I met Mike in 1977 at Brynowen camp in Wales while on holiday. We had some wonderful times together and the memories, music and laughs I will always cherish. It wont be the same without him he was a big part of my life and always will be. Until we meet again love you always Glad xxx

Mike was our very special stepdad and was a big part of our lives for over thirty years. Mike met our mum Martha at Brynowen holiday camp and came to live with us in Birmingham. We have so many brilliant memories when he came to our school sports day and ran in the dads race Mike as usual gave us the best laugh falling head first and rolling to the finishing line. All the brilliant holidays and christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Irwin. Our grandad lived with us Mike was very close to him and called him the old wazzick. Mike was a great man and brought us so much pleasure and fun whenever we needed for anything while we were growing up he was always there for us. We are who we are today because of Mike and the influence he had in our lives. Be missed eternally Ginaxxx Donnaxxx Billyxxx

A great drummer and a great guy will be sadly missed by all his mates, I will never for forget good memories of playing with Mick in Say No More, many good nights out watching other bands and having a laugh, a talented drummer and a good mate.

Chris Camm

Mike was going out with my mum carol booth for about 7 years and had played a big part in our lifes he was a funny man and spent many a weekend having a b,b,q in the back garden at my mums having a laugh with some of his frends john, ann, and my mum and sometimes me. mike and my mum went on many great holidays, thay went on a 2 week cruise earlyer this year and loved it. we have some great memories of a much loved man, may he rest in peace. xxx

I am Micheals cousin Anne, (Sheree's mum). A long, long time ago - in another time - in another place (1970's Liverpool) Michael became a major player in my life. It was a seriously bad time for me, so without going into detail I have tried to express some of the emotion of that time, and my tribute to a man I was proud to call my mate, playmate,ship mate and a soul mate. I shall miss him not being in my life, I always thought we would grow old, very disgracefully together.

In despair, you were there
I was lost, you found me.
I was down, you raised me up,
I was sad, you made me laugh.
My life was in bits, you gave it me back.

I shall never forget all the happy times we shared, the music, the jokes, the jollies,the walks, the tall ships, but most of all, the love we shared, they will always remain in my heart, as will you. As you once said, "We don't say goodbye."

It's great to see the tributes coming in for Mick mainly the early years and the latter years. I'm wondering is their anyone out there who used to know Mick and work with him in the period from Mid 70's to early 2000's. Mick did drum for comedy band The Silly Billies and later for a Duo. I know he worked alot abroad and UK coastal venues with that band. (I think they were based in Blackpool or Birmingham) Recently Mick used to talk about a distant relation from Liverpool who wrote songs and performed for the Zutons. (Valerie etc).His claim to Fame!!

Ken Cook (Strange Days & Six Across)

MICK IRWIN

IT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT EXAGERATION TO SAY THAT I KNEW MICK IRWIN WELL. YES I HAD SEEN HIM OVER THE YEARS PERFORMING MOST SIGNIFICANTLY IN 2002 AT THE BIG BEAT BASH AT THE LOCARNO.
THAT WAS A GREAT NIGHT AND ENCOURAGED MANY OF US WHO HAD BEEN IN MUSICAL RETIREMENT SINCE THE 60,S TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD. THE VIBRONS BEING ONE OF THESE MANY RE BORN BANDS. THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO AND RECENTLY TONY OR DRUMER HAS HAD TO TAKE A BREAK, AND THIS IS WHERE THE STORY REALLY STARTS. WE ASKED MICK IRWIN IF HE WOULD SIT IN WITH US HE SAID YES AND PLAYED TWO GIGS WITH US THE LATEST BEING AT BROMFIELD HALL ON SATURAY 19TH SEPTEMBER. MICK WAS A REAL PRO. HE FITTED IN STRAIGHT AWAY AND HAD NO TROUBLE WITH OUR PLAY LIST. MICK HAD A VERY DRY SENCE OF HUMOUR AND CAUGHT ME OUT ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. BUT ALTHOUGH I ONLY NEW HIM FOR SHORT TIME, HE WAS A GOOD GUY AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE THE BAND HE PLAYED HIS LAST GIG WITH. GRAHAM NORMAN THE VIBRONS.

Michael was my mum's cousin. My memories of him are mainly from my childhood when he would come to visit and sit me on his knee telling me stories about 'Prince Michael' and 'Princess Sheri!' He made me laugh, but more importantly, I remember how he made my mum laugh through some quite tough times. I know that memories of him will make us both laugh for a long time to come.

Once upon a memory of princes and chivalric knights,
Lived a man who left an imprint on my mind,
An imprint filled with happiness, laughter and fun,
Where reality and fantasy entwined.
My memories are distant, but oh, so very strong,
As the 'magic' he crated stays with me,
But there's an empty void within my thoughts today,
Where the 'happy ever afters' used to be.

Goodnight 'Prince Michael,' you will be dearly missed xxx

I have known Mick since the 60`s when we where in bands. Lost contact until the Big Beat Bash and later he was the Vibrons stand in drummer for several gigs.
Performed with us on 19th September ( had a meal and a laugh ) and spoke to him on 21st. Great fun guy, totally reliable and excellant drummer.
Sad Loss

Mick Asprey (Jasper ) Vibrons Bassman

Mick came to play with The Renegades towards the end of 1961... from The Electrons I think. My memories are that Mick was a good solid drummer, utterly reliable and great fun. He could tell tall stories and make them utterly believable, stage performances were never dull with Mick even at the worst of gigs. Instant (old) memories of MIck include:
1 - Unloading the gear from the back of the van outside a pub at the top of a hill, Mick's drum falling out of the van, rolling down the hill, Mick chasing it with much vocalising (he was no runner!).
2 - In the van on a gig complaining of feeling sick after syphoning petrol out of his tank (why?). We didn't show much sympathy as I recall but realised later that he was ill although he played the night as good as ever, just less laughs.
3 - At another gig, falling off his drum stool in the middle of a song and not able to get up as he was laughing too much... I think we carried on playing.
Funny how the little things stay in memory.
God bless Mick and thanks.
Ray of The Renegades

I first played with Mick for a while for RUFUS REBELS in 64 then a few years later in IMAGINATION, who were one of the first bands to feature all original Material winning Derbyshire groups contest 1968 after progressing from playing soul standards. It was Mick who pushed me to start writing music for the band. In 68 it was Mick who inspired the name and formation for my current band STRANGE DAYS, with his love of West Coast Music and Jazz Rock and keyboard rock music. He had a good ear for new and progressive music and kept in tune with what was on the music scene. We got back together for the BBB in 2002 and recently have played together with Six Across. He's also done the odd stand in with my current band. I am sure all of us who knew Mick will sadly miss his dry ,cheeky sence of humour and whenever Mick was performing there would be a comment made by him about any musician he knew who was in the audience! There was no escape! Let's not forget Mick , he was a one off and loyal to the live music scene.

Ken Cook

It is with great sadness to learn of Mick's sudden death. I first met Mick in the mid-60s when he came to audition for Six Across in the upstairs room at the Crown at Allenton. When we asked him what his favourite artist was he played all around his kit and then said, 'Wilson Pickett, man!' Then, he did it all over again. He didn't get the job!

However, when the re-formed Six Across was searching for a replacement drummer in 2007 Mick was asked to join and was welcomed with open arms. This time around he said, 'After 40 years I finally got the job!' What a star you are, Mick - I'll not forget you or your wicked sense of humour, mate. Thanks for sharing your life with me, even for such a short time.

Graham Newton - guitar and vocals, Six Across.

25th September 2009, 9pm, that's when I called to pick Mick up, we were going to see Ray Hatfield at the 'Dev' and then onto Shardlow Marina to see our old band member Kev Busby play, we didn't make it...

I've known Mick for about 10 years and we became close friends with a shared passion for live music, if we weren't playing together we would usually go to see some band or other on a Friday or Saturday night. Mick loved music and loved playing his battered old Pearl kit which always sat on the same bit of old carpet he took to every gig he played. During my time playing with him, he always took on the role of MC, regaling the audience in between numbers with his risque sense of humour and the inevitable statement he nearly always came out with, "ladies & gentlemen, the landlord has just passed a new rule and it is now OK for you to buy the band a drink", it even worked a couple of times.

He will be greatly missed by his many friends and the local music community, keep rockin' Mick.

Geoff Charlesworth, Bass Player

I first came in contact with Mick when he joined myself, Ray Hitchcock and Baz Anderson in The Renegades back in the early 60's, a real popular time for bands.

We enjoyed one anothers company for around 4 years with Mick who's wicked sense of humour was infectious and gave us many a good laugh.
I then made contact with Mick again when I asked him if he would gig alongside myself Ray and Baz to help celebrate my 60th. He had no hesitation in agreeing to the one off gig. Mick hadn't changed in all those years, the same irrepressible guy. The only addition was his nickname of Basher.

Finally our paths crossed again as recently as July when in an emergency Mick stood in, without rehearsal, with our latest venture as Real Deal which included Graham (Newt) Newton, Rod and Jules Horne, Baz Anderson.
As good and solid as ever we had a great night, so it came as a big shock to hear the news about Mick.
He will be sadly missed.
No doubt he will be amusing someone up there with his stories and living up to his nickname of BASHER.

RIP Mick

Graham Pickering