BANDS: Queensryche
ALBUMS: "Queensryche" - EP (1983); "The Warning" (1984); "Rage For Order" (1986); "Operation: Mindcrime" (1988); "Empire" (1990); "Operation: Livecrime" (1991); "Promised Land" (1995); "Here In The Now Frontier" (1997)
Mike is half of what was one of the great guitar duos of all time.
He and Chris DeGarmo were up near Smith/Murry and LaRocque/Blakk, in my
book. The only problem, is that over time, as Mike continued
to be the cool, rockin' half of the duo, Chris became the "sensitive",
mellower half.
Despite what people say, change isn't always good, but in the case
of DeGarmo leaving the Ryche, it is very good. Now Michael can get
back to kickin' ass on the guitar again. The thing I love about his
playing, is that he sort of combines the aspects I love in Dave Murray's
and Adrian Smith's playing. He'll use a more fluid style, like Dave,
yet keep the precision of Adrian. (by the way, I'm not implying that
Dave is a "sloppy" player. no fuckin' way that's true!)
Mike is a genius at being melodic and wailing all in the same solo,
not just in different songs. The songs he writes are always full
of power and heavy, regardless of the tempo of the tune.
As if I didn't think he was cool already, I had the chance to meet
Queensryche in June of '91. The whole band was cool, but Mike was
ultimately cool! Here's the story: 90% of the fans that met
the band backstage were ugly, slutty, whores with too much make-up on.
I had a poster from a guitar mag with me, for Mike and Chris to sign.
Now of course we all dig chicks, but Mike is a serious musician, and a
family man. Because of this, he seemed genuinely happy to see a fellow
musician. (I'm sure the chicks all being ugly didn't help either!)
He said "hey! a guitar player". I went through all the "your
playing is a big influence on mine" and all that. My freind Melissa,
who got the backstage passes for us, took a picture of me and Mike, and
I was starting to walk away, saying thank you. He could have just
let me keep walking, but he said "wait. Here, this will help you
play better." He reached into his pocket and handed me one of his
personal guitar picks! Keep in mind that this wasn't just one of
the many picks that bands through into the crowd at the end of a gig.
This was like the pick he was using to warm up and shit! I can honestly
say that that was the coolest moment of my life, and I'm eternally greatful
to Mike for being so damn cool, as well as for his guitar playing.
