Michael Messer (born 28 February 1956) is an English singer, songwriter, slide guitarist, recording artist, producer, guitar designer/manufacturer.
[1] The American magazine Spirit listed Messer as one of the greatest slide guitarists alongside Duane Allman and Ry Cooder.
He moved to the United States while in his early twenties and in Nashville, Tennessee, both met and heard the country music performances of Roy Acuff, Hank Snow and Johnny Cash.
These included elements of Hawaiian slide guitar, reggae, jazz and King Sunny Adé's style of world music.
The album's liner notes were written by Johnny Cash, an honour only shared with Bob Dylan (Nashville Skyline) and Kris Kristofferson.
[4] The accompanying tour saw further experiment and innovation including the use of house and reggae styles, set against a more traditional cover version of Big Maceo Merriweather's "Worried Life Blues".
One of Cox's songs, "Cold When I'm Dead", featuring Messer playing the electric slide guitar was used in Terry Gilliam's film, Tideland.
[2] Second Mind (2002), his second album on Catfish, saw a guest appearance by Ruby Turner on backing vocals, with Genis junior again providing scratched overdubs.
The National Debt CD, From the Horse's Mouth, to which Messer contributed was featured by Mark Lamarr on his BBC Radio 2 show.