Mick Rossi is the guitarist in Slaughter & The Dogs, one of the most important bands to come out of Manchester’s original punk scene. In this wide-ranging conversation, Mick reflects on growing up in 1970s Manchester, discovering punk, surviving poverty and violence, and finding a way out through music.
Mick begins by sharing a story from his “misspent youth” — a city-wide blackout, a smashed guitar shop window, and a stolen white Fender strap that would later appear on stage when Slaughter & The Dogs supported the Sex Pistols. From there, the conversation opens up into a powerful account of what life was really like for working-class kids in Manchester at the time.
He talks openly about violence in the home, street life in Wythenshawe, football gangs, and how bleak and oppressive the 1970s could feel. Punk, Mick says, wasn’t just a sound — it was a state of mind. An attitude rooted in honesty, survival, and refusing to seek approval.
Mick explains how the Manchester punk scene developed alongside events in London rather than copying them, with young bands obsessively reading NME, Sounds, and Melody Maker, cycling across the city to get the latest papers. He recalls Slaughter & The Dogs building a strong local following, self-promoting gigs, and eventually earning their place on the bill with the Sex Pistols — introduced on stage by Tony Wilson, no less.
The conversation also touches on the reality behind punk’s reputation for violence, the culture of drinking in the 70s, and how music became Mick’s escape. Seeing David Bowie perform “Starman” on Top of the Pops was a turning point that set him on a lifelong path with the guitar, inspired by his hero Mick Ronson.
Mick shares an extraordinary story of meeting Ronson as a teenager, which grew into a real friendship — one defined by generosity, humility, and encouragement. That spirit, Mick says, shaped how he viewed music, success, and people with so-called “iconic” status.
Beyond punk, Mick talks about recording “Cranked Up Really High”, working with producer Martin Hannett, and how capturing personality on record is what makes music last. He also discusses his later life in America, acting, writing and starring in independent films, working with major actors, and continuing to create on his own terms.
The interview closes with Mick choosing “Starman” as the track that changed his life — a fitting full circle.
This is an honest, funny, and deeply human conversation about punk, class, survival, and the power of music.
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