Mickey Jupp - Up Snakes Down Ladders

How Mickey Jupp Found Contentment In The Lake District

Words & Photography by Alan Bambrough

If you have been brave enough to take on the challenge of driving England’s steepest road, Hardknott Pass, then as the elevation and blood pressure gradually drops to safer levels, you will find yourself in the tiny village of Boot.

Pop into The Boot Inn for a wee something to settle the nerves and with luck, you can catch sight of the figure of an old man, quietly sipping on his pint of Dizzy Blonde. This might be Mickey Jupp.

Born in Sussex during the last months of World War Two, Mickey Jupp started his musical journey in the early 60’s around Southend-On-Sea and was a hugely influential figure in the UK R&B and Pub Rock scene in the 70’s. His British R&B outfit, Legend, recorded three albums for Bell Records & Vertigo, including the famous Red Boot album, which inspired future legends such as Paul Weller, Dr Feelgood, the Kursaal Flyers and pioneered the whole pub rock movement.

Legend split up in 1972, just a handful of months before the pub rock scene really gained momentum in the London venues and music media. This same pub rock scene that was the incubator for the punk movement that was to explode into being in 1976, nurturing musicians such as Joe Strummer and Ian Dury.

As Jupp is occasionally heard to mutter, “That’s the story of my life”.

Ever the reluctant pop star, Mickey Jupp then spent a few happy years well away from the world of music, contentedly working in a builders’ merchant, before being persuaded to form a band again by Lee Brilleaux, of the then hugely successful Dr Feelgood.

A solo career followed for Mickey, with albums released on big record companies such as A&M, Chrysalis & Stiff, as label after label tried to introduce Mickey Jupp’s incredible ability as a songwriter and singer to the masses. Sales success never really materialised, despite working with producers such as Nick Lowe, Mike Vernon (Fleetwood Mac), Godley & Crème (10CC), Tony Visconti (David Bowie) and Francis Rossi (Status Quo). Critically acclaimed albums released with little chart impact.

“A star who, for some reason known only to God and the fates, has been passed over while lesser men achieve fame” - NME

Despite being described by the iconic guitarist and some time Game of Thrones executioner, Wilko Johnson as “… the best white singer I’ve ever heard”, it is as a songwriter that Mickey has found greater success.

Over the years, Mickey Jupp songs have been recorded by artists ranging from Dr Feelgood, Elkie Brooks, Ricky Nelson, The Judds, Gary Brooker, Chris Farlowe, Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe.

In 1983 his brother offered Mickey the chance to live in a little cottage in Eskdale. The young Jupp boys spent many a happy holiday staying with their Grandmother in the Lake District, so he moved to Boot and never looked back. At that time, in the music industry, you were supposed to ‘stay close to London’, but once more, Mickey turned his back on show-business.

Nestled in the beautiful valley of Eskdale, Boot has less than 20 permanent residents and is the perfect place for a man who has never actually wanted to be famous.

“All I’ve ever really wanted to do is write songs” says Mickey Jupp.

So for a few years he ran his little art gallery in Boot, but all the while was still writing and recording his songs using primitive equipment at home.

Over the decades, this has resulted in Mickey amassing well over 500 new songs at his cottage in the Lake District. The vintage equipment did not stop him in crafting exquisite recordings that showcase his stunningly soulful vocals, subtle guitar work and tasteful piano playing. His razor sharp wit and cunning wordplay is evident in each, perfectly pitched line.

To raise much needed funds, from time to time Jupp would compile some of these recordings and burn them onto CDRs for sale to his fans through Facebook.

It was these humble, home made releases that came to the attention of a little independent record label that felt these recordings and songs were far too good to be restricted to a small corner of the Lake District.

Long time admirers of Mickey Jupp, Conquest Music had been trying to persuade him for years to let them make this treasure trove of amazing songs available to the wider world.

Mickey finally relented, but only on condition that there will be little promotion, no touring and no appearances on TV. Not even ‘Later… With Jools Holland’, who might cast an appreciative eye at Mickey’s deft Boogie Woogie piano licks.

“The money was useful, but the most important thing was to find a good home for the songs.”

Up Snakes, Down Ladders is the first new studio album from Mickey Jupp in nearly four decades, and is the first part of a series of lovingly re-mastered and curated collections of his home recordings called The Boot Legacy. This series will be released by Conquest Music on CD, and through the digital services.

Early reviews have been nothing short of spectacular:

“Not a wasted word nor a pointless chord. Mickey Jupp is a total original.”

His soulful voice, even at 78 years old, is sweeter than it ever was, and his song-writing skill, like that of only the finest of wines, just gets better over the years.

So back in that quiet corner of The Boot Inn sits the cult songwriter, Guv’nor of the Southend Scene and Pioneer of Pub Rock, Mickey Jupp.

Maybe he is overhearing a word or phrase that he might craft into another lyrical gem. Perhaps working on that elusive third verse. Or is he just thinking about his beloved Shrimpers, Southend United?

The man who never wanted to be famous, here in the Lake District has found something close to contentment.

Looking out of the window he muses, “look at the beautiful hills. After nearly 40 years I still think - wow, I live here.”

Up Snakes, Down Ladders is available now on CD and Digital services via Conquest Music. Volume 2 of the Boot Legacy series is “Hallelujah To Amen” and is released December 2022. www.conquestmusic.co.uk