Micky Jones

Micky Jones was born on 7 June 1946 in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, and became one of Welsh rock music's most enduring figures as the guitarist, singer and only constant member of the band Man from its formation in 1968 until his departure in 2002. Man built a devoted following through relentless touring and a reputation for extended, improvisational live sets that drew comparisons to American jam bands, all while staying proudly rooted in their Welsh identity.

Jones' tenor voice, often likened to that of Frankie Valli, anchored Man's sound across a run of albums through the 1970s that built the band a cult status in the UK rock scene and beyond. He remained the group's creative backbone through numerous line-up changes, keeping Man a going concern for over three decades through sheer graft and dedication to the road.

In 2002 Jones was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and by 2005 his health had deteriorated to the point where he was forced to leave the band he had led for so long. He spent his final years in a care home in Swansea, where he died on 10 March 2010 at the age of 63. His death was mourned across the Welsh music scene as the loss of one of its most committed and long-serving figures.