Jakko M. Jakszyk is an English musician from London, born in 1958. He is a guitarist and vocalist whose work spans progressive rock, art rock, experimental rock and psychedelic rock. He is currently with King Crimson and has also played with Level 42, the 21st Century Schizoid Band, The Lodge and The Kings of Oblivion.

Early life

He is born Michael Lee Curran and is the son of Irish singer Peggy Curran and a US airman. He is adopted at 18 months old by Norbert and Camille Jakszyk. His later album The Road to Ballina draws on the story of his adoption and search for his birth mother.

Early bands and collaborations

His first significant band is 64 Spoons, with Lyndon Connah on drums and keyboards, Tam Neal on keyboards and drums, and Andy Crawford on bass. The band records Landing on a Rat Column, which is not released until 1992, long after it is recorded.

He then works with Dave Stewart and joins Rapid Eye Movement from 1980 to 1981. He also plays on Neil's Heavy Concept Album in 1984. After that he works with Peter Blegvad and David Jackson, then joins The Lodge in 1987 with Blegvad, John Greaves and others.

Solo work and later projects

In 1990, he releases We Never Had It So Good with Tom Robinson. He joins Level 42 in 1991 and remains with them until the band disbands in 1994.

His first solo release is the EP Kingdom of Dust in 1994, made with former Japan members Richard Barbieri, Mick Karn and Steve Jansen. His first full-length solo album, Mustard Gas and Roses, follows in 1995 and also features Karn and Jansen, along with Danny Thompson, Gavin Harrison, Sam Brown and BJ Cole.

He marries model Amanda Giles, the daughter of drummer Michael Giles, and joins the 21st Century Schizoid Band with her father in 2002. He also does session work for Akiko Kobayashi.

His solo album The Bruised Romantic Glee Club is released in 2006 and includes contributions from Connah, Harrison, Stewart, Nathan King, Pandit Dinesh, Robert Fripp, Peter Sinfield, Mel Collins, Ian Wallace, Danny Thompson, Mark King, Hugh Hopper and Clive Brooks. In 2007, he joins The Tangent for Not as Good as the Book, which is released in 2008.