my good buddy, Adam Renata. We’ve played together in different bands. He can play anything – a great showman.” It takes years to make full-time, regular money in Auckland as a musician, and on his journey Mike’s been a “taxi driver for people with special needs, which led to support work in social services. That led to Lifeline, to help out as a volunteer and on the peer support line, too. “Why help people?’ he asks rhetorically. “I’m a really good listener. It’s working on the phones, hearing people’s stories. I feel I can relate.” And, he has special affection for working with people with special needs or disabilities www.eastlife.co.nz
who, it seems, have paid him the touching compliment of: “We like you because you don’t label us.” Mike says: “My thoughts are that if you’re strong enough to give others a hand, you should. What’s the meaning of life? It’s to help others.” Now a community support worker for Vision West – “working with kids with autism”, he speaks highly of counsellor, Gillian Camilleri – “she’s inspiring.” Never one to let the grass grow under his feet, Beck also studied film and TV-making at Auckland University, earning an honours degree, and he smiles when mentioning his on-screen cameo in The Breaker Upperers film and working on production for Underworld III.
“I’m just out there doing it and staying with it,” he says, of his busy and varied work life. “You’ve got to keep chipping away at it and challenging yourself.” As we wind up our lengthy conversation, I have to ask: “favourite drummers?” He quickly mentions his late friend Chris Harford, and then lists Hal Blaine, DJ Fontana, Frank Gibson Jr, Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, Jeff Porcaro, and Peter Warren – “I really dig those guys”. Then there’s Steve Gadd [brought to these shores by Rodger Fox] who played shows and clinics in Auckland and Christchurch late last year. “He’s [Gadd] probably the best
all-round drummer,’ Mike says. “My favourite is Jim Keltner. I really like the artists he works with. He’s a very organic drummer and has had a long successful career.” For blues, it’s Chris Layton of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan’s band, Double Trouble, and in jazz, Elvin Jones. “I met him [Jones] in London once, at Ronnie Scott’s. He was very humble, it left an impression.” That sums up Mike Beck’s life and style, too. He’s modestly using his many talents and working hard on a creative and supportive life path which can only be ultimately satisfying. As the old lyric says, music is good for the soul.
eastlife | april 2019 Martin | 17 Photo Wayne