Ian Mitchell: Biography

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1958
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1973
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1975
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1977
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1982-1983
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1985-1989
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1990-1992
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1995-1997
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1972

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1974

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1976

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1979-1981

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1984-1985

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1989-1990

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1992-1994

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1998-Present

Click on a year from the timeline to see the events.

1958

Ian Kevin Mitchell was born on August 22, 1958 in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. Parents Alan & Mary. One brother, Tony. Three sisters, Rita, Kathleen, & Geraldine.

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1972

Formed Albatross in 1972 with Damian McKee in Downpatrick at a youth club.

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1973

Changed the band name to "Bang". Fired the drummer who wanted to be a plumber (rhymes, huh!). Terry McKee and Colin McKee came on board as drums and bass, respectively.

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1974

Changed the name again to "Young City Stars" as, according to our manager, we had to have a "city" in it. "It's the big thing these days." I was assured. Little did I know.

Marie Fitzsimmons joined on keys and vocals. "Dang good kisser, that woman." Late 1974, fired Marie as she was too distracting in the dressing room.

Opened for "Bay City Rollers" at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Record "Some Kind of Summer," our first single. The B-side was "Paper Roses" AAAARRRGGGHHH!!

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1975

Imported Alfie "Elvis" Kelly on 2nd guitar. Opened for "Bay City Rollers" at Belfast Odeon for two nights.

Fired Alfie for not bathing and wearing the same underwear three weeks in a row.

The band was invited to go and visit in Scotland with BCR manager.

Met Pat McGlynn and everyone thought we were related.

Started playing blues and old metal songs.

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1976

Left Damian and crew and went to Scotland to "audition" for the Bay City Rollers. Got the job. Played and lived with four other guys for seven months.

Left BCR and went to Barbados for vacation. Left Barbados two days later and went home to talk with my mom. "Guys do that...trust me."

Spoke to Damian and we agreed to form a new band. Formed "Rosetta Stone." Got the name from the B-side of a Barry Blue record.

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1977

Signed to Private Stock Records and released first album, "Rock Pictures." First single was "Sunshine of Your Love." Did Top of the Pops, and many other TV shows in Europe.

Toured everywhere tourable.

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1978 - 1981

Too many internal conflicts in Rosetta Stone. Left and formed the "Ian Mitchell Band. Signed to WEA Records and released "Lonely Nites" and the single with the same name.

Discovered SKA. Fell in love with Bob Marley. The underground music scene in London was too cool to describe.

Toured everywhere tourable.

Accidentally sued myself.

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1982 - 1983

Went totally glam and changed the name to "LaRox." Signed to FM Records and released "Can I Bring You Love." Played with "The Enid" at the Marquee. Got banned from playing Fulham in London for being too graphic on stage. "Moi?!" Sold out the Embassy Club in London, and still hold the attendance record to this day. Recorded "On the Boulevard."

Got a new deal with EMI. EMI dropped me. "Boo Hoo."

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1984 - 1985

Met Max Splodge...that year is a blur. Do remember Leeds, tho. Love ya Max! Various Roller reunions here, there, and everywhere.

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1985 - 1988

Went to South Africa with Woody to be a part of the "Passengers." Formed "Identity Crisis" with Keith Anderson..."cool dude." Released the new version of "Girls in Jeans." The video was really cool..trust me. Moved to LA on a rainy day.

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1989 - 1990

Met up with my London bud, Jimbo, from the "Babysitters" in LA. We did some shows and some recording.

Bumped into Duncan Faure in North Hollywood while shopping at Ralph's Supermarket.

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1990 - 1992

Formed "Joy Buzzers" with Duncan Faure, Joe Stefanelli, & Eric Lannon. Recorded "Welcome to the 90's" and toured the west coast.

Got sued by Eric Falconer for using the BCR name. Judge threw it out of court as it was the promoter who was at fault. Spoke to Eric about it....we laughed.

Sued myself again.

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1992 - 1994

Went to London to play with the singer from the BCR. Got married to my American baby, Wendy-Ann Antanaitis. Played in Germany a lot and recorded a greatest hits album.

It rained again...went back to California.

Discovered computers.

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1995 - 1999

Got together with Cherie Currie from "The Runaways," Mara Fox from "Precious Metal," and Burton & Bruce from "The Knack" to form "The Mix." Cherie, Mara, and Burton were wonderful to play with.

Met up with the "00 Spies", probably the best R&R band in LA. Thanks, guys.

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2000 - Present

Opened an entertainment company with my wife, Wendy, in beautiful Southern, CA. The O.C. to be exact. Always sunny, always warm.

Started doing Roller nostalgia again. Found a rockin' group of musicians to back me in this venture. This is indeed the way I see fit to play BCR music, POWER POP, pure Power Pop!!

Had a brainstorm one afternoon to record a Christmas CD for our church's building fund. It's not good to be homeless Catholics. We did it between July and Sept. 2001. We all know what happened on Sept. 11th. So I dedicated the CD - "The Gift" to all those whose lives were effected by that day and of course Jesus. He is, after all - The ultimate gift!!

Got involved with The Linda McCartney Foundation/Garland Appeal and Music for Middlesex. One of the best things I've ever done!!

Became an American citizen on March 25, 2005. Now singing God Bless America!! Got my Passport and Voters Registration Card in April, 2005. Can it get any better than this?

Will keep updating this section.

That's it so far...see ya!!

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