PRESENTING:
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Mike, being a teenager filled with typical teenaged angst, of course chose the drums as a way to give vent to and beat out his frustrations, (with the added bonus of annoying his parents at the same time). However, the officer's suggestion worked; Mike now stayed home and practiced his drumming, the visits to his parents by the agents of the law came to an end, and a drummer was born. In the mid to late 60's, Mike played soul music, (i.e., James Brown, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Eddie Floyd, Sam & Dave, etc.), in such groups as The Thebens, The Originals, and The Artie Maxwell Show Band. Mike found steady work and was playing six or even seven nights a week. In the 70's, Mike joined The Showmen, and traveled all over the state of Wisconsin, logging over 50 thousand miles on the road a year. Mike was playing two and three nights per week, making as much money as he did in the 60's when he was playing every night. By 1972, Mike founded a very electric blues act named Free Wheel. The band's influences and covers included Johnny Winters, Mountain, Aerosmith, Beck, Bruce & Lange, ZZ Top, and well as many other high energy groups of the time. Mike was now traveling all across the Midwest. In 1976, after a single album with Warner Brothers, Mike joined JJ And The Jets, a 60's and 70's showband, for an enjoyable and lucrative couple of years. Then, in 1978, mike formed Champion, who were the winners of that year's "Battle Of The Bands" at the Palms. Alas, the early 80's saw the rise of Disco, and 'canned' music put many musicians, (Mike included), out of a job. The "traveling work" dried up and Mike found his day job became a night job. In spite of that, Mike was still in demand as a studio musician and he recorded jingles for Gimbels, Schusters, Boston Store, and with many other notable musician in the Milwaukee area. 1987 found Mike back on days as the recession eased, and he again began playing live performances with The Steve Nitros Band, Nuclear Blues Band, and others. From 1994 through 1996 Mike was the drummer for The Old Blues Boys, a group of six seasoned and experienced older black gentlemen. Unfortunately, age began catching up with many of the band's members and the time came when they either quit playing music or passed away. Mike then had the opportunity to play with The Barrelhouse Blues Band, The Killer Miller Blues Band, The Casper Blues Band, The John Frye Band and The Milwaukee Slim Blues Band. In 1998, Mike began receiving many offers to play area festivals and events, so Mike founded The Blues Invaders with several of the area's prominent blues musicians. All bands change and grow, and by 2002 the band's name was changed to Deluxe Mode (featuring Wolfman Mike) to reflect the band's change in musical style from traditional blues to blues-rock material. Mike is very pleased with the current line-up of the band. Reviews have been very favorable and have described Deluxe Mode's music as "steaming hot blues-rock". The band's current musical influences include: Allman Brothers, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton, BB King, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Delbert McClinton and (according to Wolfman Mike), "anybody else with a hot, balls out attitude". Wolfman Mike says, "Ahhh-woooooooooooo!" |
Wolfman Mike's career as a musician started way back in 1964 when the police kept bringing Mike home and having "discussions" with Mike's parents. One officer's advice was, "This kid needs a hobby!" And so it happened that Mike's parents make the fateful decision of taking Mike to a music store.
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