Michael Halloran
Age:
I just turned 53
When were you at Princethorpe - years from and to?
1970 thru 1976
At school I was known as "yank" or "yankee" or more recently as 'seppo' as in septic tank, in the cockney language.
What have you been doing since leaving Princethorpe?
While at Princethorpe my parents lived in Detroit, Michigan, I went back to live there in 1976 after O levels.
A few of us at school, Marc Marot, Simon Venus, Andy Frain and Michael Smith had started a band. We also played a few gigs outside school as well.
At that point it seems I was well entrenched in the music biz, HA! So when I returned I met up with some other mates here in the States and formed another band, THE PLUGS. we gigged around Detroit at night while I worked as a runner for a film company.
The hours I would spend in the car everyday punching around the radio dial made me miss the depth of radio on the BBC, especially John Peel. radio in the States is very segmented.
I have two sisters and one brother, in 1976 they were all still living in England and my sister, Cathy, had started working for the Virgin record label. she would send over care packages of records that Virgin had just released. i would take these records to local radio stations and try to get the 'hip' DJs to air them, most of these folks told me to get lost, but one guy, John O'Leary told me how to break into radio.
I followed his advice and slogged my way into a gig at the local public radio station.
It took a while but I finally landed a super-late night show in Detroit. Population 4.5 million, most were asleep at 1am till 3am but I got my chops.
Eventually they gave me a Friday afternoon show, and then another early evening show.
It was on this programme that this little Irish band called U2 came by and hung out to do an interview.
I was also playing REM and others that would go on to greatness. This itself led to other jobs on radio that actually paid me enough to survive.
I eventually ended up in San Diego, California, where I have been for the last 25 years.
In that time I have helped to launch the careers of JEWEL, BLINK-182, JASON MRAZ and a few others you will be hearing from later.
Here are links to a TV programme that ran here in SD a few years back.
part one:
http://youtu.be/ZN8Bti8CX2w
part two:
http://youtu.be/MLjfh1KLf6c
part three:
http://youtu.be/sn6BTtWlYWc
part four:
http://youtu.be/bEvlSuqTeQM
part five:
http://youtu.be/NdK8fgVqGZ8
part six:
http://youtu.be/_SELUZYo72M
It pretty much sums up my career to that point, and this link is the part where the musicians I have helped talk about the early years.
http://vimeo.com/27516320
What was the school like in your day?
It was very different for me considering I had come from school in the States, it took me a while to adjust, but I feel that the school was wonderful and helpful.
How did Princethorpe affect the person you are today?
Mainly it is the other students that became my lifelong friends that really made me who I am today. The education on many different levels was great, but the non academic stuff, friendships, school trips, trips to the continent to visit mate's parents and being invited by various day boys to see what real British families were like.
I learned all of the necessary lessons at school(except Chemistry), but I was given a better run at life with the knowledge I gained from actually being in England at that time.
Punk was just about to rear it's head and it was a very exciting time to be there.
What advice would you give to your teenage self?
Invent the Macintosh. I keep in contact with so many people using my mac, with photos and the like. In fact I was trying to have a video chat with Michael Nagaur the other day but his PC is useless, so no video. DRAT! But it's always the same advice I see from bands I have watched make it big. You need to take the time to actually see your surroundings and enjoy them. Smell the roses, smell the coffee, drink the coffee, hang out.
Who or what has been the greatest influence on your life?
Music, music, music and my friends.
What keeps you awake at night?
Nothing really, I tend to pack enough into a day that I sleep right through any worries. Maybe that's a problem.
What has been your proudest moment/greatest achievement so far?
My children. There is no greater reason to live a full life than that. It keeps you young, and having an amazing wife, who is also a school-teacher. She keeps my feet on the ground.
What’s your biggest indulgence?
Motorcycles. Patrick Cox another former Princethorpian and I have taken a few excursions together on our bikes.
I love getting away from it all. The mobile doesn't ring, you are in the middle of nowhere. Soon I hope that Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman will invite me on their next adventure. I will bring a solar powered ipod.
If you had to have one last meal, what would it be?
The meal wouldn't be important, but the people I have it with would be.
What is your favourite TV Show and why?
The one I am developing.... http://vimeo.com/25005118
If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be and who would be with you?
I would be right here in La Jolla, California, I love it here.... but I would invite all my friends from school to see it, some have been here, but not all.
Lasting memories of Princethorpe:
All of the teachers really, Mr Rex, Ms Devries, Madame Jones, Mr Clarke, Ted, Bernie, Taff, Cluck, Alex Darkes.... i could go on forever.....Rugby in the cold, but mainly the lasting friendships, they will go on 'til my last breath.
Are you in touch with any other Old Princethorpians, if so whom?
Yes, Peter Rollason (my first true friend ever), Marc Marot, Patrick Cox, Andy Frain, Michael Nagaur, Simon Venus, Richard Winn, Michael Smith, Marcus Smith, Ernie Springley, Nigel Keckford, Mick Glynn, Anil Patel, Dinu Patel, Wayne Olerenshaw, Stephen Coyle, Warren Lamond, Bill Franklin, I am running out of space...
Is there anyone you would like to track down?
Mickey Hindley. I saw him in London ages ago... but he has gone underground..... such a nice guy. One of the best humans on the planet.
Hey Mickey! Where are you?
