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Michael Lee Firkins was born
in Omaha, Nebraska in 1967.
Born to musician parents, his father
was a lap steel guitarist and his
mother a pianist, he started playing
acoustic guitar at the young age of
eight. Mostly self taught, he
also took lessons at a local Omaha
music store. Learning the
songs of the times, Michael was
heavily into Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led
Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Black Sabbath.
By 1979 Michael had a Gibson SG and
a Fender Princeton Reverb.
Electrified, he soon played in local
bands and in church from the age of
12 until 18. In 1985 Michael
started touring the country in cover
tune bands. Frustrated with
cover tunes, he eventually went back
to Omaha and began teaching guitar.
For the next few years, Michael's
musical influences were expanding.
Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Albert Lee,
and Danny Gatton were among the list
of new favorites. As Michael
continued to grow musically, he
recorded a 5 song demo of
instrumental guitar tunes that
showcased his guitar playing.
The 5 song demo was sent to Guitar
Player Magazine talent scout Mike
Varney who signed Firkins
immediately. A release of his
first album was soon to follow.
In 1990, Michael released his self
titled debut album on Shrapnel
Records. This release
showcased Michael's signature sound
of rock blended with country, blues
and jazz. With the strength of
this album, and the help of an
international advertising campaign
from YAMAHA GUITARS , Michael's
first release sold more than 100,000
copies. This well received
album also landed Michael the winner
of the "BEST NEW TALENT" reader's
poll in Guitar for the Practicing
Musician and also runner up in
Guitar Player Magazine's "BEST NEW
TALENT" readers poll. He was
also hailed as "ONE OF THE MOST
INFLUENTIAL PLAYERS OF THE NEXT TEN
YEARS" by Guitar for the Practicing
Musician. As Michael's music
was also popular in Europe, Firkins
won the Edison Award, which is
Holland's version of a Grammy.
Michael went on to release 3 more
records for the Shrapnel label.
The second album, The Howling
Iguanas in 1994, (Blues Bureau
International) was a blues rock
record echoing past influences.
The third, Chapter Eleven, followed
in 1995. This record had even
more diverse music styles including
a cover of Duke Ellington's "The Mooche". Cactus Cruz was the
last recording for Shrapnel in 1996.
It's a blues rock explosion of
guitar where Firkins plays the theme
from Sanfred and Son!
In 1997, Firkins recorded
Decomposition. An album of
mostly covers, Firkins continues to
retrace his footsteps searching for
the reasons behind his influences.
Decomposition features Sonny Reese
with guest spots on lead vocals,
recreating the original blues rock
sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "I Know A
Little" and Johnny Winter's "Still
Alive and Well". Firkins'
renditions of Henry Mancini's "Pink
Panther" and Jimi Hendrix's "Manic
Depression" make this album a worthy
tribute.
The next release for Firkins is an
all star tribute to Sly And The
Family Stone featuring Firkins on
guitar as well as Stanton Moore from
the band Galactic on drums, Charlie
Hitchcock, guitarist of Particle,
Chuck Prada of the Black Eyed Peas
on percussion, and Eric Levy, Kai
Eckhardt, and Fareed Hague of
Garajmahall.
Michael's current release "Blacklight
Sonatas" features Thomas Pridgen
(The Mars Volta) on Drums, Kai
Eckhardt on Bass, as well as guest
appearances by Matt Abts
(drums,Gov't Mule), Andy Hess (bass,Gov't
Mule), Chuck Leavell (keys,Rolling
Stones), Michael Bland
(drums,Prince) and Steve Evans
(Bass). Lookout for Michael's
2008 release "SINCE 1967" featuring
Matt Abts and Andy Hess (Gov't Mule)
and Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones)
on Magnatude.
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