When I asked Mike to write a bio for this website this is how he began it -

 

Mike Lea has a very good memory which helps him remember how long he has been playing guitar, for most of that time in bands.

 

Which sums up his dry English wit because there is probably no chance of him telling us how long he has been playing guitar! My best guess is that it has probably been five decades. I base that on his early photos and the fact that you can’t get as good as he is without a lifetime of experience!

 

Many of the photos show his band from those early years. All except the singer were Metropolitan Police constables working at Paddington in England. As Mike tells it, an electric band was quite a novelty (it was before The Rolling Stones!!!) and a band comprising coppers was unique! They got HEAPS of work.

 

After emigrating to New Zealand in 1990 Mike has played lead and rhythm guitar in a number of popular bands including Last Chance, Runaway, Green Gecko Soup (really!) The Karen Davey Band, Blonde Moments/Driftwood, The Shadz and several others. Mike also enjoys jazz and popular music, has played country and folk and has a great love of classical. He has had a successful collaboration with a lady partner doing the restaurant/café scene.

 

Since the very early days he has played Hank Marvin’s music. This has been with a tribute band and as a one-man-act using Shadows tracks.

 

Having grown up in the age of Rock ‘n’ Roll, this is his staple music-food, but he can and will turn his hand to virtually any genre (although Rap is a little outside his comfort zone!)