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12-12-11
The rumors are true. Desperate
Bandwives, one of the longest
running and most prestigious
cover bands in Omaha is breaking
up. I'll be honest, I'm not
happy about it. DBW made it for
6 years, which is almost unheard
of for a cover band. I am so
proud and honored to have been a
small part of it. I have heard
that there are rumors floating
around, and I want to briefly
address those. No one was fired,
no one was asked to leave, no
one has any family problems, no
one is using drugs, no one is
drinking to excess. Those are
just the ones I heard were going
around. I think collectively,
people in the band just wanted
different things. Candidly,
agreeing on a revised set list
seemed to be the big issue, so
creative differences would
probably be the best way to put
it.
Every member of this band is
very talented, and this last
couple of years (minus the
months I was away) has been
wonderful for Melinda and I. I
love playing with DBW and I
regret that in the end we all
couldn't sit down at a table and
agree on where to go from here.
Unfortunately, that didn't
happen. We have four shows left
in January, and I would
appreciate it if the friends of
Mad Mike would make an effort to
come out to one of the last
shows to send us off in style. I
would like to give an extra
special thanks to Jack
Christian, because it was he who
got me this great gig the last
couple years. He and his wife
Kaylene are such great friends
and I am going to miss being on
a stage with both of them. I
know we will all remain friends
because cover bands come and go,
true friendships last a
lifetime.
One final thought, I am like
Michael Anthony. I am a never
say never type of guy. Who knows
what the future may hold,
because I sure don't. My door
will always be open to some sort
of DBW reunion down the road.
I'm not sure if that will ever
happen or not, I'm just saying
that on my end, the door will
always be wide open to it. I
have had so much fun the last
few years with this group of
people that all the blood, sweat
and tears I put into being a
musician finally paid off. So
many people along the way were
negative and told me that what I
wanted to do couldn't be done,
all I can say is that whatever
happens from here is gravy
because DBW was something more
than I ever thought I would be
able to do. It's hard for me to
even care to much anymore, when
I started there were a few
things that were goals that I
wanted to achieve. I've
surpassed all my original goals,
so if I never play again, I
think I'd be ok with it. We will
see what happens, for now that's
all I know. Thanks again to all
of you for all the support you
have given me through the years,
and have a great holiday season!
mjf |
08-12-11
Big News!
Ok, after taking a 6 week break
from music, Mad Mike is back on
stage tonight with Desperate
Bandwives at Cappy's in Lincoln!
Show starts at 9:30. Sorry for
the same day notice here, but
this all just happened. Here's
the best part- this isn't a
reunion show, it's a full blown
reunion! My replacement in DBW
decided that with having a full
time job, a wife and 4 kids, and
being the front man of the
incredible band John Doe that
something had to give. Luckily
for me, DBW was it. He is such a
great guy and is leaving DBW on
the best of terms. Make sure you
check John Doe out, because on
nights when I'm not playing and
they are, there's a pretty good
chance I'll be there watching
those guys and cheering them on!
As an aside, I'm also filling in
for Grand Theft Girlfriend the
following two weeks when their
every day bass player is
unavailable.
I am so very fortunate because
leaving DBW was a mistake that I
made awhile back and have had to
live with. Please give me at
least a little credit because
I've stated that publicly more
than once. I love Mr. Hand and
all the guys in it, but playing
with them was a move I should
not have made. Not often in life
do you get a second chance to
make things right, and I know
that. I have such a chemistry
with DBW and everyone in it, it
really makes me wonder what I
was on at the time to be able to
walk away from such a great gig.
I can't say it was wrong for me
to want to play with my Brothers
in Mr. Hand, I can say it was
wrong for me to walk away from
my family in DBW to do it. All I
can say is I NEVER make the same
mistake twice and we'll leave it
at that.
I've spoken to the band about
it, and I'll just say it now how
grateful I am they are having me
back. They didn't have to do
that and could have told me to
go piss up a rope, but they
didn't. I certainly would have
understood it if they had, a
band with that type of talent in
it can have anybody they want to
play with, and again they choose
me. Part of even me is
scratching my head on that one.
They have all proven a loyalty
to me and to all of our
friendships that is second to
none, and anyone who knows me
knows that nothing means more in
the world to me then loyalty to
my friends. Forget about playing
in a band for a second, this is
far beyond that. At least it is
to me, anyway. I'm usually not
this sentimental, but this has
been a big ordeal for me. The
universe has spoken, and DBW is
my home and where I should have
been all along. I have been
humbled beyond belief, and I
welcome the chance to make it up
to all of them. Believe me when
I say that I will. It may take
some time, but I'm going to
enjoy every minute of it.
While I'm at it, I want to thank
anybody who is reading this.
Anybody who takes the time to
check up on my comings and
goings deserves a big thank you
from me. I'm the luckiest son of
a bitch you ever met, but at
least I have common sense enough
to know it. I've met so many
great people through the years
because of this site, and that
would include everyone from DBW!
I hope to see you all at a DBW
show sometime soon. We have a
new set list along with keeping
a lot of the killer old stuff, I
promise that your gonna love it!
Thanks again for all of your
support!
Mad Mike
p.s. Isn't it ironic that Mad
Mike has nothing in the world to
be mad about? Solve that riddle
if you can! |
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07-11-11
This update kind of sucks.
Mr. Hand has decided to
retire effective 11-23-11
and I have elected to just
end my time with them now.
There are no hard feelings
and I wish those guys the
best. They have never been
anything but good to me.
They have decided that its
time for them to stop and I
have decided that if the end
is near, I'm just going to
end my time early. They
played as a 3 piece before
me for 11 years and so I
know they won't miss a beat
without me. I would never
leave if they had needed me,
but those guys are all great
and should finish things off
together.
I'm sure most of you know I
left a wonderful project in
January to get into Mr. Hand
and I know now that was a
huge mistake. I accept
full responsibility for that
and know when its best
to just walk away. I'm a
never say never type of guy,
but I'm done with playing
for the time being. I have
been fortunate to already
have a couple bands contact
me about openings, but after
playing in 6 bands in 7
years, I am pretty much at
the end of my musical rope.
I'm tired of learning 50 of
more new songs per year,
most of which I don't like,
only to start all over the
next year with somebody
else.
It's been a great time and I
thank you all for your
support. Like I said, I'm
not closing the door on
music forever. I'm just
closing the door for now and
after some time off I will
see how I feel about
things. I have no time
tables and am just going to
try to have as much fun as I
can, even though I am no
longer doing something I
love. The website will
remain up for now as I just
paid last month to continue
the hosting for the next 2
years, but that's pretty
much the only reason.
Thanks again for all your
support.
mjf
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04-09-11
OK, I
know it's been way to long since I've
updated the site. In my defense, it has
been crazy busy at work. We have tried 3
jury trials in the last 30 days alone!
On the weekends, I have been on the road
with the band and haven't had the
ability to do updates. This winter was
crazy and I just haven't had the time.
I'm going to try to do better.
Lot's of great things to report! Mr.
Hand is doing great, I'm having so much
fun being out on the road with those
guys and revisiting my past! DBW found a
great bass player to replace me. More
importantly, he's a wonderful human
being that I enjoy watching play and
hanging out with. As promised, I'm going
to all the DBW shows I can and partying
with them. Such a great band and such
great Friends! Nothing has changed
between me and the band. They are better
then ever and I'm enjoying still being
part of the DBW Nation!
For all you bass players out there,
check out my new tone page! It's a long
read, but an enjoyable one that a lot of
bass players (and guitar players!) will
probably be able to relate to. I have
had a sometimes unhealthy obsession with
tone through the years and I basically
explain how I came about using the gear
that I'm using now. It was a lot of
trial and error, but I think in the end
I finally got something pretty special
with my tone. I hope you enjoy it, and
please let me know what you think!
You can check out dates for Mr. Hand at
www.mrhand.com. In addition, if your
on
Facebook and you haven't already,
please look us up and click the "Like"
button. We would sure appreciate it if
you did! 2011 is a transition year for
the band as we are working Omaha hard so
that in 2012, we are hoping to play
about 85% of our shows here. Hopefully,
we will be breaking into the Omaha scene
soon!
Thanks again for checking out the site!
Come back again soon!
Mad Mike
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06-27-10
MAD MIKE IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for the delay in updating the
site! We have been extremely busy
this year, in fact DBW played 8 out of 9
weekends in the most recent stretch so I
haven't had time to really catch my
breath! Lots more shows coming up,
check out the website for more
information.
A big thanks to Mr. Hand! They had
me up playing with them yesterday
opening for Night Ranger, Loverboy and
Rick Springfield in Norfolk! My
wife Melinda and I met Rick backstage
and even got an autographed guitar from
him! A very special day for us
indeed. I'm a huge fan of his, even if
I was the only dude backstage to meet
him! Great memories and it was
awesome to get to talk to him a bit.
Good times!
Keep checking back and I'll see you
soon!
Mad Mike
** Click on
thumbnail to see full size photo **
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01-17-10
Hello Everyone! Just a quick update, we
have a new shows page on MML that will
make it easier to check my band
schedule. As always, double check it
before traveling to far for a show to
make sure there aren't any last minute
changes.
I hope everyone's 2010 is going well! It
seems like only yesterday I was loading
up all my guns for Y2K, and that was 10
years ago! Time flies when your having
fun I guess! Anyway, thanks as always
for checking up on me by looking at the
site. We're planning on having a great
2010 and all of you will be a big part
of it. I am thankful for all the great
friends I have made over the years and
am grateful for all your support. Hope
to see you all soon!
Mad Mike
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12.17.09
Happy
Holidays from Mad Mike!
I just wanted to update everybody about
the DBW shows coming up. As always,
check back as we get closer to the show
dates to confirm that there haven't been
any schedule changes, but this is what
the schedule is looking like going into
summer of 2010. Obviously, we will be
adding more shows in the near future,
but these are the shows that are already
confirmed.
December 26- Pieces Ultra Bar
New Years Eve Show- The Boulevard
January 2nd- The Ozone
January 22nd and 23rd- The Arena
February 20th- The Ozone
March 12 and 13th- Pieces Ultra Bar
April 3rd- Two Fine Irishmen
April 24th- The Ozone
June 5th- The Ozone
August 27th and 28th- The Arena
I also want to say thank you to the many
friends that have come out to see DBW
the last few months, and thank you all
again for your support. I am truly
blessed to play for such a great band
and
to have so many great friends. This have
been probably the most difficult year of
my life with the loss of my Father and
my two dogs that were like kids to me,
but I have managed to hang in there with
the love and support of my friends and
family. God bless you all and have a
wonderful holiday season!
Mad Mike
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11.08.09
Mad Mike is
back!!!!!!!!!!!
Desperate
Bandwives is
playing November
20th and 21st at
the Arena and
December 4th and
5th at the Ozone
located in
Anthony's
Steakhouse.
Hope to see you
there!
Best wishes as
we close out a
Rockin 2009!
Get ready for
bigger and even
better things in
2010!
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09-17-09
B I G N E W S ! ! ! !
Mad Mike has been offered
and accepted the job of bass
player of Desperate
Bandwives! In addition,
D'Vine has elected to
reform and start playing
shows regularly sometime in
the winter! Hopefully,
after the booking situation
gets worked out, you can
plan on seeing D'Vine one
weekend a month and DBW on
another weekend every month!
I just want to briefly say a
big thanks to all the
members DBW! I am honored
that they choose me to play
for them and couldn't be any
more excited to get rocking
again! Obviously, they
are heavy hitter's on the
Omaha cover band scene and
this is what I have been
waiting for a long time.
For me, it's truly a dream
come true.
Jack and I work well
together and my style of
bass really compliments his
style of playing guitar, so
I am seriously pumped
about things! Top it off
with their great drummer and
over the top Angels on the
mics, and the future is
looking bright!
More information to follow,
but just a quick thank you
for all of your support
through the years! See you
soon!
Mad Mike
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08-15-09
By
now, everyone has probably heard
that my band D'Vine has broken up.
What you might not have heard is
that we have decided to do one last
show together to end things the
right way.
We were offered a chance to headline
this years Reedstock Festival in
Bee, Nebraska and it was just too
great of an opportunity for us to
pass up. I have never played a
Reedstock before, but I have heard
about them for years. Trust
me, it's the stuff legends are made
of. Here's your chance to see
D'Vine do it all one last time!
D'Vine hits the stage at 9:00 p.m.
sharp on Saturday, August 29th.
The
address of the show is 2366 224 Road
in Bee, Nebraska. Click on the
link for the directions on how to
get there, and also please take note
that there is alternate directions
on the link to the back up show
location in case of bad weather.
No matter what happens, D'Vine will
be rocking on the 29th!. This
is a family friendly event, so feel
free to bring the kids.
Please
note that this is a BYOB event, but
admission is free and snack food
will be provided free of charge.
Bring your lawn chairs, otherwise
you can stand next to the stage and
rock out with us all night!
If
anybody is in the mood for a road
trip, this will be a can't miss
event. If you your going to
make it, please e-mail me so we can
get a headcount. This should
be a great night of music and fun.
Hope to see you all there!
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R.I.P.
D'Vine
1998-2009
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