RIGHT SAID 'FRED

Paul Jones celebrates the 60th anniversary of the band formerly known as Manfred Mann, with help from Mike d’Abo and guitarist Tom McGuinness. Man in the middle: Michael Heatley

Manfred Mann are one of those 60s bands whose second life has lasted much longer than their first. Formed in 1962, they failed to see out the decade – yet a reunion on guitarist Tom McGuinness’s 50th birthday in 1992 saw them reborn as a popular heritage act. They’re unique in featuring both of their lead singers, Paul Jones (1962-66) and Mike d’Abo (1966-69), as well as McGuinness and, until recent hearing issues, drummer-keyboardist Mike Hugg.

They’ll be hitting the road in the UK in September for their 60th Anniversary Tour, and McGuinness admits he enjoys it more now than in the Manfreds’ heyday. “I got into being in a band to play music live, not to make records,” he says. “We are able to indulge in a little bit of blues, a little bit of jazz and a lot of hits, which is what the package will be when we go out this Autumn.”

Manfred Mann’s early success was based on Jones’ boyish good looks and a string of bluesbased hit singles. The introduction of d’Abo saw them move to pop-based fare and score worldwide in 1968 with the definitive version of Bob Dylan’s Mighty Quinn, but they remained wedded to the 7” vinyl format and recording songs from outside writers. The combination of these factors hastened their demise – but their classic pop songs still strike a chord with audiences of all ages six decades on.

The band began life as the Mann-Hugg Jazz Quartet, led by keyboardist Manfred Mann and featuring Mike Hugg. A namechange to the Mann-Hugg Blues Band indicated a shift in direction, while a further re-christening came at record-label EMI’s request when Paul Jones (born Paul Pond) joined the titular duo as lead singer/harmonica player; Dave Richmond (bass) and Mike Vickers (guitar, sax) made up the quintet.