Mike Williams (singer)
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| Mike Williams | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Michael Williams |
| Origin | High Point, North Carolina |
| Genre(s) | Sludge metal, doom metal, hardcore punk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, vocalist, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Associated acts | Eyehategod Arson Anthem Outlaw Order |
Mike Williams is the singer for Eyehategod and former associate editor for Metal Maniacs. He has also worked on other projects, always as the vocalist.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Eyehategod
Mike was invited to join Eyehategod by Jimmy Bower in 1989.[2] Since then, all Eyehategod albums[3][4][5] have featured his high-pitched vocals which have been described as "tortured laryngitis screams",[3] an "indecipherable ranting"[4] and "the utmost sickening, puke-ridden audio atrocities that could actually prove deadly if taken in large doses".[6]
For the recording of Dopesick, Eyehategod's third album, Williams went through several issues. At the time he was living in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn in New York City so he had to travel between there and New Orleans, Louisiana frequently for the recording sessions,[7] which took place at Side One Studios.[5] He attempted to record the sound of smashing glass for the introduction to the album, by smashing a bottle on the floor of the studio. In the process he slashed his hand open badly and bled all over the studio floor. One of the band members then apparently smeared the words "Hell" and "Death to Pigs" in his blood.[7] The studio owner reportedly called Century Media to ask if the band were insane, and threatened to kick them out because of this.[7]
[edit] Role in the band
The band's lyrics and themes are completely conceived by Mike. He always has lyrics written by him ready so when the other members of the band send him songs he just decides which lyrics he wants for each song. His lyrics never try to portray anything, they never have a story attached to them. Sometimes he works with the musical atmosphere created by his partners in Eyehategod.[2]
[edit] Other projects
During his first years as an Eyehategod member, Mike was in two other bands. Drip,[8] a sludge metal band, which also featured fellow Eyehategod band members Jimmy Bower and Brian Patton[9] and Crawlspace.[8]
In 2006 he began a hardcore punk band along with Phil Anselmo named Arson Anthem.[10] He's the band's singer.[11] Williams stated on 2008 that his desire with this band is that it makes people explore early hardcore punk, what he listened to when he had no responsibility and used to ride on his skateboard.[12]
Along with all Eyehategod members except Jimmy Bower he formed Outlaw Order, another sludge metal band.[13] He provides vocals for the band.[14]
In 2005, Mike's first book, Cancer as a Social Activity was released.[15] The book includes old lyrics and portions of collages that Williams assembled for Eyehategod which date back as far as 1988 as well as unreleased stuff, written during the period of two or three years before the release of the book. The book also shows Eyehategod's history. It was mostly written in New Orleans and New York City but there are also part which were written while he was travelling.[15][16]
[edit] Personal life
He was born in High Point, North Carolina.[16] His parents died when he was a child.[17] At the age of 15 he left home.[15] In high school, he was friends with current Eyehategod bassist Gary Mader.[8] During most part of his life he has lived in New Orleans, Louisiana but he also lived some time in New York City.[15][7] He has always suffered from asthma.[16]
He used to be the associate editor of Metal Maniacs.[16]
[edit] Hurricane Katrina and stance in prison
When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, on August 29, Mike was at his home in the Lower Garden District with his girlfriend Alicia Morgan. About eight hours after the beginning of the storm, the power went out but they had a radio with whom they could see the situation was very nasty. After the hurricane passed the water in his neighborhood went down but that was when the things got really awful because that time people started acting very violently and it was impossible to get help from the Police.[18]
At the time he and his girlfriend, both drug addicts at the time, were on a methadone program. With the methadone they possessed and Mike's prescribed government medicine they weren't suffering from physical dependence. A lot of their neighbors were also drug addicts and Mike knew that as soon as they'd see Alicia and him didn't look sick they were going to realize they had substances on their apartment. People were desperate and he figured someone would eventually kick in their door. Inside the house they could hear gunshots and at one time, Alicia went outside to smoke a cigarette and a man tried to mug her but Mike made him go away. They slept at the apartment of a neighbor of them. As soon as the Sun came up, they took a car a friend of Mike had lent him and set off for Morgan City, Louisiana, where he heard his house had burned down.[18]
They booked a hotel room in Morgan City. Apparently, the person who attended them could see they were from New Orleans because they had to show their identity document; suspected from them and called the Police. Police forces came into the room and arrested them.[18]
They were then convicted for drug possession[17] and sent to jail. He had a bail of $150,000; something which he couldn't afford. With help from his lawyer he filed for a bond reduction, but the judge turned him down because, according to him, Williams was a threat to society. During this time he felt very anxious because, the first days of his stance in prison, none of his friends knew he was in jail.[18] A fund to help to free Mike was created and his bandmates encouraged fans to send letters to him while he was in jail.[19] Later, Phil Anselmo paid the bail.[18] After being released, he had to live some time at Phil's home.[8] Mike believes he'll probably have to go back to jail in the future.[18]
[edit] Drug addiction
Before the hurricane, Mike Williams had always struggled with drug addiction.[16] Right before the disaster he had stopped doing heroin[15] because he was on a methadone program but during his stance in prison he wasn't given the substance. He couldn't sleep for about seven days. He hardly ate for six days; he just soaked the bread from lunch in water and swallowed it because he knew he needed to keep something down. After this sickness he wasn't an addict to opiates anymore.[18] Jimmy Bower stated in an interview that Mike inspired him to kick opiates also.[19]
In one interview, Mike said he'd like to consume again but he has to be strong and just stay away from some people, places and situations. He's happy because his friends are also clean. However, he drinks a lot.[18]
[edit] References
- ^ Mike Williams. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ a b Filicetti, Gino (1996-04-18). Struggling to Stop the Stereotypes. www.ChroniclesofChaos.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ a b York, William. Eyehategod - In the Name of Suffering. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ a b York, William. Eyehategod - Take as Needed for Pain. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ a b Eyehategod. Dopesick. Century Media Records. Album credits.
- ^ Filicetti, Gino. Eyehategod - Dopesick. www.ChroniclesofChaos.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ a b c d Williams, Mike. Dopesick. Recording notes on the 2007 European reedition. Century Media Records.
- ^ a b c d Weathering The Storm: Gary Mader Of Eyehategod. www.MetalUnderground.com (2006-03-24). Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ Drip. Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ Arson Anthem Featuring Philip Anselmo, Mike Williams. Blabbermouth.net (2006-09-26). Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ True, Chris. Arson Anthem. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ Arson Anthem Frontman Speaks On The Bands Detractors. www.MetalUnderground.com (2008-02-28). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ Outlaw Order To Record Full-Length Album. Blabbermouth.net (2008-03-22). Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ Encyclopaedia Metallum. Metal Archives. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ a b c d e J. Bennet (August 2005). Mike Williams’ eternal sludge bender rages on with a new book and Eyehategod’s first new material in five years.. Decibel Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ a b c d e Cancer as a Social Activity. www.HotBoxPress.com (2005). Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ a b Eyehategod Frontman Released From Louisiana Jail. Blabbermouth.net (2005-12-09). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h J. Bennet (February 2006). Mike Williams’ eternal sludge bender rages on with a new book and Eyehategod’s first new material in five years.. Decibel Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
- ^ a b Fox, Erin (2005-10-14). Eyehategod Interview. The Gauntlet. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
[edit] External links
Michael IX Williams at MySpace
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