Mike McAvan

Bio:

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Mike McAvan got his start at the age of 12 years of age. Coping signatures licks from bands like Black Sabbath, Anvil, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and AC/DC, Mike progressed quickly and under the early guidance and instruction from fingerstyle guru Dunstan Morey, Mike thrived at the art of guitar playing. After high school, he enrolled at the prestigious G.I.T. campus t Musician's Institute where he received invaluable instruction from teachers like Paul Gilbert, Jennifer Batten, Frank Gambale, Scott Henderson, Don Mock, Tommy Tedesco and a first chance meeting with Billy Sheehan. Mike played in a succession of heavy metal/ thrash bands that never seemed to go anywhere. After a few years of hitting the popular Artful Dodger jams in Toronto, he met drummer Craig Snelson and formed the pop/rock band Waiting For Lucy. A slew of endorsement deals and clinic tours followed that found Mike McAvan endorsing products like Parker guitars, Washburn guitars, Digitech processors, Marshall amps and Seymour Duncan pick-ups. After several years of playing, gigging and recording, Mike left the fold to work on a heavier, more progressive project. Whie keeping up the guitar clinics, he formed the Progressive Metal trio Oxygen with drummer Kyle Hall and bassist Christian Beausoleil. The trio worked feverishly to create a new sound with their unique blend of chops and songwriting sensibilty. Oxygen sadly called it a day after two years of slugging it out. It's at this time when Mike McAvan began to work with Roy Young (The Who, Jeff Beck, The Beatles, David Bowie, Long John Baldry). Recording, writing, wine and more jamming continued to fill his plate until Mike had the itch to play live again. Upon a chance listen, Betty at Metal Queen Management had tapped Mike to play at her first annual Metal Queen festival. Handling vocals and guitar, Mike McAvan assembled bassist Bryan Parker and drummer Fred Lea and thus the original incarnation of Sixes & Sevens was born. Shortly after Sixes & Sevens' genesis, Mike received some endorsements with Musicman guitars, Ernie Ball strings, Koch amplifiers, Evidence Audio cable and most recently JAM pedals. the festival, a series of line-up changes brought Mike to the incarnation of Sixes & Sevens featuring Maxel Black on vocals, Chuck Majic on bass and whirling and twirling Steve Thorpe on drums. Today, Mike McAvan remains very active with Sixes & Sevens on the Toronto scene. He is currently also slowly working on a guitar solo CD which feature many guest appearances. Also on the horizon is an "allstar/supergroup" cover band with Michelle Truman on vocals, Mike on guitar and vocals, Guenther Capelle on bass and Chris Lesso on drums. Look for them to terrorize a watering hole near you. Mike McAvan proudly uses and endorses the following products: Ernie Ball/Musicman guitars and strings, Koch amplifiers, Evidence Audio cables, JAM pedals (handmade in Greece), DiMarzio pick-ups and BOSS pedals.

Member Since:

January 13, 2008

Influences:

Steve Morse, Mattias Ecklundh, Rob Urbinati & Joe Rico from Sacrifice, Lips from Anvil, Tony Iommi, Kim Mitchell, Dan Huff, Pat Thrall, Fast Eddie Clarke, Dunstan Morey, John Petrucci, Steve Vai, Michael Hedges, The California Guitar Trio, Steven Coles, Ted Quinlan, Allan Holdsworth, Michel Cusson, Paul Gilbert, Trevor Rabin, Andy Summers, Leslie West, Jimi Hendrix, Ty Tabor, Mashadi Mohamed, Paul Garvey, Mike Keneally, Dan Huff, Levon Ichkhanian, Eddie Van Halen, Dimebag Darrell Abbott, Andy McKean

Sounds Like:

Mattias Ecklundh being thrown down a flight of stairs by Rob Urbinati and Joe Rico from Sacrifice and being caught at the last minute by John Petrucci and Steve Morse in a heroic fireman from hell style.
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Record Label:

6:25 Productions