Mike Rowe (born 1970) also credited as Mikey Rowe is a British musician. He was a member of Oasis from 1996–2002 and Sheryl Crow's touring band from 1999–2010. He has been the keyboardist for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds from 2011. The band won a Q Award in 2015 for the album Chasing Yesterday.

Early life

Rowe was born in 1970 in Buckinghamshire, England. He grew up in Aston Clinton, in a musical household and his two older brothers are musicians. Rowe began playing piano at the age of two or three, learning by ear along to Beatles records; self-taught, he doesn't read music. Rowe attended Aylesbury Grammar School. In Aylesbury, he played in the band "The Advocates".

Career

Early career (1994–1996)

Rowe was a founding member of the glam rock group, Rachel Stamp, joining after answering an advertisement in the Melody Maker. He earned a reputation as a session player in the London music scene. Rowe played with others including Future Sound of London.

Oasis (1996–2002)

Rowe joined Oasis in 1996, shortly after the release of (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. His first appearance with the band was at the Royal Festival Hall, London on 23 August 1996 for an MTV Unplugged concert. At the time, Rowe was not expected to continue playing with the band. However, Noel Gallagher then invited Rowe to record with him at Abbey Road Studios, beginning a 30 year working relationship.

During his six years with Oasis, the band released Be Here Now (1997), Standing on the Shoulder of Giants (2000), Heathen Chemistry (2002), Don't Believe the Truth (2005) and the compilation The Masterplan (1998). He also appeared on the BBC's Later... with Jools Holland on 1 April 2000.

He departed the band in 2002 and was replaced by Jay Darlington.

Sheryl Crow touring band (1999–2010)

In 1999, while still working with Oasis, Rowe began performing with Sheryl Crow, starting with the Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live from Central Park concert on 14 September 1999. In 2009, he celebrated 10 years with the band. He left Oasis to join Crow's band full-time. He was with the band for eleven years.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (2011–present)

Rowe was one of the first musicians that Noel Gallagher recruited for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds after Oasis disbanded in 2009. Rowe has played keyboards on the group's albums Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (2011), Chasing Yesterday (2015), Who Built the Moon? (2017), and Council Skies (2023).

In 2018, Rowe appeared in the Apple TV+ documentary, Once in a Lifetime Sessions with Noel Gallagher. On the 2023 tour, Gallagher frequently played an acoustic version of the song Dead In The Water, accompanied solely by Rowe.

In addition to studio recording, Rowe serves as the musical director for the band's live performances.

Other session work

Rowe has recorded with artists including David Gilmour, Mick Jagger, Ed Sheeran, Stevie Nicks, Nas, Damian Marley, and Stereophonics.

He contributed to the SuperHeavy (2011) project, featuring Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Damian Marley, and A. R. Rahman. He played keyboards on Stevie Nicks's In Your Dreams (2011), David Gilmour's Rattle That Lock (2015), Ed Sheeran's ÷ album (2017), and four Stereophonics albums (2013–2022). He was also the organist on the soundtrack for the film The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020).

In 2016, he was the keyboardist on Druv Kent's single "What It's All About".

Discography

With Oasis

Year Title Role 1996 MTV Unplugged (released 2021) Keyboards, piano 1997 Be Here Now Keyboards 1998 The Masterplan Keyboards 2000 Standing on the Shoulder of Giants Keyboards 2002 Heathen Chemistry Piano 2005 Don't Believe the Truth Keyboards

With Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Year Title Role 2011 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds Keyboards 2015 Chasing Yesterday Keyboards 2017 Who Built the Moon? Additional keyboards 2021 Back the Way We Came: Vol. 1 (2011–2021) Keyboards 2023 Council Skies Keyboards

With Sheryl Crow

Year Title Role 1999 Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live from Central Park Keyboards 2008 Detours Flute sample, sampler

Other selected credits

Year Artist Title Role 2010 Nas & Damian Marley Distant Relatives Keyboards 2011 SuperHeavy SuperHeavy Keyboards, organ, piano, synthesizer 2011 Stevie Nicks In Your Dreams Keyboards 2012 Bill Fay Life Is People Hammond organ, Rhodes, Mellotron, Wurlitzer 2015 David Gilmour Rattle That Lock Keyboards 2017 Ed Sheeran ÷ (Divide) Keyboards 2020 The Trial of the Chicago 7 Soundtrack Organist

References

Notes

External links