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“Iceman”, which came out, I think, on Pointblank Records. A black and white photo of Albert Collins with the
Telecaster and I eventually saved up my pocket money to buy a copy of that and that was the next thing - kind
of like a light going on. Like a kinda thunderbolt [chuckling]. I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was
unbelievable.

BiTS: Tell me how you got the nickname Mississippi.

MM: The reason was that I was the only kid at school who could spell it [laughing] and who knew where it
was. So it was that. I certainly don’t claim to be from Mississippi. It’s more of a kind of oblique thing, but I also
when I got a little older, I had the chance to go over and be there - I’ve been to Memphis and down to
Clarksdale - and go and see it. It’s definitely not me claiming to be from there. It’s more kind of representative
of what I’m passionate about.

BiTS: You clearly when you started playing eventually got in with a band. What was the first band playing?

MM: That’s a good question. Weirdly, I was at school
with Seth Lakeman and there were a few of us who
were playing, so I jammed with him a couple of times
and then it was that kind of indie era and so we had a
band at school. I can’t even remember what it was
called to be honest, but then one of my best friends,
Adam, his folks had a band that did all the holiday
camps and toured round and so when everyone else
had a Saturday job delivering papers or working in a
shop, I would go out and tour round and we did all
kinds of fantastic places. Country festivals, Butlins,
Pontins, British Legion clubs, music clubs, pubs and it
was brilliant, about three or four nights a week. I was
only pretty young, but it was learning how to do it. It
was a great time. A really good time.
BiTS: How long was it before you considered yourself
to become a professional?

MM: I don’t know. I’ve still got a day job to make the
ends meet and keep up the repayments on those
Stratocasters. They don’t come cheap, but I don’t really
know. It’s something I’ve been doing for ages. It’s really in the last year or so that
things have really taken off, but there were a bunch of albums before that and a
load of gigs and what have you, so I suppose I’ve always done it. It’s been a
consuming part of my life and I have as much passion and interest for it now as I
did back on Thursday the 8th of November 1991 [chuckles].

BiTS: You obviously went to the States at some time and you list on your website
meeting Pinetop Perkins and Willie Big Eyes Smith and a number of other people. How did that come about?
Did you go on a tour, or what?

MM: Yes, that was amazing. I’d been over a few times. I’d done the blues trail a bit and I met Pinetop and Willie
Big Eyes Smith at Antone’s (San Antonio) and it was a January evening and there were literally about ten of us
in the club and they came in and they were amazing, just brilliant—real old school and I took my wife as well. I
think it was probably her first proper blues gig and what a one to go to. Pinetop, I think he would have been at
least 90 by then and they kind of led him in the corner just smoking, looking really cool. But I spoke to Willie
Big Eyes Smith a bit and he was lovely. Somewhere I’ve got a lovely photo of me and him and he just kind of
radiated kindness. He was a wonderful guy and they’ve both passed on now, which is really sad, but they were
the real deal, right?
BiTS: How did you get to assist with the gravestone for O.V. Wright?

MM: That’s one of the things I’m most proud of. After a while, you go on your musical journey, I discovered the
sound of Hi Records out of Memphis and most people know Al Green—who was Hi—and Ann Peebles. A few