Metal Mike Chlasciak

Metal Mike Chlasciak has crossed plenty of paths since beginning his career as a shredding guitarist. The ex-guitarist of Rob Halford and Sebastian Bach, and current at PAINMUSEUM, released a solo album named "The Metalworker". YngwieViking had a chance to talk to Mike about the new album, his career and more…

By YngwieViking

• July 1, 2013

Metal Mike Chlasciak (Metal Mike Chlasciak) interview

Hi Mike, First congratulations!!! I think that "The Metalworker" is another winning album, as a fan of Shredding US Metal and Power Metal in general , It was for me a real blast…What will be your words to describe it?

Thank you, Cedric. I would describe it as a testament to heavy metal that I fell in love it. Great guitar riffs, great songs and a production that is not sterile or over thought. I would like to believe that this album contains something extra that keeps a listener back to it, like the great classic albums of yesterday.

Can you first tell us about you , your background as a musician…Your past or actual involvement in Other bands ! I want to know everything…Go!

Well, that is a very long story and anyone interested can check it out on my website www.metalmike.net. But, in a nutshell I arrived to Unites States in 1984 from Poland and fell in love with Heavy Metal – early Metallica, early Megadeth, Motley Crue. I got my first guitar from my mom and it's been an obsession from day one. I got a scholarship to Berkley College Of Music in Boston . Graduated in 1994 and have released my first solo CD – Isolation Chamber

"Grind Textural Abstractions" in 1995. It's been a great road and I have obviously played in Halford, but as well in Testament, with Sebastian Bach and recorded with Axl Rose, Bruce Dickinson and many more. It' been great to be honest.

Concerning your side project PAINMUSEUM, do we have to expect something soon?

Perhaps. Next year is the 10^th anniversary of our debut album "Metal For Life", so we'll see what happens. I have not closed the door on PAINMUSEUM, so the future might hold something.

Can you tell us more about your collaboration with ROB HALFORD started, how the whole thing happened back then?

I had videos of me playing in front of 900 people with no signer, just as an instrumental band and I have sent those videos to Rob's management at the time. This was just around when Rob was coming out of the Two project. I said in my letter that if Rob was looking for a Metal guitar player, I should be his choice. Timing was correct and I was preparing for that time all my life to be honest.

How were the relationship with ROY Z and with PAT LACHMAN ?

I have not spoken to Pat in quite some time. Roy and I stay in touch. We always have a good laugh together.

How did you met with the great Vocalist CARLOS ZEMA. Are you familiar with the Brazilian HM scene?

Internet. I saw a video for Carlos's old band Outworld called "Warcry" and it was obvious that he was a world class vocalist. Initially, The Metalworker was going to be an all-instrumental EP, but after I heard Carlos I knew I had to have him on a few songs. I believe many of the people who dig what do are really digging the sound now, which is very nice.

Now tell us why did we have to wait 7 long years to finally have a brand new album, what happened ?

Well, right after PainmuseuM's Metal For Life album came out, Sebastian Bach asked me to do some touring with him and I was happy to do so and I have just stayed busy with Sebastian for the next few years. I did select things with PainmuseuM such as US touring and some dates in Mexico , but I'm not sure …. The record was a bit hard to explain to the industry. No one was really mixing extreme vocals with a bit more traditional guitars at that time when I did, and of course, as with any new project it was an up-hill battle. I did what I could, but at the same time if I get opportunities to play huge places I will not turn that down. After Sebastian, I did 2 albums with Halford, a world tour in 2010, Ozzfest and here we are with my new solo record, lol.

Do you think that the technicality, the shredding parts in your music can be a block for some listeners , do you keep this aspect in mind while composing , or did you just get the inspiration flows!

I played whatever felt good. My records reach whoever they reach and if I felt a song needed something then I played what I heard. However, I do not really play anything just for the sake of showing my latest learned arpeggio. I always prefer to have something musical with great tone, good intonation and things like that.

Mike where are you coming from as far as guitar influences are concerned?

I would say Yngwie Malmsteen for un-bending attitude, Steve Vai from the DLR/Whitesnake era for keeping the listener entertained, Hetfield and Dave Mustaine as far as riffs, Tony MacAlpine for musicality that contains a lot of intense guitar playing.

Are there new bands we have to reckon with in the next years ? Some underground stuff that you want to produce maybe?

Can't say to be honest.

What do you think of the state of the market in 2013 ! What is your opinion concerning digital downloading legal and illegal?

Well, I'm not sure if my opinion really matters that much, to be honest. Downloading is here and we have to deal with it, work around it, find new systems to better the one that has failed. I hope that if someone downloads a CD, they will buy the real thing if they like it.

Tell us what we have to expect from your side in the future to come?

Some live dates, guitar clinics and camps for young Metal players. I just released an instruction DVD with Guitar World called 'Metal For Life' and hopefully we'll do another one. We'll see … there are quite a few things I can do and that are available to me. I would not mind hooking up with another well-established band for records and tours. But, I'm picky, lol. And, it would have to be a big act. Of course, I'm always there for The Metal God when he decides to tour with Halford.

What is the last CD you have purchased ?

Yngwie Malmsteen – 'Perpetual Flame' and Death – 'Individual Thought Patterns' reissue.

Please let us know your Guitarist TOP 5 ?

Yngwie Malmsteen
Steve Vai
Tony MacAlpine
Gary Moore
Mustaine / Hetfield / Lynch / Chuck Schuldiner

Now it's time for the Chinese portrait aka Le questionnaire de Bernard Pivot , which is inspired by Marcel Proust but This questionnaire is probably more familiar to English audiences as the one that journalist James Lipton asks at the end of the TV show "Inside the Actors Studio."

What is your favorite word?

Yeah!

What is your least favorite word?

Well ….

What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?

Truth

What turns you off?

Forgetting who you are

What is your favorite curse word?

Fuck

What sound or noise do you love?

My guitar through a Marshall and a Ferrari engine

What sound or noise do you hate?

The one band One Direction makes

If not yourself, who would like to be?

No-one

What profession would you not like to do?

Furniture Mover

Who would like to see on a new bank note?

Nicole from Pussycat Dolls

If you reincarnated as some other plant or animal, what would it be?

Lion

If God exists, what you like to hear him say at the gates of Heaven?

O'right you bastard – you passed the test.

I wish to thank you for this Epic interview. Anything else you want to share with the fans and our readers out there?

Thanks to you as well. It was fun. So, well my new record is called The Metalworker and I have poured my heart into it. Please check it out here www.soundcloud.com/metalmike and you can purchase it very easily from iTunes, Amazon, CM Distro, MetalMike.net. And, of course – thanks to all the Metal fans that support what I do. Horns Up.

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