million British Children actually died in the 'Fog' or 'Smog' as it was called then. He was written off for dead on 3 occasions and eventually was cured when the British Government took him to France to clean his lungs in La Bourboule a famous cure centre for kids with asthma and eczema.
John learned a lot about guitar playing from his father before he had any formal guitar lessons. He was taught to hear and experiment with Intervals at the age of 7. He originally wanted to learn piano but his father insisted he learn classical guitar so his mother found a local teacher by the name of Frederick Schiller who himself was quite a famous jewish Austrian actor/musician and appeared in film classics like 'Maigret' and the like.
From 12 years old on John took up electric guitar and started playing local gigs with his 1st band 'The Light' covering Shadows, Equals & Elvis Songs! He never gave many guitar lessons until his playing ability was noticed by the neighbourhood musicians, then it all changed! Even at 17 on a saturday afternoon, the house was packed with friends and musicians taking Guitar Lessons from Miz the Wiz, now teaching Hendrix and Clapton Songs. We are talking 1969, yes Mizarolli was teaching Hendrix then. As fate would have it, next door to John's school, legendary bands used to rehearse and John regularly watched rock legends like The Who, The Cream, Ten Years After, Manfred Mann, Pink Floyd, Spencer Davis Group in between class breaks! John reflects the 1st time I met Ginger Baker I was in my school uniform and we heard this sound like a UFO that had a magnetic-turbo effect on my brain. We went round to St Annes Hall, peaked through the window and I could see Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker rehearsing, of course they were not famous then! I instinctively tried to walk in the door to get a close peek at this strange event, then lo and behold we opened the door and Ginger came out looking like what I recognized as a Beatnik and shouted "Cut Out Man, Cut Out Man". He scared the shit out of me and my schoolfriends and we ran away! .. ' That was probably the beginning of my fascination with real rock music & electric guitar bands, I was amazed, confused, mystified, awe-inspired & fascinated. Then came the 60's, no more said!
-----
Artist: John Mizarolli
Album: Message from the 5th Stone
Release Date: 1982
Label: Carrere
-----
TRACKS
1. No Magic Love (Davis/Puccini) 4.59
2. Granny Did It (Mozarolli) 3.38
3. Ain´t Nobody Gonna Bring Me Down (Mizarolli) 4.48
4. Message From The 5th Stone (Mizarolli) 5.12
5. Lost Your Love My Love (Baker) 4.02
6. Wake Up And Live (Mizarolli/Thomas) 3.03
7. Is Mama The President (Mizarolli) 4.00
8. Menopause (Thomas) 3.43
9. Mama Never Told You (Thomas) 4.44
-----
CREDITS
John Mizarolli - Guitars, Lead Vocals (Tracks 3, 5), Backing Vocals (Tracks 1, 5)
Don Airey - Keyboards (Tracks 1, 2, 5, 8)
Chris Parren - Keyboards (Tracks 6, 9)
Ginger Baker - Drums (Tracks 1, 3, 5, 8)
Brett Morgan - Drums (Tracks 2, 6, 7, 9)
Richard Bailey - Drums (Track 4)
Henry Thomas - Bass (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
John McKenzie - Bass (Track 4)
Stevie Lange - Backing Vocals
Joy Yates - Backing Vocals
Vikki Brown - Backing Vocals (Tracks 6, 9)
Sam Brown - Backing Vocals (Tracks 6, 9)
John Elstar - Lead Vocals (Track 1)
Noel McCalla - Lead Vocals (Tracks 2, 6, 7, 9)
-----
+-+Front.jpg)
+-+Inside.jpg)
+-+Back.jpg)
.jpg)
