Morgan Fisher
Stephen Morgan Fisher (born 1 January 1950) is an English keyboard player and composer, and is most known as a member of Mott the Hoople in the early 1970s. However, his career has covered a wide range of musical activities, and he is still active in the music industry. In recent years he has expanded into photography.
For the American experimental filmmaker and artist, see Morgan Fisher (artist).
Morgan Fisher
Stephen Morgan Fisher
1 January 1950
Middlesex Hospital, London, England
Musician
Keyboards
1960s–present
Music career[edit]
Love Affair and Mott the Hoople: 1966–1976[edit]
From 1966 to 1970, he played the organ with the soul/pop band the Soul Survivors, who in 1967 renamed themselves Love Affair. They had a number one hit single in 1968 with "Everlasting Love", while Fisher was taking a break from the band to complete his final year at Hendon County Grammar school: "I joined the band when I was still at school, and then various people convinced me I ought to stay at school to finish my 'A' Levels. So I left them for about six months, during which time they had a number one hit. I had no plan to come back, but after they had a number one hit".[1]
In late 1968, Fisher asked a friend of his to write a letter to Love Affair to give them an update on his personal life, writing that Morgan was out of school now. The band sent a letter back to Fisher, asking him if he wanted to rejoin the group, as they weren't really getting along with Lynton Guest and were wanting him replaced. Morgan was in Love Affair again, and was so until 1971.[2]
When Fisher left Love Affair in 1971, he formed the progressive rock band called Morgan, with singer Tim Staffell (the lead singer of the band Smile, who later became Queen) and Love Affair drummer Maurice Bacon.[3] They only released one albumm Nova Solis, in 1972, before disbanding in 1973. A second album, "The Sleeper Wakes", recorded in 1973, was released in 1976.[4]
From 1973 to 1976, after a brief liaison with Third Ear Band, he joined British rock band Mott the Hoople.[5] Morgan was known for his eccentric black suit jacket with piano keys styled on the suit lapels. Meanwhile, Fisher contributed keyboards to John Fiddler's Medicine Head.
Personal life[edit]
In the late 70s/early 80s, Fisher took a three-year "sabbatical", spending time in India, Belgium, and the US, studying meditation, vegetarianism and macrobiotics. This led to his 1984 move to Japan, where he still lives.
Fisher shared a flat with Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs in Rusthall Avenue in Chiswick in 1973, then in 1976 moved to Canada Road, Acton, London and in 1978 to Linden Gardens in Notting Hill.