For most people, Mick Hucknall is instantly recognizable as the fiery-haired voice behind Simply Red — the band that gave us unforgettable hits like Holding Back the Years and If You Don’t Know Me by Now.
But behind that soulful voice lies a rollercoaster life story filled with romance, feuds, and controversy that could rival any rock-and-roll legend’s.
Even at 65, Hucknall continues to grab headlines — this time for lashing out at a fan during a recent Simply Red concert.
And, as longtime followers of his colorful career would agree, that’s far from the first time Mick has made waves for something other than his music.
A Rockstar’s Romantic History That Reads Like a Movie
Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Hucknall was at the peak of fame — and he fully embraced the rockstar lifestyle.
The singer once admitted he had “three lovers a day” during Simply Red’s heyday, a claim that became infamous and, over time, often misunderstood.
He dated a string of famous women, including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Helena Christensen, Martine McCutcheon, Ulrika Jonsson, Melanie Sykes, Lady Victoria Hervey, and even tennis star Steffi Graf.
Martine once shared on Loose Women that a date with Mick ended in disaster when she accidentally vomited in his dreadlocks — a story Hucknall later slammed as “a sad little fantasy,” insisting it was actually his driver’s car she ruined, not his hair.
Not all his romantic pursuits were successful, though.
Actress Brigitte Nielsen once recalled that he invited her for a late-night bath in his purple bathroom — an invitation she accepted but claimed went nowhere, cheekily describing Mick as “not very good-looking, but outrageously cool.”
The Playboy Years and the Numbers That Sparked Headlines
Perhaps one of the most talked-about moments of Hucknall’s past came when reports surfaced that he had slept with over 3,000 women.
The claim came from a 2004 documentary and a misinterpreted interview, which Mick later clarified was “wildly taken out of context.”
In truth, he admitted to living fast and partying hard, but said the exaggerated number was never his own.
“I haven’t a clue,” he told The Sunday Times. “I never counted. I wasn’t keeping score — I was just living.”
Still, the singer didn’t shy away from acknowledging his wild side.
He admitted that alcohol and drugs were part of his daily routine back then and that he was chasing approval and affection that fame could never truly satisfy.
From Hellraiser to Family Man
These days, the once-notorious frontman has traded late-night parties for a quieter life in Scotland with his wife, Gabriella Wesberry, and their daughter, Romy True.
The couple married in 2005 at Forter Castle in Perthshire and have kept their family life largely private ever since.
Hucknall says those wilder days are long behind him.
“You have to learn from it,” he said in a recent interview, reflecting on how fame once clouded his judgment.
His new concert film even carries a trigger warning for its lyrical content, a nod to the candid way his songs once reflected his self-destructive habits.
Family Struggles and a Painful Past
While his adult life was full of glamour and chaos, Hucknall’s childhood was marked by heartbreak.
His mother, Maureen, left when he was just three years old, leaving him to be raised by his father, Reg, in Manchester.
That deep sense of abandonment shaped much of his emotional songwriting — especially the band’s hit Holding Back the Years.
In the 1990s, his estranged mother reappeared in his life, claiming to be dying of cancer.
Hucknall flew to Texas to be by her side, only to discover she wasn’t ill. Though he described the reunion as painful, he chose not to hold a grudge.
“As far as I’m concerned,” he said, “I had my dad, and that’s enough. She can live her life and I’ll live mine.”
Feuds, Fights, and Famous Fallouts
Mick’s fiery personality has often landed him in spats with other celebrities.
He once fell out with comedian Steve Coogan, who joked about his music in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People — leading Hucknall to cut off all contact with him for 20 years.
Then there was the infamous 1998 bar fight with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.
Hucknall reportedly confronted him over comments about Manchester musicians, calling the Gallaghers “an embarrassment.”
The confrontation nearly escalated before hotel security stepped in.
And if that wasn’t enough, Hucknall has also taken aim at record labels over unfair contracts.
He accused Warner of “immoral” practices, saying artists paid for recording and marketing but didn’t own their masters.
Since then, he’s released Simply Red’s music independently, ensuring full creative control.
The Man Behind the Music
For all his flaws, Mick Hucknall remains one of British music’s most distinctive voices — and one of its most complicated personalities.
From chart-topping success and romantic chaos to personal redemption and self-reflection, his life reads like a script only rock and roll could write.
And as his recent onstage rant proves, Mick Hucknall isn’t quite done stirring up headlines.
But maybe, deep down, that’s just part of what’s kept him so unforgettable all these years.