Micko Larkin
Encyclopedia
Michael Joseph "Micko" Larkin (born 13 October 1986, Hammersmith
, London
) is an English
musician of Irish
background, most notable as the lead guitar
ist of the indie rock
band Larrikin Love
and more recently, Hole
.
. In 2005, he formed the short-lived Larrikin Love
with vocalist Edward Larrikin
, bassist Alfie Ambrose and drummer, Coz Kerrigan
. The band — considered by English music magazine NME
as part of the fictional "Thamesbeat scene" — released one album during their career, The Freedom Spark
and six singles. Larrikin Love disbanded on 4 May 2007, due to the group's members embarking on other musical projects.
frontwoman, Courtney Love
. Mairead Nash, manager of indie pop
group Florence + the Machine recommended Larkin to Love in June 2007, and after his audition became lead guitarist of Love's solo group, unofficially titled The Courtney Love Band. Larkin joined Love's band alongside bassist Patricia "Pato" Vidal, drummer Stu Fisher
, pianist Bethia Beadman, and rhythm guitarist Liam Wade. Love and the band embarked on a short tour of the United Kingdom in 2007, including one additional date in Paris, France, in July 2007.
On 17 June 2009, Love and Larkin announced the reunion of Love's former band Hole via an NME
webblog
. Larkin replaced former guitarist and Hole co-founder Eric Erlandson
on lead guitar. In the following months, Erlandson and former bassist, Melissa Auf der Maur
claimed no reunion could take place due to a contract Love and Erlandson signed in 2002 after the band's initial split which stated that the name Hole could not be used by either without mutual involvement. Despite this, Hole's reunion proceeded.
Hole's fourth studio album, Nobody's Daughter
, featured Larkin on lead guitar, as co-producer and as main co-writer on four tracks, also adding additional parts to previously-written songs such as "Pacific Coast Highway
" and "Samantha
." Larkin is currently touring with Hole.
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
background, most notable as the lead guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist of the indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Larrikin Love
Larrikin Love
Larrikin Love were an English four piece indie rock band from London.Consisting of Edward Larrikin , Micko Larkin , Alfie Ambrose and Coz Kerrigan , and also occasionally including violinist Rob Skipper from The Holloways or roving violinist Jonnie Fielding, the band were briefly described as...
and more recently, Hole
Hole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
.
Early life and career (1986—2006)
Larkin was born to Irish parentsIrish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
. In 2005, he formed the short-lived Larrikin Love
Larrikin Love
Larrikin Love were an English four piece indie rock band from London.Consisting of Edward Larrikin , Micko Larkin , Alfie Ambrose and Coz Kerrigan , and also occasionally including violinist Rob Skipper from The Holloways or roving violinist Jonnie Fielding, the band were briefly described as...
with vocalist Edward Larrikin
Edward Larrikin
Edward Eke is an English musician, performer, writer and curator. He co-runs the independent film company 'Machine Channel. He was the lead singer and musician for the band Larrikin Love and now releases music under the guise The Pan I Am...
, bassist Alfie Ambrose and drummer, Coz Kerrigan
Coz Kerrigan
Cathal Kerrigan, nicknamed Coz, was the drummer of the band Larrikin Love. He is currently a member of the Twickenham-based band Marner BrownCoz has a child called Siercha....
. The band — considered by English music magazine NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
as part of the fictional "Thamesbeat scene" — released one album during their career, The Freedom Spark
The Freedom Spark
The Freedom Spark is the sole album by Larrikin Love. It was released on 25 September 2006.-Track listing:# "The Spark"# "Six Queens"# "Edwould"# "Downing Street Kindling"# "Happy As Annie"# "Meet Me By The Getaway Car"# "At The Feet Of Ré"...
and six singles. Larrikin Love disbanded on 4 May 2007, due to the group's members embarking on other musical projects.
As guitarist for Courtney Love and Hole reunion (2007—present)
After Larrikin Love's split, Larkin moved to Los Angeles to work with former HoleHole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
frontwoman, Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
. Mairead Nash, manager of indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
group Florence + the Machine recommended Larkin to Love in June 2007, and after his audition became lead guitarist of Love's solo group, unofficially titled The Courtney Love Band. Larkin joined Love's band alongside bassist Patricia "Pato" Vidal, drummer Stu Fisher
Stu Fisher
Stuart "Stu" Fisher is an English musician, notable for being the current drummer of alternative rock band Hole. Prior to becoming a member of Hole, Fisher was also the drummer of English psychedelic rock band Ozric Tentacles and also Fingermonster...
, pianist Bethia Beadman, and rhythm guitarist Liam Wade. Love and the band embarked on a short tour of the United Kingdom in 2007, including one additional date in Paris, France, in July 2007.
On 17 June 2009, Love and Larkin announced the reunion of Love's former band Hole via an NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
webblog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
. Larkin replaced former guitarist and Hole co-founder Eric Erlandson
Eric Erlandson
Eric Erlandson is an American musician known as the co-founder, former songwriter and lead guitarist of alternative rock band Hole.-Early life and career:...
on lead guitar. In the following months, Erlandson and former bassist, Melissa Auf der Maur
Melissa Auf der Maur
Melissa Auf der Maur is a Canadian rock musician from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her career has included 5 years as bassist with the band Hole and she later toured with The Smashing Pumpkins for their 2000 tour. Her second solo album, Out of Our Minds, was released on March 30, 2010. She is also a...
claimed no reunion could take place due to a contract Love and Erlandson signed in 2002 after the band's initial split which stated that the name Hole could not be used by either without mutual involvement. Despite this, Hole's reunion proceeded.
Hole's fourth studio album, Nobody's Daughter
Nobody's Daughter
Nobody's Daughter is the fourth studio album by alternative rock band Hole, released worldwide on April 27, 2010 through Mercury Records. The album was originally conceived by Hole frontwoman Courtney Love as a solo project titled How Dirty Girls Get Clean, following her poorly-received solo debut...
, featured Larkin on lead guitar, as co-producer and as main co-writer on four tracks, also adding additional parts to previously-written songs such as "Pacific Coast Highway
Pacific Coast Highway (song)
"Pacific Coast Highway" is the fifteenth single from alternative rock group Hole. It is the second single from the band's fourth studio album Nobody's Daughter...
" and "Samantha
Samantha (Hole song)
"Samantha" is a song by alternative rock band Hole, written by vocalist Courtney Love, The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and music producer Linda Perry. The song was featured on the band's fourth studio album, Nobody's Daughter, in 2010...
." Larkin is currently touring with Hole.