Michael Angelo Batio
Hands Without Shadows
“Hands Without Shadows” or “HWS” (M.A.C.E. Records) is Michael’s most ambitious work to date featuring guest appearances by Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge and Creed, Rudy Sarzo of Ozzy, Whitesnake and Quiet Riot, Doug Marks, founder of Metal Method, virtuo
Guitar One Magazine voted Michael the no. 1 Shredder of ALL TIME in their April 2003 issue. Other notable guitarists that made the top 10 were John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Buckethead, (the late, great) Shawn Lane and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Guitar World Magazine, Jan 2004 issue, names Michael Angelo Batio’s “Speed Kills” one of the “75 Essential Guitar DVD’s”. Guitar World and a host of rock giants named their favorite guitar DVD’s. “Speed Kills”, Michael’s instructional DVD is in the category “Master Classes” with B.B King, Flea, Frank Gambale and John Petrucci. Guitar World calls “Speed Kills”:
“The ultimate face-melting instructional DVD”.
Gitaar Plus Magazine, Jan. 2004 issue in The Netherlands and Europe featured Michael as their cover story. He is pictured on the cover as well as in a 6 page article.
Guitar World Magazine (March 2004 issue) names Michael Angelo Batio one of the “Top 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time”. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Edward Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page were among the 100 chosen. Everyone from CNN to Yahoo on-line has talked and written about this.
Michael won the WAMI 2004 Guitarist of the Year award. He also performed at the awards show.
Michael was honored by the G Martell University in Mexico City, Mexico in September 2003. They named a classroom in his honor and placed his hand prints in cement displaying them on their “Walk of Fame”.
In October 2003 Dean Guitars presented Michael with a new Double-Guitar designed by Dean Zelinsky called the “The Dean Mach 7- Jet Double”.
Michael performed 108 shows in 2003.
Michael released 2 DVDs in 2003. “Speed Kills” and “Speed Lives”.
Both are in conjunction with Doug Marks and Metal Method Productions.
FHM Magazine, November issue 2003 named Michael and his “Quad” guitar one of the top 50 most outrageous moments in rock history! The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Axel Rose, The Eagles and many more were also named to the list. Halle Berry is featured on the cover.
Michael started playing piano and composing at age 5 and started playing guitar at age 10.
Michael has had 2 major label record deals. Atlantic Records with the band “Holland” and Rhino/Warner Brothers Records with the band “Nitro”.
Michael has performed over 1200 shows in 39 different countries since 1993.
He has toured the world performing guitar workshops, touring with various bands and as a solo artist. The 39 countries he has toured in are:
U.S.A (44 states including Alaska), ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, WALES, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, SPAIN, ITALY, PORTUGAL, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, FINLAND, DENMARK, SWITZERLAND, LITHUANIA, CANADA, MEXICO, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, FRANCE, PERU, The CANARY ISLANDS, TURKEY, JAPAN, CHINA, The PHILIPPINES, MALAYSIA, BRAZIL, EL SALVADOR, TAIWAN, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE, THAILAND, SWEDEN, NORWAY, HUNGARY and SLOVAKIA.
Michael invented the String Dampeners that he uses on the Double-Guitar.
Michael signed an exclusive, multi year artist endorsement agreement with Dean Guitars in 2002. He is scheduled to perform a minimum of 60 guitar clinics for them in 2004.
Michael Angelo performed the National Anthem at The Staples Center in Los Angeles on Monday March 11th, 2002. This was the 6 month anniversary of the 9-11 attack on the USA. Michael performed for a sold out crowd of over 18,000 people for the L.A. Kings vs. the Chicago Blackhawks NHL game. It was televised on the Fox network all over the US. Michael played a great original version of The Star Spangled Banner flawlessly and with heartfelt emotion. Even the announcers from Fox commented on how great his rendition was.
Michael toured in Europe with the late, legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience Bass player Noel Redding in winter of 1999.
Michael performed 217 shows in 1997 in 16 different countries. This is the most he has ever performed in 1 year. His record of consecutive shows is 25!
Michael co-wrote the song "Freight Train" in the band Nitro and it is featured in the Hulk Hogan movie: Suburban Commando's.
June 1995, Michael's first solo CD "No Boundaries" was released worldwide on M.A.C.E. Music, Inc. Records. “No Boundaries” is considered by many to be one of the best instrumental electric guitar CDs of it’s kind ever recorded.
Michael started as a session guitarist when he was 19 years old. He has recorded TV, radio and industrial film music for: Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, United Airlines, United Way, McDonalds and the Chicago Wolves hockey team among others.
Michael starred in the made for cable movie "Shock'em Dead". The movie played on Showtime, Cinemax, The Movie Channel and Pay-Per-View.
The band "Nitro" (with Michael on guitar) released the disc "O.F.R." on Rhino/Capital records. Michael produced the record and it "hit" the Billboard charts. "Nitro" made 3 MTV video's, hosted MTV's "Headbangers Ball" (where Michael played live) and toured to sold-out shows everywhere.
Michael has a no.1, best-selling "Star-Licks" instructional video. Over 100,000 videos have been sold worldwide. This video was Star Licks no.1 bestseller for 2 years straight!
Michael has a song called “Wake Up the Neighborhood” in the movie classic “Girls Just want to Have Fun” that featured Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt, Shannon Doherty and Jonathan Silverman. This was the first movie that one of his songs was placed in.
Michael invented and was the world’s first player of the twin-necked, left and right-handed Double-Guitar. He plays the guitar right or left-handed. He also plays both guitars together in harmonies or two separate parts together at the same time.
Michael is from Chicago and has a B.A. in Music Theory and Composition from Northeastern Illinois University.
At 14 he was playing Jazz and by 16 won an award for outstanding Jazz soloist on guitar.
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Below is a message from the L.A. Kings regarding Michael Angelo Batio’s performance of the National Anthem on 3-11-02- the 6 month anniversary of the September 11th attack on the United States.
Michael,
Hey, how are you? The Anthem on Monday was simply amazing! We've had great feedback on your performance, both from fans and from people within the
organization. It was great to have you perform at the game and it would be
great to have you again sometime in the future. Again, thank you for coming
out, it was phenomenal. You floored our entire fan base in only 90 seconds, it's taken the Kings a bit longer to manage that! Have a great day, and thanks again.
All the Best,
G. Wyatt Tinnen II
Los Angeles Kings
Rock: Instrumental Rock