RIP Mick Morris - Dover guitar legend
Updated: Sep 5
MICK MORRIS 2ND JANUARY 1944 - 20TH AUGUST 2026
"There has been sad news with the recent announcement that Mick Morris has passed away at the age of 82. Dover born and bred, I have known Mick since the 1970's and remember watching him play with Mirkwood at the Louis Armstrong pub in Dover in 1976 and 1977. For many years Mick's wife Margaret was my mum's hairdresser so i always received updates on his career moves.
There is so much to say about Mick's career as a guitarist and it is impossible to cover it all here. However, he was that good you almost wonder why he did not go to the top in the music business but you can blame his dad and Richie Blackmore for that!
Mick was not only a great guitarist but a very nice person. His early days in local bands involved playing as support act to many of the top touring bands performing in South-East Kent which brought Mick into contact with some great musicians and along with that some great tales to tell.
In later years Mick published several books. There is a book called Jeff, The One, Alone about his guitar hero, Jeff Beck. There are other books on music plus two novels.
To learn more about Mick's career it is well worth watching an interview Mick had with Greg Shanks on 18th January 2025. Mick has stories about Richie Blackmore, Jeff Beck, Cream, The Moody Blues, Led Zeppelin and Joe Jagger. Greg is based in the USA and holds interviews with various musicians from different eras. Greg likes to bring together people with similar tastes in music as well as broadening some horizons and cultivating a new or renewed appreciation for artists and their craft. "
Gary Virtue 3rd September 2026
Watch Mick's interview with Greg Shanks at the link below: -
Mick released an album in 2009 entitled 'Reflections.' It emcompasses the various styles that Mick could play and is well worth a listen. Available at the link below: -
"When i had written some songs between 2007 - 2009 i began to wonder what they would sound like and whether they would hold up when performed and recorded by top quality musicians.
I had recorded some home demos and decided to contact Mick and ask if he would take it a step further and record the songs in a professional studio along with myself and session players. There were 4 songs on the table and Mick agreed to play on them.
And, to be honest, although some of the guitar melodies were my ideas, Mick took those parts and added his own flavour and i was absolutely blown away with what he brought to the recordings.
Quantum Leap Studios at Monks Horton in the Folkestone and Hythe district of Kent was selected to record the demos under the stewardship of Marcus Bishop and recording took place in March and April 2010.
In memory of Mick i would like you to hear what he brought to these demos and the talent of the man. The results of these demo recordings gave me the confidence to put together a band to take them out on the road which eventually led to the formation of the Crows in late summer 2010."
Gary Virtue 3rd September 2026
Tracks recorded for the GSV Quantum Demos as follows: -
Out In The Sun
A Little History
Destination Drive
Show Me You Have A Heart
Out In The Sun
Gary Virtue: Lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Mick Morris: Electric guitars
Aindee Price: Bass guitar
Written by Gary Virtue
A song that would appear on the first Crows album, entitled The Old Country Crows in 2013 and the song is still part of the band's live repertoire.
A Little History
Gary Virtue: Lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Mick Morris: Electric guitars, banjo
Aindee Price: Upright bass guitar
Written by Gary Virtue
Another song that would be included on the Crows' debut album in 2013. Mick played some lovely country licks on this demo that brought real colour to track and it was great to hear him playing some nice banjo, too. The song is still a prominent song in the band's live repertoire.
Destination Drive
Rox Clayton-Scott: Lead and backing vocals
Gary Virtue: Acoustic guitar
Mick Morris: Electric guitars
Aindee Price: Bass guitar
Written by Gary Virtue
A country-driven song that was actually rehearsed by the band in the very early days but never made it to the set list. Mick launched into a Chuck Berry-style guitar solo on this demo.
Show Me You Have A Heart
Rox Clayton-Scott: Lead and backing vocals
Gary Virtue: Acoustic guitar and backing vocals
Mick Morris: Electric guitars, acoustic lead guitar
Aindee Price: Bass guitar
Written by Gary Virtue
The song was originally intended to be a 'big hard rock power ballad' but changed direction in the studio and subsequently became a smooth and mellow R&B-type recording. Featuring some intricate guitar work from Mick and a lovely acoustic solo, too. The song has never been rehearsed by the Crows.
All tracks recorded, mixed and mastered by Marcus Bishop at Quantum Leap Studios, Monks Horton, Kent in March and April 2010.
Production and all programming by Marcus Bishop at Quantum Leap Studios.
(c)2010 GSV Music Publishing
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