Mike Schleibaum
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Schleibaum is an accomplished guitarist, musician, composer, and producer. He, along with lead vocalist John Henry, founded and currently plays in metal band Darkest Hour. He also works with bands as a studio producer, composes music for TV and film, and writes his online advice column www.askthedude.net.
grew up in and around the Washington, DC suburbs. Son to an ex-nun turned insurance claims adjuster and land developer, he started playing guitar at age 14. While a student at Robinson High School (Fairfax, VA) Schleibaum discovered punk and metal music and in his senior year founded Darkest Hour with lead singer John Henry.
Schleibaum then attended George Mason University
(Fairfax, VA), while continuing to tour and write with Darkest Hour. In 1999 Darkest Hour signed and was dropped from MIA records before their first full length album, Mark of the Judas, was officially released. In 2000, while still in college, Darkest Hour signed to Chicago’s Victory Records
, and released So Sedated So Secure soon afterwards. After graduating in 2001 with a bachelors of science degree in Social Work, Schleibaum started pursuing Darkest Hour full time. Darkest Hour has since gone on to record and release 6 full length records, 2 EPs, and tour in over 32 countries and 5 continents.
Schleibaum has had the opportunity to work with legendary metal producers: Fredrick Nordstrom (Studio Friedmen, Gothenburg Sweden), Devin Townsend
(Greenhouse Studios, Vancouver, BC), and Brian McTernan
(Salad Days Studios, Baltimore, MD).
With the help of his good friend and Producer, Brian McTernan, Schleibaum began producing and recording records in 2006. Many of the studio albums he has worked on were recorded at McTernan’s Salad Days studios. In December 2007 Schleibaum produced his first major record for Dead To Fall, called ‘Are You Serious?’ (Victory Records). He then worked with From Autumn to Ashes
on their final record ‘Holding a Wolf By the Ears’ (Vagrant Records). Schleibaum has also worked with artists: Destroy the Runner (Solid State), With Honor (Victory Records), These Green Eyes (Blackledge Music), Strike Anywhere (Bridge Nine), Thieves & Villains (Victory Records), and Domino Team (unsigned). Schleibaum also produced two of his personal projects Man and Wasp (featuring Frodus guitarist Shelby Cinca
) and Washington DC’s Beasts of No Nation.
In 2006 Schleibaum began composing music for TV documentaries, and continues to do so for several DC based companies, including: The Smithsonian Channels 2 hour WWII special "Wings of Honor" and "Iwo Jima” Specials, MSNBC's "Charles Manson and His Followers," National Geographic's "Behind the Photo," as well as the 13 part series "Real Interrogations" and “The Real NCIS” currently airing on Investigation Discovery.
In 2008 Schleibaum launched www.askthedude.net. Drawing from his 15 years of life as a musician and unique social work background Schleibaum set out to provide self help and advice for aspiring musicians and professional musicians alike. The site includes letters, interviews, gear reviews, and a band classifieds section.
Starting August 2011 he will be the new columnist for Pulp Magazine. A Philippine-based rock and heavy metal magazine together with Paolo Gregletto of Trivium.
Washburn N4 Nuno Bettencourt Signauture Model
Pedalboard:
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler,
Dunlop Zakk Wylde Wah,
MXR EVH Phase 90,
Boss TU-2 Tuner,
Digitech Whammy,
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer,
EVH 5150III Amp Switcher
Rack:
Furman RP-BL Power Conditioner,
Sennheiser Wireless Evolution G2,
ISP Decimator Pro Rack G (Rocktron Hush for Backup),
Alesis Quadraverb Multi-Effects Unit
Amps:
2 EVH 5150III (One for Dry signal, One for Wet Signal),
2 EVH 4x12 Cabinets w/ Celestion EVH G12 Speakers
Accessories:
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus,
Seymour Duncan Dimebucker Pickups,
SIT Strings (10-52),
Intune Picks (2.0mm)
Biography
Schleibaum was born in Fairfax, VirginiaFairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
grew up in and around the Washington, DC suburbs. Son to an ex-nun turned insurance claims adjuster and land developer, he started playing guitar at age 14. While a student at Robinson High School (Fairfax, VA) Schleibaum discovered punk and metal music and in his senior year founded Darkest Hour with lead singer John Henry.
Schleibaum then attended George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
(Fairfax, VA), while continuing to tour and write with Darkest Hour. In 1999 Darkest Hour signed and was dropped from MIA records before their first full length album, Mark of the Judas, was officially released. In 2000, while still in college, Darkest Hour signed to Chicago’s Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
, and released So Sedated So Secure soon afterwards. After graduating in 2001 with a bachelors of science degree in Social Work, Schleibaum started pursuing Darkest Hour full time. Darkest Hour has since gone on to record and release 6 full length records, 2 EPs, and tour in over 32 countries and 5 continents.
Schleibaum has had the opportunity to work with legendary metal producers: Fredrick Nordstrom (Studio Friedmen, Gothenburg Sweden), Devin Townsend
Devin Townsend
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist....
(Greenhouse Studios, Vancouver, BC), and Brian McTernan
Brian McTernan
Brian McTernan is a record producer who has worked with bands from all over the world. He works out of the Baltimore, MD area at Salad Days Studio. Brian was voted to be one of the 50 most influential people in Maryland by the Maryland Daily Record...
(Salad Days Studios, Baltimore, MD).
With the help of his good friend and Producer, Brian McTernan, Schleibaum began producing and recording records in 2006. Many of the studio albums he has worked on were recorded at McTernan’s Salad Days studios. In December 2007 Schleibaum produced his first major record for Dead To Fall, called ‘Are You Serious?’ (Victory Records). He then worked with From Autumn to Ashes
From Autumn to Ashes
From Autumn to Ashes was a NY melodic hardcore band that formed in Long Island in 2000. While the band had gone through many line-up changes, the members include Francis Mark , Scott Gross , Benjamin Perri , Brian Deneeve , Mike Pilato , Rob Lauritsen , and Jeff Gretz From Autumn to Ashes was a NY...
on their final record ‘Holding a Wolf By the Ears’ (Vagrant Records). Schleibaum has also worked with artists: Destroy the Runner (Solid State), With Honor (Victory Records), These Green Eyes (Blackledge Music), Strike Anywhere (Bridge Nine), Thieves & Villains (Victory Records), and Domino Team (unsigned). Schleibaum also produced two of his personal projects Man and Wasp (featuring Frodus guitarist Shelby Cinca
Shelby Cinca
Shelby Serban-Alex Cinca is a Romania-born musician, one of the founding members of the DC post-punk band Frodus and the vaudevillian steampunk band, The Cassettes. He has also been a part of such bands as Frantic Mantis and Decahedron...
) and Washington DC’s Beasts of No Nation.
In 2006 Schleibaum began composing music for TV documentaries, and continues to do so for several DC based companies, including: The Smithsonian Channels 2 hour WWII special "Wings of Honor" and "Iwo Jima” Specials, MSNBC's "Charles Manson and His Followers," National Geographic's "Behind the Photo," as well as the 13 part series "Real Interrogations" and “The Real NCIS” currently airing on Investigation Discovery.
In 2008 Schleibaum launched www.askthedude.net. Drawing from his 15 years of life as a musician and unique social work background Schleibaum set out to provide self help and advice for aspiring musicians and professional musicians alike. The site includes letters, interviews, gear reviews, and a band classifieds section.
Starting August 2011 he will be the new columnist for Pulp Magazine. A Philippine-based rock and heavy metal magazine together with Paolo Gregletto of Trivium.
Bands
- Current Bands: Darkest Hour, Beasts of No Nation, Man and Wasp
- Former Bands: My Best Mistake, Battery, WD-40, Indivision, Astoria, The Bradshaw Express
Discography
- Darkest Hour: The Misanthrope (Death Truck Records / AF Records) CD EP /
- Darkest Hour: The Prophecy Fulfilled (Art Monk Construction / AF Records CD EP /
- Darkest Hour: Darkest Hour/Ground Zero (East Coast Empire Records) Split 7 Inch /
- Darkest Hour: Where Hero’s Go To Die (Join the Team Player) 5 Inch Record /
- Darkest Hour: Mark of the Judas (Join the Team Player, MIA, Art Monk Construction, Southern Loard) CD, LP /
- Darkest Hour: So Sedated So Secure (Victory Records) CD LP /
- Darkest Hour: Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation (Victory Records) CD LP /
- Darkest Hour: Undoing Ruin (Victory Records) CD LP /
- Darkest Hour: Deliver Us (Victory Records) CD LP /
- Darkest Hour: The Eternal Return (Victory Records) CD LP /
- My Best Mistake: Demo (Self Released) CD /
- Man And Wasp: EP (Self Released) CD /
- Beasts of No Nation: TBA /
- Dead To Fall’s, Are You Serious? (Victory Records) CD Produced /
- From Autumn to Ashes: Holding a Wolf By the Ears (Vagrant Records) CD Co-Writer /
- Destroy the Runner (Solid State) CD Engineer /
- With Honor (Victory Records) CD Engineer /
- These Green Eyes (Blackledge Music) CD Engineer /
- Strike Anywhere (Bridge Nine) /
- Thieves and Villains (Victory Records) CD Engineer /
- Domino Team (unsigned) Produced /
Personal life
He resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Sari and two cats Eddie and Alex Van Halen. In April 2011, it was reported on Darkest Hour's official Facebook page that his wife had given birth to their first daughter.Equipment
Guitars:Washburn N4 Nuno Bettencourt Signauture Model
Pedalboard:
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler,
Dunlop Zakk Wylde Wah,
MXR EVH Phase 90,
Boss TU-2 Tuner,
Digitech Whammy,
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer,
EVH 5150III Amp Switcher
Rack:
Furman RP-BL Power Conditioner,
Sennheiser Wireless Evolution G2,
ISP Decimator Pro Rack G (Rocktron Hush for Backup),
Alesis Quadraverb Multi-Effects Unit
Amps:
2 EVH 5150III (One for Dry signal, One for Wet Signal),
2 EVH 4x12 Cabinets w/ Celestion EVH G12 Speakers
Accessories:
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus,
Seymour Duncan Dimebucker Pickups,
SIT Strings (10-52),
Intune Picks (2.0mm)