On 14 June 2025, Mick suffered a heart attack. It was his second, and as the doctor who supervised his surgery told him, it was brought on by stress. Fortunately, having been sent home once from A&E, Mick had returned that morning with chest pains and was admitted immediately. He underwent surgery a few days later, and now has a brand-new stent to go with his old one.

He is back at home and has been told to rest completely for three months to enable his heart to repair itself.

But the real problem is not his heart but the stress, which is ongoing.

Mick and his wife Linda are being evicted from their home by their landlord. They must vacate the premises by 1 August, 2025. After being on the council list for six years, they have just yesterday been offered the chance of a property, for which they are incredibly grateful.

Like many writers, Mick is a freelancer, living month to month. He has no job security, no savings, no pension, and when he can’t work, no income. As I write this, he has £70 in his bank account. He was already facing serious health problems after a disastrous bowel operation in December.

Linda is a Senior Nursing Assistant at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. She works on the Complex Medicine ward with patients receiving end of life care, undertaking four 12-hour shifts per week. Her salary after tax does not cover their rent. Linda is also the registered carer for her elderly parents, who require daily visits. And she now looks after Mick as he recovers.

After Mick’s first heart attack, Linda became ill and was unable to work for nine months. They had to borrow to survive and after their debts began to compound, both Mick and Linda were declared bankrupt. They have worked exceedingly hard to discharge those bankruptcies and get back on their feet.

As a result, they cannot obtain credit and can’t rent privately without an unrealistic sum of money to pay their first six months’ rent in advance, plus a deposit. The council require a month’s rent, plus a deposit. The final rent payment on their current home is due and they don’t have the money to pay it. They’re dependent on a landlord reference to be considered for any council accommodation.

Mick is unable to undertake any of the physical work of moving out of their current home and into any new one. They are yet to see the council house they have been offered, but have been told it is unfurnished, and should they be in a position to take it, requires deep cleaning and repainting before it is habitable.

We’d love to be able to help them out with the rent, and also with the costs of moving house, settling their outstanding bills and if possible, getting a little financial buffer in place while Mick recovers over the next three to six months. Despite his consultant advising him to retire, he is determined to return to the work he loves.

We’re hoping that Mick’s colleagues, friends, fans and readers in the rock n roll community will rally around Mick and Linda in their hour of need.

So if you’ve ever enjoyed one of Mick’s classic books on Led Zeppelin, Metallica and more, if you own a copy of his legendary memoir Paranoid, or have read him since his days as a young punk from Ealing on Sounds, through his dispatches during Kerrang!’s glory years, or latterly on Classic Rock and Mojo, or if you listen (thank you!) to our podcast and come to the live shows, please spread the word on social media, and chip in if you can.

It would be hugely appreciated. Thank you!