Born in Glendale, Ca, Mike’s family moved
to Orange County in 1975. Afew years later, at the age of 12 he was
introduced to a plethora of unique styles ofmusic including punk rock
and metal. He starting performing at age 15 as the frontman for a Sex
Pistols tribute band, A.I.A, and played the one of the last gigsever
at the famed Cookoo’s Nest in Costa Mesa. It wasn’t long before he wasconsumed
by the onslaught of Eighties metal.Mike was lured by the Guitar harmonies
of bands such as Iron Maiden, TheScorpions, and Accept and soon began
composing his own songs. “At that time, there weren’t very many people
to jam with. So I sort of tookit all in, stashed myself away and began
writing my own music.”Largely self taught, Guitar and Vocals, he did
attend a few classical guitarclasses while completing his education
at the University of Hawaii.
Playing in miscbands during the 8 years he spent in Hawaii kept him going but this time away alsoallowed him to complete his first album ‘Hanging in the Balance’ which is still yetun-released. He also discovered Dream Theater and his love for progressive rock. Shortly after graduating he woke up one morning and it was obvious what hewanted to do as a career; what he had been doing all along - writing and playingmusic. In 1997 Mike returned to California to find work and pursue a career in music. He soon joined Awake, a Dream Theater tribute band, as the Singer andFrontman. Although, guitar was his strong point, he found that he had the samevocal range as some of the singing greats he was used to emulating in the ‘80s like Geoff Tate, and Bruce Dickinson and the “new guard,” guys like James Labrie and Ray Alder.Vocal training soon followed.While at one of the shows for his band Awake, he met the guys from Prymaryand had a chance to hear their music. It was naturally along the lines of what hewas looking to do. “Although the tribute band is fun, I was really looking to do an original project. Prymary kind of found me.”Just about that time, Robert Quirarte, the former singer decided to go separateways leaving the door open for Mike to join the band. The question of him joiningwas never actually asked by him or the band, but the feeling was obviously mutual. He was the perfect addition for Prymary.
Playing in miscbands during the 8 years he spent in Hawaii kept him going but this time away alsoallowed him to complete his first album ‘Hanging in the Balance’ which is still yetun-released. He also discovered Dream Theater and his love for progressive rock. Shortly after graduating he woke up one morning and it was obvious what hewanted to do as a career; what he had been doing all along - writing and playingmusic. In 1997 Mike returned to California to find work and pursue a career in music. He soon joined Awake, a Dream Theater tribute band, as the Singer andFrontman. Although, guitar was his strong point, he found that he had the samevocal range as some of the singing greats he was used to emulating in the ‘80s like Geoff Tate, and Bruce Dickinson and the “new guard,” guys like James Labrie and Ray Alder.Vocal training soon followed.While at one of the shows for his band Awake, he met the guys from Prymaryand had a chance to hear their music. It was naturally along the lines of what hewas looking to do. “Although the tribute band is fun, I was really looking to do an original project. Prymary kind of found me.”Just about that time, Robert Quirarte, the former singer decided to go separateways leaving the door open for Mike to join the band. The question of him joiningwas never actually asked by him or the band, but the feeling was obviously mutual. He was the perfect addition for Prymary.