Writers:
Gary Matthews [Stan]
Steve Wilson
Glenn Jones
Guests:
Mick Rossi – Lead Guitar
Mike O’Donoghue – Vocals
Steve Wilson – Bass, Backing Vocals
V2:
Martin Smith – Drums
Glenn Jones – Guitar and Synth Guitar
Liam Carr – Guitar
Production:
Producer – Edward Jones (+ Backing Vocals)
Mastering – Eddie Mooney
Be My Guest
Mick Rossi is a highly respected guitarist, songwriter, musician and producer who began his musical career as a teenager when he co-formed one of the UK’s earliest and most important punk rock bands, Slaughter & the Dogs, in 1975.
Mick is also a writer, actor and producer, with credits spanning music, film and television, showcasing his broader creative interests outside of performing music. He has worked with numerous artists and projects, including Mick Rossi’s Gun St., a band that reflects his glam and rock ’n’ roll roots. The album Gun St. was released in February 2023.
Since 2024, Mick has taken over as vocalist/guitarist of the official re-formed and revitalised line-up of Slaughter & the Dogs, with the band performing at sell-out gigs as well as festival appearances.
Steve Wilson is a Manchester-based musician best known as the singer and guitarist with Avid Fan, an indie/punk band active across several strands of the city’s punk, post-punk and underground rock scene.
Steve also previously played bass in a later incarnation of Ed Banger & The Nosebleeds, and had a stint gigging and recording in V2 in the 2017–2021 line-up, as well as with his own SWJ group.
Mike O’Donoghue started his musical life with Station 5 in 1983. The band, who would regularly include V2’s ‘Man in the Box’ in their set, subsequently changed their name to All Fall Down.
After a brief unsuccessful shot at fame with Bong in the 90s, Mike played in I Can’t Believe It’s Not Punk, covering classic punk tunes.
Mike retired from music in 2001, returning in 2017 to front V2 at Stan’s request.
Even more connections: Steve was in All Fall Down and Bong with Mike O’Donoghue, with Stan managing both bands. Steve and Mike also co-run LaB Recording Studios in Ashton-under-Lyne together.
How It All Came Together
“Like most of Stan’s Guest List, the track was recorded in a few different studios.
For ‘I Don’t Know’, Martin’s drums were recorded over a demo of the song in Red Wall Studio in Bury, whereas Glenn and Liam’s guitars, Ed Jones’s backing vocals and various other bits were then recorded in Glenn’s garage and kitchen.
Glenn and Ed then headed for Pirate Studios, near Media City in Salford, where Mick Rossi’s lead guitar breaks were recorded during a break in Slaughter & the Dogs rehearsals.
Ed miked up Mick’s Marshall amp and, with no messing about, Mick grabbed his Gibson Les Paul and played one of his signature blistering wah-wah solos over the track.
A couple of days later, Mike’s vocals and Steve’s bass and backing vocals were recorded in the supercool environs of their own LaB studios.
Then it was back to the garage, where Ed mixed the track. Then Ed sent it to me to master…
Phew! Got there! Job done!”
Eddie Mooney
