Mick Jones (Foreigner guitarist)
Michael Leslie "Mick" Jones (born 27 December 1944) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer best known as the founding member of the rock band Foreigner. Prior to Foreigner, he was in the band Spooky Tooth.
Life and career
Michael Leslie Jones was born in Somerton, Somerset. He began his music career in the early 1960s as a member of the band Nero and the Gladiators, who scored two minor British hit singles in 1961. After the demise of the band, Jones worked as a songwriter and session musician in France for such artists as Sylvie Vartan and Johnny Hallyday ("The French Elvis"), for whom he wrote many songs, including "Je suis né dans la rue" and "À tout casser" (which features Jimmy Page on guitar). When The Beatles toured France in 1964, they befriended Mick when Hallyday played on the same bill as they did.
After leaving France to return to his home country, Jones joined Gary Wright, formerly of the band Spooky Tooth, to form Wonderwheel in 1971. In 1972 Jones and Wright reformed Spooky Tooth, and after this Jones was a member of the Leslie West Band. He also played guitar on the albums Wind of Change (1972) for Peter Frampton, and Dark Horse (1974) for George Harrison.
