Mick moved into the shed behind his parent's house. Now, he could play whenever he wanted and as loud as he wanted and no one would say a word.

On a tip from a friend, 17-year-old Mick went to Fresno to play with a blues band that was looking for a guitarist. When it didn't work out, a disappointed Mick returned home to his parents only to decide later that he needed to be out on his own. Unable to afford a place of his own, Mick moved in with a group of bikers in Orange County.

One night at a party, Mick was introduced to a 16-year-old girl named Sharon. The two began dating right away, but Sharon wanted more of a commitment. Mick was 19 and his mind was made up, Music would remain his first priority. That would soon change when Sharon told Mick she was pregnant. Wanting to do the right thing, Mick married Sharon and they had a baby boy, aptly named, Les Paul.

Sharon got Mick a job at the Laundry mat where he worked during the day while he spent his nights playing after hour club gigs with his band Watoshi. In the mean time, Sharon gave birth to another baby, a girl they named Stormy. Mick quit the laundry mat after injuring his hand and told Sharon he would never work another day job again. Sharon took Stormy and Les and left, later having him thrown in jail for non-payment of child support. This was a major setback for Mick but it didn't stop him from trying to make his dream come to fruition.