He has been playing and writing music ever since he first picked up his big brothers electric guitar in grade school. Inspired by the guitar virtuosos of the 1980's and the big hair bands of the day, Mike spent countless hours blasting the stereo in his bedroom and playing along to the music. In High School he took classical guitar lessons and also began recording music with his friends. In College Mike continued to play music with bands in Portland and also recorded, engineered, and produced multiple albums out of his home studio.