The bass that I play right now is the ASH 5 Lunar bass. It is a 34" neck thru bass with a mahogany body, maple neck and rosewood fretboard. It has a single saddle bridge, EMG pick ups and EQ. It also has a trans black flame finish with all black hardware and phases of the moon for fret marker inlays. It's a dream to play. It has the best features and qualities of many other basses all wrapped up into one. The neck is fairly slim for a bass neck, which lets me get around quicker and more smoothly, while the sound of the bass has much more girth with a hint of anger in the tone. When hearing it you would never know it weighs less than 10 lbs.
Before Origin I played in a band called Once Living from Topeka, KS. That band eventually turned into Trails of Decay. I also played in Unmerciful for a short time as well as Gorgasm. I am also working with a band from the KC area called Troglodyte.
I guess that would be when I realized that I could support my family from playing bass. I'm very fortunate to be able to play Death Metal and still pay the bills. Death Metal and paying the bills don't generally go hand in hand. That being said, I work with medical supplies when I'm home.
I had known Paul for some time before I played for Origin. We were both from Topeka and our bands would do shows together and we had both jammed with the same people and been in bands with the same guys. When Doug Williams left the band shortly after the release of the S/T album Paul had asked if I would have any interest in filling the spot. I was totally thrilled and terrified at the opportunity and eagerly accepted the challenge.
Ridiculous, spontaneous, educational and fun. The intimidation factor passed years ago. Now we understand how each of us approaches our instrument and can anticipate what each of us will do in a pinch while performing. Playing in Origin is fun because we dont take it too seriously.
I have given it some thought. I have thought of giving lessons in the future but I don't know that that time is right now. My approach to playing bass is not text book. I have never taken lessons and I don't know music. The reason I play bass the way I do is because no one taught me. No one told me I couldn't do something. No one told me what I was doing was not right. I picked up a bass with no limits or boundaries. My only teacher was the sounds in the music I was listening to and my need to mirror them. As time progressed my technique would change and I would learn posture and positioning of the bass. Exploiting aspects of the instrument to economize motion.
It's not easy. We were busy supporting Entity most all year in one way or another. I am married and I do have two kids. My wife, Sarah, supports what I do and does an amazing job playing mommy and daddy to our kids when I'm gone. I know it's a lot to ask of her and I do my best to make it up to her when I am home. Without her support I don't know that I could do what I do. We keep in touch through Skype or other messages when I'm on the road. I can see the kids and they can see me and it helps out a lot.
Currently I am using a Mesa m-pulse 600 head, a dbx 166xl compressor, a BBE 882i sonic maximizer, a korg DRR-1000 tuner, furman surge protector, Mesa powerhouse 1000, Monster cables, shure mics, SKB cases, sansamp, D'Addario strings and BOSS tuner pedals when applicable.
It was new. I had been doing vocals for years live but to do it on a recording was a bit humbling. Everything is so crisp and clear when you're doing it. I kept thinking, I'm a bass player, what am I doing? But once I got past the initial wave of anxiety it was fun.
Paul wrote Entity top to bottom. He brought the new material to the table and let John and myself add our own tricks and tinsel. I don't feel like Origin has to put such a stress on speed anymore. I feel like to focus now is on creating a catchy song. Something you realize you're humming and didn't know it.
New material is in the works. We hope to be in the studio in 2013. We have also been accumulating footage for a DVD. Time not spent on stage is not time off. It's time spent conspiring.
Like I mentioned before, I haven't really ever given lessons. I hope that after going to an Origin show people will see other methods or approaches to playing their instrument.
Cannibal, Sadus, Gorguts, Suffocation. I guess I liked the bass players' take on the music and how they chose to add to it.
I have never met him in person nor seen him play live but I am amazed at the way Victor Wooten plays bass. Not only because I can't pull off some of his techniques but because he can write a good song.
I'm a husband and a father. I have a job, the kids have activities. We have family and friends we like to spend time with. I have a great group of friends in Topeka. I go to shows. Practice, write, record. I also play in a band here in the area called Troglodyte and they have been keeping me busy here lately.
I don't follow it too much. My wife loves it and I'll proly endure it later on this evening. She is like the authority on all things dead. I kinda dig it but I need to see from start to current and I haven't which is proly why I haven't dedicated much time to it. I'm kinda afraid I'd get addicted.
Yes, everyday, but then I go check the mail and it's full of bills so I have to go back to work and play bass.
Blakhart is a line of instruments intended for playing heavy music. It is developed with Metal music in mind. From the playability, to the sound, to the look. Blakhart is designed to play Metal.
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Mike Flores is, without a doubt, one of the elite bassists in extreme music. His technical abilities leave most musicians choking on his dust. His undeniable skills have put him in a class very few will ever achieve, and where most cannot even conceive. Mike has taken bass playing beyond the backbeat and pushed it to the forefront and put a spotlight on the potentials and possibilities of what a quality bassist can bring to a band.
This time around with the Blakhart Artist Focus, we decided to add an additional element to the basic interview format. We opened up our Facebook stage and invited questions for Mike direct from the fans. We have selected random questions to better inform you of what YOU wanted to know about Mike.
