You remember this guy ?

[Robert Burns]

Certainly set himself apart from most shredders, with an ungodly
Freightrain blues style! Michael Lee Firkins.. For some reason he
didnt make it real big...but he should have imo..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ_da...related&search=

[ADR]

Robert: The name doesnt ring a bell, but he was real good on the vid. Thanx for posting.

[kmanick]

Firkins is awesome!
I heard he became a preacher.
He only released 2 CD's that I'm aware of.
I jam to his first CD all the time, great stuff.
I just learned this tune a little while ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9NJqfy6YUY&mode=related&search=

[mhalsey]

Pretty cool! His style reminds me of Satriani.

[Dan]

Yeah he is from here(Omaha,Nebraska) My Wife has his first Cassette!!(Remember those?) I always thought he was very good. I can find out what he is doing.He stops in from time-to-time at a couple of places here.

[Robert Burns]

Firkins is awesome!
I heard he became a preacher.
He only released 2 CD's that I'm aware of.
I jam to his first CD all the time, great stuff.
I just learned this tune a little while ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9NJq...elated&search=

I hear that he is completing a new album soon...so he may be
back in the game soon!

[horns666]

Yeah, I got his stuff..don't like the hawiian slide stuff really..it's good..I just don't like it. His 1st release is my fave.

He had a VERY short stint with David Lee Roth..and was endorsed by Yahmaha "Pacifica".

Then Nirvana came along and pulled the plug on all things shred.

Three cds.

[Robert Burns]

Pretty cool! His style reminds me of Satriani.

Like Mark Knoffler meets Satch! He really uses the whammy bar
with taste. A totally unique playing style imo

[dannyr]

I've never heard of him, but that was a cool video. Great playing! Agreed he has a unique style.

[Top Jimmy B]

I have always liked his playing, his use of the bar was totally unique in shred at the time, especially how he created those slide sounds. His first album was, by far, his best. This isn't his best performance, or song, but it's a fair representation of his style. His Hot Licks tape was bitchin.

Thanks for the clip.

[fuel0707]

Actually, Firkins put out 5 albums, 4 under his own name.

"Michael Lee Firkins", "Chapter Eleven", "Cactus Cruz" and "Decomposition" were under his own name.

He did one album under the name "The Howling Igaunas" with Little John Chrisley and Jimmy O'Shea.

According to his website, he was to have been part of an all-star tribute to Sly and the Family Stone that was slated for release in May, 2004. I don't know if that disc ever came out.

All of this info is from this website: http://www.michaelleefirkins.com/

[horns666]

Ahhh.. I have his s/t, chapter eleven and cactus cruz..I thought he poofed after that.

[JACKSONFREAK]

I have his first disk and it's awesome. Great tone, serious chops, and very unique style. Really like his stuff.
Gil

[Bengal65]

Didn't he do some instructional video's for Homespun or REH? I seem to remember seeing one.

[fullmetalguitar]

Michael is amazing. I absolutely love his first CD.

I actually saw him play live at NAMM before his CD came out. It was in this big Yamaha room. And he had Jeff Pilson and I think the same drummer from the CD playing with him. They sounded awesome. I remember seeing Mike Varney standing there like a proud papa. Paul Gilbert was also standing there watching. Everyone looked impressed.