Mike the Spike
Published on
June 4, 2024 at 1:09:28 PM PDT June 4, 2024 at 1:09:28 PM PDTth, June 4, 2024 at 1:09:28 PM PDT
Mike the Spike
BIO
Mike the Spike (Mike Glendinning) has been a musician and band leader for over 20 years. His brand of electric stripped-down California rock and roll is infectious and sing-along, but still packs the punch of a haymaker to the gut. His "Roll without the Rock" songs are equally hard-hitting and have personal meaning that can even the toughest of the tough can relate to. Born and raised within a 15 mile radius of Whittier, CA, he has played with and backed up some of OC's and LA's most notorious artists. Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, Drummer for Oingo Boingo, and Mike's band leader in Johnny's Boingo Dance Party says of Mike "his time, feel and presence in the band is such a plus!" Singer/Songwriter Cindy Alexander says of her time performing with Mike "flawless technique, great tone, and perfect pitch - What more could I ask? Oh yeah, and he shows up on time!"
Mike the Spike (Mike Glendinning) has been a musician and band leader for over 20 years. His brand of electric stripped-down California rock and roll is infectious and sing-along, but still packs the punch of a haymaker to the gut. His "Roll without the Rock" songs are equally hard-hitting and have personal meaning that can even the toughest of the tough can relate to. Born and raised within a 15 mile radius of Whittier, CA, he has played with and backed up some of OC's and LA's most notorious artists. Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez, Drummer for Oingo Boingo, and Mike's band leader in Johnny's Boingo Dance Party says of Mike "his time, feel and presence in the band is such a plus!" Singer/Songwriter Cindy Alexander says of her time performing with Mike "flawless technique, great tone, and perfect pitch - What more could I ask? Oh yeah, and he shows up on time!"
Mike's Gear
Mooer Red Truck
Human Haggis is Mike's new rock/punk band, more rock than punk, but both elements are dominant. They've released their second effort, "Sloppy Seconds" on the Neighborhood Records NYC label. Available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify etc. Local OC shows coming soon. Buy the CD, the first release, "Gut Lunch", and merch at Human Haggis.
Friends that regularly gig with Mike are real-life friends like Koko Powell from the Edgar Winter Group, Jimmy Keegan of Spock's Beard, Scott Devours from Roger Daltrey, Steve Bartek and John Avila from Oingo Boingo, Bill Lanham from Joe Walsh, Paul Kostabi, Chip Moreland from Dread Zeppelin, Felice Hernandez and so many mmore. Mike enjoys his time onstage with his friends, and looks forward to the live interaction with folks in his face. He can be found playing pubs all around Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Fullerton, Whittier and others in and around LA and OC. Some of the musicians he's had sub in his cover band continue to work with acts like Joe Satriani, Edgar Winter, Tony Orlando, CSN, Dave Gilmour, Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo, Joe Walsh, Oingo Boingo, Etc.
Music is music, and that's why Mike loves to play regardless of venue or locale. He's played just about every type of music and has a gigantic library of songs in his head to pull from nowhere. There's just about zero kind of music, actually, he doesn't like. You should come see - he'll make you love it too!
Welcome on board, Mike!
Learn more about Mike at www.MikeTheSpike.com
2) What is your musical background and influences? - A few folks in my family tinkered with music, but I was affected after watching Hee Haw- Roy Clark was my hero and I started out on Banjo at age 9. But then I saw Ace Frehley, Jimmy Page, Joe Pass and that was that. Nowadays I can say I'm influenced by everything from Sinatra to Slayer, from Ministry to Mantovani, Bob Marley to Bob Mould. Good music is good music and that's influential to me
3) What is the role of education in music? - Educated musicians make better musicians. But conversely, playing music also betters one's learning skills. My son is Low-Brass leader in his HS marching band and I see it first-hand
4) How do you feel about the current ‘state of the music industry’? - Do I have to answer that? Damn, well. It's totally awesome that production technology is now in the hands of the end user, it's intuitive and easy to use and apply. BUT that does not in way way constitute a good songwriter. While it's great for everyone to make their own music, there's more for the music fan to go through to get to the cream.
5) Why do you play Mooer pedals? - I get around town and play a TON of dates every year. Mooer makes the transitioning easy, and you never have to worry about it sounding good!
Friends that regularly gig with Mike are real-life friends like Koko Powell from the Edgar Winter Group, Jimmy Keegan of Spock's Beard, Scott Devours from Roger Daltrey, Steve Bartek and John Avila from Oingo Boingo, Bill Lanham from Joe Walsh, Paul Kostabi, Chip Moreland from Dread Zeppelin, Felice Hernandez and so many mmore. Mike enjoys his time onstage with his friends, and looks forward to the live interaction with folks in his face. He can be found playing pubs all around Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Fullerton, Whittier and others in and around LA and OC. Some of the musicians he's had sub in his cover band continue to work with acts like Joe Satriani, Edgar Winter, Tony Orlando, CSN, Dave Gilmour, Pat Benatar and Neil Geraldo, Joe Walsh, Oingo Boingo, Etc.
Music is music, and that's why Mike loves to play regardless of venue or locale. He's played just about every type of music and has a gigantic library of songs in his head to pull from nowhere. There's just about zero kind of music, actually, he doesn't like. You should come see - he'll make you love it too!
Welcome on board, Mike!
Learn more about Mike at www.MikeTheSpike.com
Exclusive Interview with Mike the Spike
1) What are you working on now? - Rehearsing for Halloween 2018 shows with Oingo Boingo Dance Party and after that, getting ready to play my original band Human Haggis' new release on Neighborhood Records NYC "Sloppy Seconds" - Available now on iTunes Apple music, Spotify etc.2) What is your musical background and influences? - A few folks in my family tinkered with music, but I was affected after watching Hee Haw- Roy Clark was my hero and I started out on Banjo at age 9. But then I saw Ace Frehley, Jimmy Page, Joe Pass and that was that. Nowadays I can say I'm influenced by everything from Sinatra to Slayer, from Ministry to Mantovani, Bob Marley to Bob Mould. Good music is good music and that's influential to me
3) What is the role of education in music? - Educated musicians make better musicians. But conversely, playing music also betters one's learning skills. My son is Low-Brass leader in his HS marching band and I see it first-hand
4) How do you feel about the current ‘state of the music industry’? - Do I have to answer that? Damn, well. It's totally awesome that production technology is now in the hands of the end user, it's intuitive and easy to use and apply. BUT that does not in way way constitute a good songwriter. While it's great for everyone to make their own music, there's more for the music fan to go through to get to the cream.
5) Why do you play Mooer pedals? - I get around town and play a TON of dates every year. Mooer makes the transitioning easy, and you never have to worry about it sounding good!