The story of The Mantons. There was once a time when there were no Mantons. But one day, in East Lansing, John Perry was musing on a letter signed by his roommate Mike Anton. He noticed that Mike signed his name with a large “M”, a dot, then the last name with a large “A” for Anton. John condensed the name whimsically calling Mike, “Manton”… And then there was one.
Years passed, Mike learned many things about the world. He played all over the country, busking and living and loving and hurting and bleeding, but Forging On. Every now and again Mike would see John, and John would refer to him as “Manton”. The name gained adhesion, and Mike began using the name as a persona to match his high-energy performances. Other words followed, like “Bigmikebob”, “The Highway Guy”, “GIMMIE ALL YOUR MONEY!! AAHH!!”, “Flibbidie Floo”, “CHAW!!”, and others. This kind of vernacular became “The Manton Schtick”. As “Manton,” Mike created an ulterior world of words to communicate his feelings. Mike had certainly proved a consummate solo performer by this time. But then came the band.
At the very end of Ought Four, Mike put his first ever band together with drummer Mike Welby. They became “Mike Anton & The Mantons”. Mike wanted the name to be printed in only Copperplate Gothic Bold type. But, “That font is like $25. I ain’t paying $25 for a font,” says Anton.
Since then The Mantons have played consistently throughout Detroit. They’ve had a few bass players, but the one constant is the two founding members. One of the first bass players to play with The Mantons, Stephe Brown, left after just two early practices to pursue Jazz and Heavy Metal, but rejoined with glee just this year, in early Ought Nine. Stephe also plays keyboard, which is being incorporated into the band. Also on bass is Robin Simpson, who is a seasoned pro with Mike Dorn, a Detroit subculture legend. Finally, due to pure chance and the helping hand of P.J. Ryder from Lager House, The Mantons have taken on a second guitar player with Detroit bluesman Jeff Baby Grand, whose resume includes the Howling Diablos, The Grandmasters, and Bootsy X and the Lovemasters.
But once a Manton, always a Manton. The bass player on their first record, “Squeeze The Fish”, is the venerable Dave Martin from Clay Adams Band. Dave and Anton have been friends for years, worked together as mechanics, and between the two of them have a deep sense of understanding not too often seen in this world. His influence courses through the veins of the songs they play.
Mike Anton has about 100 songs with four solo records; the band is rapidly assimilating them. There is room to grow, new songs to write, and The Mantons have demonstrated the tenacious fortitude it takes to stay together, sticking to the mantra of “Doing The Thing that Must Be Done”.
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