|
Michael Angelo Batio - 2012 Biography
Michael is one of the originators and pioneers of the entire “Shred” Guitar genre. Michael showcased guitar techniques and innovations, for the first time, on his early instructional programs as well as in live performances, that are now considered “standard techniques” among guitarists throughout the entire world.
Michael invented and was the world’s first player of the Double-Guitar.
On Thursday February 2nd, 2012 Michael’s Dean “Jet” Double-Guitar was put on permanent display in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOTED THE NO. 1 SHREDDER OF ALL TIME! Guitar One Magazine
Voted one of the Top 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time!
Guitar World Magazine (Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix are among the Top 100 chosen)
Voted one of the “Top 20 Greatest Guitarists in Chicago history” IE (Illinois Entertainer)
Michael WON the Guitar World Magazine 15th annual readers choice award in the BEST SHREDDER category. Paul Gilbert placed second, Buckethead third, John 5 fourth and finally Herman Li and Sam Totman. The article appeared in the April 2009 issue.
In November 2011, Michael won the Guitar World Magazine readers choice award and was voted the “Fastest Guitarist of All Time.” Over 440,000 votes were cast!
One of Michael’s Dean Double-Guitars called the “Jet” Double-Guitar is going on permanent display in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in the first part of 2012.
Michael’s “Hands Without Shadows – A Tribute to Rock Guitar” multi media show debuted in Las Vegas in September 2011. The “MAB HWS” Show will be touring all over the world in 2012.
When MAB was in college and taught guitar privately, Tom Morello from “Rage against the Machine” was his student.
Michael has toured in 52 countries!
Michael has over 60,000,000 views on YouTube.
Michael’s original Dean Double-Guitar placed in Chicago Hard Rock Cafe in 1988 was moved to the Tampa, Florida Hard Rock Cafe and Casino in early 2012.
Guitarist Steve Vai had a version of MAB’s Double-Guitar built calling it the “Heart Guitar” and gave Michael credit for being the first one with the idea. Also, Jack Black and “Tenacious D” credited Michael with being the inspiration for the Double-Guitar featured in the movie “The Pick of Destiny.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAB quotes
“The most blazing guitarist on the planet!” Guitar World, Magazine
Laser guided fretwork and the fastest of fingers: Mr. Angelo Batio is practically a god. Seriously!" Total Guitar Magazine in the UK
“More machine than man!” Guitar One Magazine
Guitar World Magazine voted Michael’s “Speed Kills” DVD one of the top 75 best, must have guitar DVDs of all time!
Guitar World called Michael’s “Speed Kills” DVD: “The ultimate face-melting instructional DVD.”
“Michael Angelo Batio, the world’s fastest guitarist and inventor of the mind-boggling double guitar...” Guitar World Magazine
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAB overview and background
Michael started playing the piano at age 5 and started playing the guitar at age 10.
Michael is from Chicago, Illinois and has a B.A. in Music Theory and Composition from Northeastern Illinois University.
Michael has been signed to 2 major labels in his career. Atlantic Records with the band “Holland” and Rhino/Warner Brothers Records with the band “Nitro.”
Michael started his own record label titled M.A.C.E. Music, Inc. in 1993 and was one of the first music companies to go on line in 1996.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAB is an innovator and inventor. His inventions and innovations include:
Michael invented and was the world’s first player of the twin-necked, left and right-handed Double-Guitar. He plays the guitar right or left-handed. He also plays both guitars together in harmonies or two separate parts together at the same time.
Michael invented the String Dampeners that he uses on the Double-Guitar. “The MAB String Dampener” is available at Angelo.com. Michael has been issued a patent for “The MAB String Dampener.”
Michael invented his signature stage move called the “MAB Over-Under” technique.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAB has performed in 52 countries! Michael has performed over 800 shows around the world since 2003 and literally thousands of shows during his lifetime.
Michael has performed over 1,700 shows in 52 different countries since 1993. He has toured the world performing guitar workshops for Dean Guitars, touring with various bands and as a solo artist. The 52 countries he has toured in are: U.S.A (46 states including Alaska), ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, WALES, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, SPAIN, ITALY (including Sicily), INDIA, PORTUGAL, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, FINLAND, DENMARK, SWITZERLAND, LITHUANIA, CANADA, MEXICO, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, FRANCE, PERU, The CANARY ISLANDS, TURKEY, ROMANIA, JAPAN, CHINA, The PHILIPPINES, MALAYSIA, BRAZIL, EL SALVADOR, TAIWAN, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE, THAILAND, SWEDEN, NORWAY, HUNGARY, SLOVAKIA, GREECE, SLOVENIA, CHILE, TAHITI, COSTA RICA, HONDURAS, ECUADOR, GUATEMALA, COLUMBIA, TRINIDAD and KOREA.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael exclusively endorses Dean Guitars. MAB has 9 signature guitars from Dean Guitars. Michael also has a Dean signature pick up called the “HWS.”
Michael has a new Dean Guitars Signature guitar model called the “Speed of Light” that was released in January 2012 at the NAMM Music convention.
Michael has a Dean Guitars Signature guitar model called the MAB 1 Armorflame that is available in stores everywhere released in 2008.
Michael has a Dean Guitars Signature guitar model called the MAB 2 Aviator that is available in stores everywhere. It was released in late Spring 2009.
Michael has a Dean Guitars Signature guitar model called the MAB 3 that is available in stores everywhere. The MAB 3 comes in 3 colors. Black, Silver Burst and Ferrari Red. It was released in 2010.
Michael has a Dean Guitars Signature guitar model called the MAB 4 “Gauntlet” that was released in January 2011.
Michael has a Dean Signature Guitar model called the “MAB” that is a “high end” 100% USA made guitar. Michael will also have limited edition versions of the “MAB” available with slightly different finish and hardware options available periodically. The MAB USA Signature guitar was released in January 2011.
Michael has a signature neck position pick up called the “HWS” pick up that was released in January 2008 and is available worldwide.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael has a Signature MAB Over Drive pedal from T-Rex. It is available in stores worldwide.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAB was a columnist for Guitar World Magazine. His monthly column called “Time to Burn” also appeared on the GW CD - ROM. Michael has the honor and distinction of being the longest running columnist in the history of Guitar World Magazine. The last installment of “Time to Burn” was featured in the January 2009 issue.
In 2008 Guitar World Magazine released a DVD called “Learn Shred Guitar” containing the first several years of Michael’s columns.
Guitar World Magazine featured MAB’s Monster Mix Recording Studio in 2008.
Guitar World Magazine filmed and released a TV commercial in the Spring of 2008 featuring Michael and the Double-Guitar.
Michael worked with Guitar World Magazine in 2010 on their IPhone app and several different columns and articles.
In 2011 Guitar World Magazine released a second MAB DVD called “Learn Shred Guitar 2” containing the remainder of Michael’s columns that didn’t appear on the first DVD.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael’s instructional DVDs are some of the most famous and best selling guitar programs in the world!
Michael has filmed 7 acclaimed instructional DVDs produced by Metal Method Productions in California. “Speed Kills”, “Speed Kills 2”, “Speed Kills 3” and “Speed Lives”, “Speed Lives 2”, “Speed Lives 3” and “Speed Kills 2010.”
Michael had a no.1, best-selling "Star-Licks" instructional video. This the very FIRST “shred” instructional video, showing for the first time concepts such as arpeggio sweeps, advanced Alternate picking, the applications of Economy of Motion, PPS (potential picking speed) and practicing the Tremolo. Guitarists such as John Petrucci, Dimebag, Michael Romeo and many more learned from this groundbreaking instructional program. Over 100,000 videos have been sold worldwide. This video was Star Licks no.1 bestseller for 2 years straight! M.A.C.E Music re released this program in December 2011 as a 25th Anniversary Edition.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael, like Joe Satriani also has a famous guitar student! Michael taught (Rage Against The Machine and AudioSlave) guitarist Tom Morello while Michael was attending college. Tom has credited MAB with teaching him in a feature article in Guitar World Magazine.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael performed a major guest guitarist segment on “Creed” and “Alter Bridge” guitarist Mark Tremonti’s instructional DVD released in late 2008.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 2009 - Michael released his 6th Metal Method DVD titled “Speed Lives 3 - The Neo Classical Zone.”
September 2009 - Michael released the CD “Hands Without Shadows 2 - Voices” on M.A.C.E. Records.
November 2009 - Michael released his 7th Metal Method DVD titled “Essential Guitar Techniques.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April and December 2010 - Michael was on the cover of Italy’s AXE Magazine 2 times in 2010.
June 2010 - Michael released the DVD “Speed Kills 2010.” This is an updated version of his classic “Speed Kills” instructional program.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional MAB information
Michael was voted and featured on 3 “best of” lists in April 2008! Michael was named one of the 50 fastest guitarists of all time by Guitar World Magazine, one of the 20 greatest Shredders of all time by Total Guitar Magazine in the U.K. and named one of the 20 greatest Chicago Guitarists of all time by the famous music magazine, the Illinois Entertainer. All in the same month!
Michael was featured on the Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report” hosted by Stephen Colbert on Wednesday January 23rd, 2008! This extremely popular cable show is seen by millions of people around the world. Michael was mentioned along with Tom Brady, Jimmy Carter and Al Gore.
MAB will be featured in a new Randy Rhoads documentary film to be released this year. Director Peter Margolis and Dakota Pictures will be releasing the film. More information below.
The January 2005 issue of Japan’s Young Guitar Magazine listed Michael as one of the greatest guitarists of ALL TIME! The list is divided into three categories. Legends, Maestro’s and Masters. Michael Angelo Batio is listed in the Masters section. Other names in this category are Eric Johnson, Frank Zappa, Larry Carlton, Django Reinhardt and Johnny Winter. Other names included in the Legends section and overall list are Edward Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and more.
On October 27th, 2005 Michael released his critically acclaimed “Hands Without Shadows” CD. This is Michael’s most ambitious work to date featuring guest appearances by Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge and Creed, Rudy Sarzo of Ozzy, Whitesnake and Quiet Riot, Doug Marks, founder of Metal Method, virtuoso guitarist Bill Peck and more. Bobby Rock played drums on the entire CD. The primary bassist William Kopecky is a 6 string and fretless virtuoso.
In October 2005, Guitar World Magazine launched a cable TV show on the Comcast Cable network with MAB having an 11 minute segment on the show. The top 3 video segments in terms of popularity and viewer ship were Zakk Wylde, Michael Angelo Batio and Steve Vai coming in at numbers 1, 2 and 3 with Dave Mustaine at no. 4.
Guitar World Magazine’s July 2005 issue featured Michael in a major 6 page article plus a 2 page “collectors choice” color poster of his famous Dean Double-Guitar. In addition to this there was a full page Dean Guitars ad featuring Michael as well as a Metal Method ad also featuring Michael. Guitar World Magazine called Michael “the most blazing guitarist on the planet” in this issue. This was huge!
Guitar One Magazine voted Michael the no. 1 Shredder of ALL TIME in their April 2003 issue. Other notable guitarists that made the top 10 were John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Buckethead, (the late, great) Shawn Lane and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Guitar World Magazine, January 2004 issue, names Michael Angelo Batio’s “Speed Kills” one of the “75 Essential Guitar DVD’s”, Guitar World and a host of rock giants named their favorite guitar DVD’s. “Speed Kills”, Michael’s instructional DVD is in the category “Master Classes” with B.B King, Flea, Frank Gambale and John Petrucci. Guitar World calls “Speed Kills.” “The ultimate face-melting instructional DVD.”
Guitar World Magazine (March 2004 issue) names Michael Angelo Batio one of the “Top 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time”. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Edward Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page were among the 100 chosen. Everyone from CNN to Yahoo on-line has talked and written about this.
Michael was honored by the G Martell University in Mexico City, Mexico in September 2003. They named a classroom in his honor and placed his hand prints in cement displaying them on their “Walk of Fame”.
FHM Magazine, November issue 2003 named Michael and his “Quad” guitar one of the top 50 most outrageous moments in rock history! The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Axel Rose, The Eagles and many more were also named to the list. Halle Berry is featured on the cover.
Michael has had 2 major label record deals. Atlantic Records with the band “Holland” and Rhino/Warner Brothers Records with the band “Nitro.”
Michael toured in Europe with the late, legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience Bass player Noel Redding in Winter of 1999.
June 1994, Michael's first solo CD "No Boundaries" was released worldwide on Michael’s label M.A.C.E. Music, Inc. Records. “No Boundaries” is considered by many to be one of the best instrumental electric guitar CDs of it’s kind ever recorded.
Michael started as a session guitarist when he was 19 years old. He has recorded TV, radio and industrial film music for: Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, United Airlines, United Way, McDonalds and the Chicago Wolves hockey team among others.
Michael starred in the made for cable movie "Shock'em Dead". The movie played on Showtime, Cinemax, The Movie Channel and Pay-Per-View.
The band "Nitro" (with Michael on guitar) released the disc "O.F.R." on Rhino/Capital records. Michael produced the record and it "hit" the Billboard charts. "Nitro" made 3 MTV video's, hosted MTV's "Headbangers Ball" (where Michael played live) and toured to sold-out shows everywhere.
At 14 MAB was playing Jazz and by 16 won an award for outstanding Jazz soloist on guitar.
|
