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Michael Todd (musician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Todd or Mic Todd (born August 19, 1980) was the bassist for progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria
. Todd left the band in August 2006 because of personal issues, but officially rejoined the group on April 25, 2007. Upon the time of his initial departure, he had been with the band for ten years. He officially parted ways with the band on August 4, 2011. He was born in Kingston, New York
.
needed a new bass player to replace founding member Jon Carleo, drummer Nate Kelley
suggested a former bandmate named Mic Todd. Originally a guitarist, he was asked to join the band to fill out their rhythm section. Picking up the bass solely for the new band, Todd became the band's steady bassist through their alt-rock days of Shabűtie into the band's transformation to progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria.
On July 10, 2011, during a tour with Soundgarden
, Todd was arrested at the Comcast Center
in Mansfield, Massachusetts
for armed robbery and unlawful possession of narcotics after reportedly robbing a Walgreens
pharmacy in Attleboro, Massachusetts
. . After his arrest, the band announced that Wes Styles
will be taking over bass duties for the remainder of the tour.
On August 4, 2011, the band released an official statement stating that they had come to a mutual decision with Todd to part ways.
Mic Todd plays bass using the traditional finger approach, fingering the strings with the index and middle finger of his right hand, and more recently with a three-finger approach. He has been known to also use the slapping technique. He often arpeggiates the chords played by guitarists Claudio Sanchez
and Travis Stever
and makes heavy use of fifths and octaves of the root of the chord being played.
, Todd provided the screaming vocals when playing older songs such as: "Devil in Jersey City
", "Everything Evil", "Delirium Trigger", "Hearshot Kid Disaster", "Junesong Provision", "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
", "Three Evils (Embodied In Love And Shadow)", and "The Camper Velourium III: Al The Killer", as well as new songs such as "The End Complete III: The End Complete", "This Shattered Symphony" and "When Skeletons Live". During live performances he also handled most of the backing vocals and harmonies - notably on "The Suffering", using a falsetto voice (as the original lines were sung by a female friend of the band).
It is bolt-on construction, with two passive EMG-HZ bass humbucker
s and a Spector "Tone Pump" active preamp and EQ. It was made in the Czech Republic
and has black hardware with a phenolic nut (a black nut). This bass was used mainly during the Second Stage Turbine Blade and most of the In Keeping Secrets era. This bass can be seen on the Live at the Starland Ballroom DVD along with his infamous red-edged double bass (the beast-monger) sculpted by Todd's grandfather.
It is of the neck-thru construction, with two EMG pickups, one P style and one J style pickup (the P at the neck position and the J at the bridge position). It has the same Tone Pump circuitry as the ReBop. Its hardware is finished in gold and has a brass nut. It is tuned to Eb as Coheed And Cambria currently play all their live songs in this tuning. This was Mic's bass of choice in the Good Apollo Volume 1 era. This bass has been used since the "Good Apollo..." era and can be seen in the videos "Welcome Home" and "The Suffering." He is also known to own a Black Cherry EuroLX 4. It can be seen in the "Ten Speed (Of God's Blood And Burial)" video.
Fenders
It has two Vintage Jazz Bass Single-Coil Pickups (stock). In the Live at the Starland Ballroom DVD, Todd is seen using this bass to play the Coheed and Cambria song "A Favor House Atlantic". He just recently removed the pickguard to give it an all black look.
Mic Todd has favored Fenders recently; using them exclusively with Coheed and Cambria on the 2007 Van's Warped Tour. These basses include:
' solo project, The Prize Fighter Inferno
. He cites female folk singers, such as Ani DiFranco
and Ingrid Michaelson
, as his songwriting influences.
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
. Todd left the band in August 2006 because of personal issues, but officially rejoined the group on April 25, 2007. Upon the time of his initial departure, he had been with the band for ten years. He officially parted ways with the band on August 4, 2011. He was born in Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
.
Shabűtie
When the band ShabűtieCoheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
needed a new bass player to replace founding member Jon Carleo, drummer Nate Kelley
Nate Kelley
Nate Kelley was the original drummer and backing vocalist for the progressive rock band Shabutie . Kelley, along with Claudio Sanchez, Travis Stever and Jon Carleo formed the band Beautiful Loser in 1995, which later became Shabutie after Stever left. Kelley left Shabutie in February 2000...
suggested a former bandmate named Mic Todd. Originally a guitarist, he was asked to join the band to fill out their rhythm section. Picking up the bass solely for the new band, Todd became the band's steady bassist through their alt-rock days of Shabűtie into the band's transformation to progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria.
Departures from Coheed and Cambria
At the beginning of the 2006 European Tour, Todd left the band due to a growing heroin addiction, and eventually checked into rehab. During the time he was absent, Matt Williams of pre-Coheed band Jumblehead was Coheed's substitute bassist.On July 10, 2011, during a tour with Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
, Todd was arrested at the Comcast Center
Comcast Center
Comcast Center may refer to:* Comcast Center , skyscraper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania* Comcast Center , Mansfield, Massachusetts, near Boston* Comcast Center , College Park, Maryland...
in Mansfield, Massachusetts
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Mansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population is 23,184. Mansfield is in the south-southwest suburbs of Boston and is also close to Providence, Rhode Island....
for armed robbery and unlawful possession of narcotics after reportedly robbing a Walgreens
Walgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
pharmacy in Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of...
. . After his arrest, the band announced that Wes Styles
Wes Styles
Wes Styles is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, earned his stage name by playing several different "styles" of music...
will be taking over bass duties for the remainder of the tour.
On August 4, 2011, the band released an official statement stating that they had come to a mutual decision with Todd to part ways.
Playing style
Todd's preferred bass is a Spector Euro model, which was used heavily in the band's music videos and live performances. In the past, he has utilized ESP basses (Delirium Trigger video), Spector basses (particularly the Rebop model), Fender's Geddy Lee Signature Jazz Bass (Live At The Starland Ballroom); since the Vans' 2007 Warped Tour, Mic has been seen using Fender Jazz and Precision Basses exclusively.Mic Todd plays bass using the traditional finger approach, fingering the strings with the index and middle finger of his right hand, and more recently with a three-finger approach. He has been known to also use the slapping technique. He often arpeggiates the chords played by guitarists Claudio Sanchez
Claudio Sanchez
Claudio Paul Sanchez is an American writer and musician best known for being the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative/progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria. He is also the creator of the comic book series, The Amory Wars and Kill Audio, co-written with wife Chondra Echert...
and Travis Stever
Travis Stever
Travis Stever is the lead/rhythm guitarist for Coheed and Cambria, a progressive rock band from New York.-Shabűtie:Travis joined the band Shabűtie in 1995 along with vocalist/guitarist Claudio Sanchez, bassist Jon Carleo, and drummer Nate Kelley. After an argument over gas money the band split up,...
and makes heavy use of fifths and octaves of the root of the chord being played.
Vocals
During live shows with Coheed and CambriaCoheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
, Todd provided the screaming vocals when playing older songs such as: "Devil in Jersey City
Devil in Jersey City
"Devil in Jersey City" is a song by rock band Coheed and Cambria from their 2002 album The Second Stage Turbine Blade.-Music video:The music video features the band in an abandoned space station playing while switching with scenes that correspond with the lyrics. There are scenes of a mysterious...
", "Everything Evil", "Delirium Trigger", "Hearshot Kid Disaster", "Junesong Provision", "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
Notes: It is debated whether tracks 7-9 are titled "The Camper Velourium" or "The Velourium Camper." The original CD and most websites list the tracks as "Velourium Camper," but the re-released CD case and the official website both say "Camper Velourium." Claudio referred to the ship that the...
", "Three Evils (Embodied In Love And Shadow)", and "The Camper Velourium III: Al The Killer", as well as new songs such as "The End Complete III: The End Complete", "This Shattered Symphony" and "When Skeletons Live". During live performances he also handled most of the backing vocals and harmonies - notably on "The Suffering", using a falsetto voice (as the original lines were sung by a female friend of the band).
Todd's basses
Spectors- Rebop5: fretted five-string bass guitar, orange in color. Called "Amber" by Spector.
It is bolt-on construction, with two passive EMG-HZ bass humbucker
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
s and a Spector "Tone Pump" active preamp and EQ. It was made in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and has black hardware with a phenolic nut (a black nut). This bass was used mainly during the Second Stage Turbine Blade and most of the In Keeping Secrets era. This bass can be seen on the Live at the Starland Ballroom DVD along with his infamous red-edged double bass (the beast-monger) sculpted by Todd's grandfather.
- Euro 4 LX: A fretted four-string bass guitar with a natural maple oil finish.
It is of the neck-thru construction, with two EMG pickups, one P style and one J style pickup (the P at the neck position and the J at the bridge position). It has the same Tone Pump circuitry as the ReBop. Its hardware is finished in gold and has a brass nut. It is tuned to Eb as Coheed And Cambria currently play all their live songs in this tuning. This was Mic's bass of choice in the Good Apollo Volume 1 era. This bass has been used since the "Good Apollo..." era and can be seen in the videos "Welcome Home" and "The Suffering." He is also known to own a Black Cherry EuroLX 4. It can be seen in the "Ten Speed (Of God's Blood And Burial)" video.
- Q4: A fretless four-string bass guitar in a black stain finish. It is the same bolt-on construction as the Rebop, and has the same pickups, hardware, nut, and electronics. The Q4 is the prequel series of basses to the current "Legend" Spector series. It is used mainly for recording, very rarely showing up at live performances.
Fenders
- Geddy LeeGeddy LeeGary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
Jazz Bass: A fretted four-string bass guitar in a black finish.
It has two Vintage Jazz Bass Single-Coil Pickups (stock). In the Live at the Starland Ballroom DVD, Todd is seen using this bass to play the Coheed and Cambria song "A Favor House Atlantic". He just recently removed the pickguard to give it an all black look.
- American Jazz Bass in alpine white, kept stock (The Running Free music video)
Mic Todd has favored Fenders recently; using them exclusively with Coheed and Cambria on the 2007 Van's Warped Tour. These basses include:
- Highway 1 Precision Bass in red with white pick guard
- Highway 1 Jazz Bass in black with black pick guard
- Highway 1 Precision Bass in black with white pick guard
Solo project
In an interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com, Todd stated that he had been working on his own music during his hiatus from Coheed and Cambria. He confirmed that he will at some point put out a solo album, and that it will be "more folky and more simplistic" than bandmate Claudio SanchezClaudio Sanchez
Claudio Paul Sanchez is an American writer and musician best known for being the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative/progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria. He is also the creator of the comic book series, The Amory Wars and Kill Audio, co-written with wife Chondra Echert...
' solo project, The Prize Fighter Inferno
The Prize Fighter Inferno
The Prize Fighter Inferno is an acoustic/electronica solo project of Claudio Sanchez, the lead singer and lead/rhythm guitarist for the band Coheed and Cambria. The first album, called My Brother's Blood Machine was released on October 31, 2006 through indie label Equal Vision Records...
. He cites female folk singers, such as Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
and Ingrid Michaelson
Ingrid Michaelson
Ingrid Ellen Egbert Michaelson is a New York-based indie-pop singer-songwriter. Her music has been featured in episodes of several popular television shows, including Scrubs, Bones, Grey's Anatomy The Big C and One Tree Hill, as well as in Old Navy's Fall 2007 Fair Isle and Opel's/Vauxhall's...
, as his songwriting influences.