Mike is a solo artist and for his songs he writes everything on his own including drums tracks, bass lines, pianos and everything else. Every once in a while he is helped by his friends, some of the most wanted bass players, drummers, keyboard players and singers in Romania.
AD-HOC is THE BAND that Mike managed to put together for private parties and clubs. The band has a cool repertoire starting with '60's, '70's, '80's, and even newer songs.
And guess what
?...
Ad-Hoc is not Ad-Hoc any more!... After almost 15 years even
if the band went through some changes Mike decided to call the band The CROSSROADS.
The name of the band was AD-HOC due to the fact that all the members are from well known bands that are involved in other acts and all the time played with at least one new member in the band and with no rehearsals at all, which made the concerts so much more interesting to the audience.
Now the band it is finally down the road with new fresh members and we are working on an album (God's will) with an innovative show and a new mixture of different musical styles.
VAN HALLEN, PAUL
GILBERT, STEVE RAY VAUGHAN, CHRIS DUARTE, BB KING,
GEORGE LYNCH, RICHIE COTZEN, CHUCK BERRY, DAVID COVERDALE,
DAVID LEE ROTH,
and few
others.
Another
big influence in his life isMy-key.
It was an honor to meet Steve he was like a real friend. I had the opportunity to spend time with him translating for him and you know what? He didn't get upset for playing his guitar. He is a fabulous man and guitar player. Not to mention Pia Vai his wife, very cool couple and family.
He started to
play guitar when he was 15 and a half when his father brought home a 7 string Russian guitar for 50 LEI (about 3 US dollars - old times 1985-1986). He started to learn guitar on his own due to the lack of books and teaching materials. After a year or so he started to make good friends between some of the best musicians in Romania when he was encouraged by them to make a band.
He started his first band during high school. First hard rock and later on, he
evolved to Heavy Metal and Progressive rock.
Only late
in 1996 "he got to the crossroads and met with the blues" when he was invited
to jam with some bands due to Christmas and the New Year's Eve.
Mike is an imposing man with remarkable stage presence, at 1.87 meters (aprox. 6 foot)
with a cool American look on stage. Due to his craziness, on stage Mike is
able to make people most of the times to stand up dance, jump on tables
and feel good. Having technical possibilities on rock, blues, funk and pop performances helped him over the years to become a regular fixture on Romanian television, radio and news papers as a figure of national celebrity.
He has appeared in feature articles, not only in the music press, but in the biggest news papers Romania has such as: Romania Libera, Evenimentul zilei, Evenimentul Muzical, National, Libertatea, Cotidianul, V.I.P. magazin, Capital, Vox Pop Rock and few others.
Some of the most happy earthly moments of Mikes life were when he personally met and spent personal time with:
Jennifer
Batten (guitar player
of Michael Jackson),
David Coverdale Whitesnake) and Steve Vai.
Jennifer and Steve have encouraged Mike to keep up the good work. He even had time to get some guitar technical input from them.
Even more Steve took time to sign Mikes Ibanez guitar with a screw driver (Steve really enjoyed doing that)
by Liviu
Serbanescu - Editor in chief with
Evenimentul Zilei
Leading News Paper In Romania
Over the
years Mike composed and wrote music for different major or minor Romanian
artists, did jingles for advertising companies, as well as composing
soundtracks for theaters and movies.
Please
visit Star Media Production on My Space to listen to 4 different demos,
different styles. For contacts or other details follow these links.
The Crossroads is part of the newest
National Romanian Television - TVR2. Timpul Chitarelor is a new
format which starts on 18th of April 2009 & and we are part of it.
We will soon come up with lot's of details and a specially dedicated
page.
Marius Bodochi, Dan Cojocaru, Doru Ionescu, Solo & The Crossroads
are the hosts of a very cool music show with live music & lots of
guests. Stay Looney Tunned. ;o) Soon Pictures and videos from teh
show... more details at. www.crossroads.go.ro
