Mike Taylor with Mick Box!
Hello, I'm Mike Taylor, well to be exact my first name is William but I prefer my middle name. I was born 28th June 1957 and I spent my first 8 years of life in Germany, Singapore and Penang which is a small Island off the west coast of Malaya.
In 1970 I moved with my parents to Andover which is in the county of Hampshire in the UK and found myself living a few doors away from Paul Newton who we all know was the original Heep bass player. This was late summer 1970 and Heep had just released Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble, so I suppose that makes me an "Ancient Heepster". From my front window I could watch people walk up and down our road and on a number of occasions I watched the band walk past. Being aged 13 you can imagine the effect this had on me and I've been a fan ever since.
In 1996 I bought a computer and checked out all things Heep and followed the progress of the website. Then in 1998 I was invited to join the Heepsters mailing list and have since enjoyed corresponding with and meeting a truly great bunch of people. I have also been privileged to rub shoulders with Heep themselves on a number of memorable occasions.
I now live on the Isle of Wight, which is a small island just off the south coast of England. I'm sure many of you have heard of it from the famous 1970 rock festival. My partner, Denise, and I have lived together since 1997. We got married in California on Nov 10th, 2001. Fellow Heepster Dale Fredericks who lives in California was my best man. Proof that we Heepsters are without doubt one big family.
I work as a Sales Manager at a Hyundai and Daihatsu car dealership on the Isle of Wight. My interests outside of Heep are HiFi, Motor Racing, in particular F1, and Ice Hockey. Ice Hockey is thriving here in the Uk and we have great team here on the Island who play in the English Premier League. Oh yes, I've also taken up Bass guitar and enjoy playing with my band as often as I can.
I have 3 children, Sian born in 1976, Kieran -1979 and Kirsty -1982. Kirsty
is the only one still living at home.
Like most of you I'm looking forward to the next episode in the Heep story. If the past year is anything to go by, it's going to be quite something.
Mike Taylor
wmtaylor57@aol.com
