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Influences
Rush (70s/80s), Kansas, The Beatles (post Help), ELP, Black Sabbath, Yes, Uriah Heep, Judas Priest, Loudness, King's X, Todd Rundgren, UK, Led Zep, Metallica, Bach, Mozart, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker, Frank Marino, Blackmore, Yngwie, Steve Morse, Brett Garsed, Scott Henderson, Frank Gambale, Clint Strong, Allan Holdsworth, Al DiMeola, George Benson, Jean Luc Ponty, John Scofield, SRV, Pat Martino, Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman.
The son of two master degreed musicians, Michael was born into a musical world in the Ohio heartland. Exposed to jazz influences by his father and classical music by his mother, he became serious about music when he took up the trumpet at age 11. Playing in the school band for three years, Michael's future was altered forever when he discovered the guitar. He dropkicked the trumpet and became instantly obsessed with guitar.
Several years (and bands) later, Michael formed Arch Rival (www.myspace.com/archrivalband), a powerful hard rock act which gained commercial and critical success in Europe and Japan with their 3 solid releases, while around the same time, Michael realized his dream of completing a solo instrumental album ("Defense Mechanizms"), which was released with much critical acclaim in 1991.
After a tour and live CD with the Chastain / Harris group, Michael relocated to Dallas, TX in 1994. Immediately following his move, MH formed his heaviest band yet, Surgeon (www.myspace.com/surgeonmetal), who gained yet more fans worldwide with their 1996 brutal debut, "Encyclopedia of the Insane".
In 2004, Michael was hired by world renowned keyboard virtuoso, Vitalij Kuprij, to play on several songs for his "Forward & Beyond" record. VK was so impressed with Michael's work that he chose him as the guitarist for his new band, "Revenge", in 2005 and Michael is presently recording all the guitars for the new VK instrumental record, "Glacial Inferno".
Michael has continued to maintain a very successful solo career and since "Defense Mechanizms" has released 5 more solo CDs - "Ego Decimation Profile" (1996); "Distorted Views" (1999); "Sketches From the Thought Chamber" (2001); his first solo VOCAL disc, "Words Collide" in 2003, and "Orchestrate" in 2006.
In 2007, Michael landed his biggest deal ever for Thought Chamber, an amazing prog band he put together a few years ago. The debut disc, "Angular Perceptions", was released on April 3, 2007 on InsideOut Music.
In the meantime, Michael can be seen touring with his exceptional live band, The Michael Harris Tranz-Fusion (www.myspace.com/themichaelharristranzfusion), as he continues to push the musical envelope by creating, recording, and releasing cutting edge progressive guitar music.
Check out Michael's online guitar course at www.musicdojo.com.
I am completely devastated by this absolute tragedy, the METAL/Music community has lost yet another alltime great! Even though I didn't know MIDNIGHT (real name: John Patrick McDonald Jr.) personally... his voice and music has touched my soul and brought me through many a dark time in my own life! He will be missed dearly, and never be forgotten! MIDNIGHT will forever live on in all of our hearts and minds through his amazing voice! May his soul R.I.P.!
Just dropping by to see how your summers been going? I'm starting on CD #2 & 3 'Insurrection' & 'Fire'. As well I'll be posting a new song-track soon. We just brought in a vocalist Quimby Lewis (ex-Skullview) & drummer Jasin Marxx (ex-Dreamzfate). T-Shirts are now avaliable. All the Best to you this year. Anytime you want to chat, drop me a line or leave us a comment. Take care, Nikko
It was an honor to meet you, and to finally get to see you play live. Your music is an inspiration to me. It was a really incredible experience witnessing those songs I've loved for so many years being played live, with all of the many stylistic nuances inherent in your playing. Hanging out with you was great too. You seem like a really cool guy.
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