Michael Todd

Todd during a photoshoot.

**Michael Robert Todd** (born August 19, 1980) is an American musician best known for being the original bassist for the alternative/progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria. Since parting with the band, he formed a new project called Flux Forteana, but this too dissolved. As of February 2022, Todd is apparently in college attempting to go to law school.

## Music Career

> *For more information, see Coheed and Cambria.*
>
>

When the band Shabutie needed a new bass player to replace founding member Jon Carleo, drummer Nate Kelley suggested a former bandmate named Mic Todd. Originally a guitarist, he was asked to join the band to fill out their lacking rhythm section. Picking up the bass solely for the new band, Todd became the band's steady bassist through their alt-rock days of Shabütie into the band's transformation to progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. Todd acted as the band's tour manager and driver early in their career until "contracts got too complicated" for him to understand.

At the beginning of the 2006 European Tour, Todd left the band due to a growing heroin habit, and checked into rehab. During the time he was absent, Matt Williams of Jumblehead was Coheed's substitute bassist for a handful of shows. In April 2007, Todd rejoined the band, and continued to be a regular member, continuing to go to meetings and stay clean.

On July 10, 2011, during a tour with Soundgarden, Todd was arrested at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts for armed robbery and unlawful possession of narcotics after reportedly robbing a Walgreens pharmacy in Attleboro, Massachusetts. After his arrest, the band announced that Wes Styles would be taking over bass duties for the remainder of the tour. He was arrested at the tour bus, and after that time never heard from any of the band members again. On June 12, 2012, Todd pleaded guilty to his charges in superior court and was ordered to serve one year of home confinement and three years of probation.

On August 4, 2011, the band released an official statement stating that they had come to a mutual decision with Todd to part ways. It was announced in April of 2012, that Zach Cooper would replace him. In 2011, prior to his arrest and during his sentencing, Todd was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had surgery to try to isolate the problem in 2012, but it had already spread. Fans and friends launched a campaign to raise money to help him with the bills.

In April 2013, Todd started a Kickstarter campaign to start a new project called Flux Fortuna. In the project's story, he explains that he had always wanted to write his own music and that he'd had an affinity for folk music. Backers could receive all sorts of things from the $1 pledge to obtain a download for a non-released song, to the $500 pledge to have a private concert with Todd in the New England area. The campaign ended in May, one month later, having been funded.

In June 2013, Todd attempted to sell some "rare" Coheed memorabilia to help with some of his money issues as well, but many people began to complain that they neither received the agreed upon merchandise nor heard from Todd when they tried to contact him. He released a statement in June admitting that at the time of making the deals, he didn't actually have all the items but "made plans" with people to acquire some of the items and ultimately, some didn't pan out. He promised to pay everyone back with his hard-earned money.

Ultimately, due to unknown reasons, Todd's new project dissolved. In March and April of 2013, Todd created Twitter accounts for both the project and himself. His personal account was dead by the end of April, but came back to life six years later in 2019. This did not extend to the Flux account which hadn't had a tweet after March 2014. Their FaceBook page's last post from his guitarist about stepping down to focus on their education. They mentioned that many people asked about the future of the band, but they were just as uncertain as the rest of them.

Only one official EP was produced, titled *September*, in 2014.

Todd has said that he doesn't listen to Coheed's music as it is too painful. He's on suboxone and has admitted that he's still struggling with addiction. He is actively working towards a paralegal certification and working for Full Moon Resort, according to his Twitter profile in 2021.

## Instruments

In addition to bass, Todd also plays guitar and sings.

He mainly used a Spector Euro bass throughout his time with Coheed and Cambria, but has also been seen using a ESP basses, Rebop Spector bass, and Fender Jazz bass. After the 2007 Warped Tour, Todd has been seen using Fender Jazz and Precision Basses exclusively.

Mic Todd plays bass using the traditional finger approach, fingering the strings with the index and middle finger of his right hand, and more recently with a three-finger approach. He has been known to also use the slapping technique.

With Coheed and Cambria, Todd provided the many of screaming vocals and most of the backing vocals and harmonies during live shows. In his new project, Todd was the main vocalist, the sound of which was described as "folksy with some rock." He cited female folk singers, such as Ani DiFranco and Ingrid Michaelson, as his songwriting influences.

## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/Weerd\_Science/status/1497274626824671237?s=20&t=qWxR0D78QQDlQ1Qns4zFBw
2. ↑ "Interview With Coheed and Cambria". *Delusions of Adequacy*. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
3. ↑ "Interview with Claudio". *SaveYourScene*. Archived from the original on February 5, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfvQ0955D2Q & https://dopeypodcast.podbean.com/e/dopey-338-drug-store-cowboys-with-michael-todd-heroin-coke-coheed-and-cambria-robbery-jail/
5. ↑ "Webcsatorna Video Interview". Webcsatorna.hu. Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
6. ↑ http://www.drivenfaroff.com/2006/11/02/coheed-and-cambria-lineup-change/
7. ↑ http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general\_music\_news/coheed\_and\_cambria\_lose\_members.html
8. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p525029
9. ↑ https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/bail-hiked-for-musician-accused-in-drug-holdup/article\_d528245f-1775-5c68-adbf-412fa3f9f256.html
10. ↑ https://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2011/07/11/coheed\_and\_cambria\_bassist\_accused\_of\_oxycontin\_theft/
11. ↑ http://www.spin.com/2011/07/coheed-bassist-arrested-robbing-pharmacy/
12. ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/coheed-and-cambria-2-3-1277864
13. ↑ http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20120612coheed\_and\_cambria\_bassist\_pleads\_guilty\_to\_pharmacy\_robbery/srvc=home&position=recent
14. ↑ https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/08/07/coheed-and-cambria-part-ways-with-michael-todd/
15. ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/coheed-and-cambria-2-4-1275008
16. ↑ https://loudwire.com/former-coheed-and-cambria-bassist-michael-todd-cancer-fight-campaign/
17. ↑ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1432886899/live-ep-release/posts
18. ↑ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1432886899/live-ep-release/description
19. ↑ https://metalinsider.net/drama/former-coheed-and-cambria-bassist-scams-fans
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 https://twitter.com/MichaelRobertT2
21. ↑ https://twitter.com/fluxforteana?lang=en
22. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/fluxforteana
23. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/artist/4242568-Flux-Forteana
24. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070928223847/http://www.ultimate-guitar.tv/interviews/warped\_tour\_coheed\_and\_cambria\_interview.html
25. ↑ http://www.glasswerk.co.uk/index.php?db=national&page=features,article&id=3559