Michael Amott
Encyclopedia
Michael Amott is a Swedish
guitarist
, songwriter
, founding member of the bands Arch Enemy
, Spiritual Beggars
, and Carnage
, as well as a member of the death metal band Carcass
. He is the older brother of Christopher Amott
. Some major influences in his music have been Michael Schenker
, Uli Jon Roth and Dave Mustaine
.
Amott was ranked #74 out of 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time by Guitar World
.
, Sweden
, Michael began playing guitar as a young teenager, learning to play by copying Punk/Hardcore and Thrash/Speed Metal out of his record collection. Michael soon went to a new level with his playing and became influenced by players such as Frank Marino
, Michael Schenker
, Dave Mustaine
, Tony Iommi
, and Uli Jon Roth. He has stated in guitar magazines that he has a preference for pentatonics.
Michael co-formed the death metal
band Carnage
in 1988 with singer Johan Liiva
, and released two widely traded cassette demos, gaining instant underground interest. Plagued by constant lineup changes, Carnage would eventually record their only album Dark Recollections with Michael as the sole original member, but by the time the album came out on Necrosis records in 1990, the band was broken up.
Soon afterwards, Michael was recruited by Carcass
in 1990, and released the seminal album Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious
in 1991. The band would go on to release their highest selling album, Heartwork
(Columbia/SONY), in 1993 , helping to define what is now known as melodic death metal
.
Michael left Carcass in 1993, and decided to form a classic rock influenced band, Spiritual Beggars
. The band released their debut album Spiritual Beggars in 1994, which led to a European record deal with Music for Nations
, who released Another Way to Shine in 1996.
Still heavily into extreme metal, Michael formed a new melodic death metal
project in the same vein as Carcass
, whose Heartwork
album was now considered a Death Metal
masterpiece. Michael contacted original Carnage
vocalist Johan Liiva
, as well as his younger brother Christopher Amott
, who was attending music school at the time, and put together Arch Enemy
. Featuring then session drummer Daniel Erlandsson
, the band's first album Black Earth was originally intended to be a one-off project, but the album's first single, "Bury Me An Angel" received unexpected airplay on Japan's MTV Rocks! program, and in 1997 Arch Enemy was signed by major Japanese label Toy's Factory
, and invited to tour Japan. Michael decided to put a full band together, recruiting drummer Peter Wildoer (Darkane
), and bassist Martin Bengtsson
.
After the Japanese tour, Michael returned to Spiritual Beggars and released Mantra III early in 1998, now featuring Per Wiberg
on keyboards. In April the same year, Arch Enemy returned with Stigmata, their first album released outside of Japan, now on Century Media records. The album would prove to be a critical success, and Arch Enemy toured for the better part of the year. Later in 1998, Michael also contributed guitars to the Candlemass
album Dactylis Glomerata
.
Arch Enemy returned in 1999 with Burning Bridges and Burning Japan Live 1999
which would prove to be Johan Liiva's last recording with the band. Michael went on to release Ad Astra with Spiritual Beggars in 2000, then returned to Arch Enemy, and recruited amateur German vocalist Angela Gossow
to replace Liiva in 2000. Arch Enemy released Wages of Sin
in 2001, and propelled by the new frontwoman, the band achieved new worldwide success. Arch Enemy toured worldwide in support of Wages of Sin, and Michael did not return to his Spiritual Beggars project until late 2002, releasing On Fire, again on Music For Nations.
In 2003, Arch Enemy released Anthems of Rebellion
, again on Century Media, and for the first time, Arch Enemy received US MTV airplay with the video for "We Will Rise". The band would reach new heights in popularity worldwide, and toured constantly until the release of 2005s Doomsday Machine
, which saw the departure of Christopher Amott, who would go on to focus on his education. Michael returned once again to Spiritual Beggars in 2005, releasing the album Demons.
He has also performed guest guitar solos on The Haunted's
One Kill Wonder
for the song "Bloodletting", and the Kreator
record Enemy of God for the song "Murder Fantasies".
In 2006, Amott made his voice acting debut when he appeared on the Adult Swim
show Metalocalypse
. In the episode "Snakes 'n Barrels", he voiced scientist Dr. Amomolith Chesterfield and Snakes 'n Barrels bassist Antonio Tony DiMarco Thunderbottom, who would end up getting his memory erased during the first song of their reunion show. Michael Amott returned for more voice acting in the second season of Metalocalypse
in the episode "Snakes n' Barrels II" (Part 1 and 2).
In 2007, Arch Enemy released Rise of the Tyrant
on Century Media and embarked on a world tour dubbed "World Tyranny".
In 2008, Michael Amott joined the re-united Carcass and toured with them extensively in Europe, North America, South America, Australia, South Africa and Japan until the summer of 2010.
Today, Michael is busy touring the world with Arch Enemy
on the band's current Khaos Legions
touring cycle. Michael does not rule out a return to Spiritual Beggars in the future.
Amps but later switched over to Randall and had his own signature "Ninja" V2 model. As of November 2009, Michael dropped off the Randall endorsee list and is currently using "whatever we're (both himself and brother Chris) interested in trying out for the next couple of tours and we'll see what comes out of that, the search for the ultimate tone continues!!!" which was said directly from Michael in the Myspace bulletin announcing his leave. He was also endorsed by ESP Guitars
, and had his own signature series. His personal guitars were built in the ESP Custom Shop in Tokyo, Japan. He used Seymour Duncan
humbucker
pick-ups: the JB in the bridge and the '59 in the neck position. While in Carcass, he used Ibanez (a road flare red RG550), a US-made Charvel and a Gibson white flying V. In 2006, Michael's signature ESP-Ninja guitar became a member of the ESP-USA signature series family, with an LTD model, the Ninja-600 also becoming available and his Ninja has been released in white on Musikmesse 2007. Before using Krank amplifiers, he was a long-time user of the Peavey 5150 amp, and during his time in Carcass mostly used various Marshall amps. In the Arch Enemy live DVD Live Apocalypse
, Amott's stage side had two Krank Rev 1 heads and four Krank Rev Cabinets.
As of July 2008 he is no longer endorsed by ESP. An announcement posted by Dean Guitars on October 1, 2008, confirmed that he is now endorsing Dean. Furthermore, this was proved during the US leg of the 2008 Carcass 'Exhume to Consume' reunion tour, when Michael Amott was frequently seen playing a black and white Michael Schenker V Six String. Michael Amott now has his own signature "Tyrant" (flying V) signature series guitar with Dean Guitars.
In early 2009, Zoom Corporation released a Michael Amott signature pedal called G1M.
(ESP models are no longer used)
The 'Tyrant' series is similar to his previous ESP Signature V's, but does feature some differences from the ESP. It comes equipped with Dean USA Pickups, a Michael Amott signature humbucker
in the bridge and a Time Capsule humbucker in the neck. The guitar has 22 frets.
are part-British. Their father is from England and their mother is Swedish.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, founding member of the bands Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy (band)
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...
, Spiritual Beggars
Spiritual Beggars
Spiritual Beggars is a hard rock/stoner metal band from Halmstad, Sweden, formed by Michael Amott, who is known from Arch Enemy, Carcass and Carnage.- Biography :...
, and Carnage
Carnage (band)
Carnage was a Swedish death metal band whose members later went on to found Dismember, Arch Enemy and the Grindcore band Carcass. The band was formed by Michael Amott and Johan Liiva in 1988. They released only one album before dissolving in 1991.-History:...
, as well as a member of the death metal band Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
. He is the older brother of Christopher Amott
Christopher Amott
Christopher Amott is a Swedish guitarist and vocalist, younger brother of Michael Amott and founding member of the Swedish metal bands Arch Enemy and Armageddon.-Biography:...
. Some major influences in his music have been Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
, Uli Jon Roth and Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
.
Amott was ranked #74 out of 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time by Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
.
Biography
Raised in HalmstadHalmstad
Halmstad is a port, university, industrial and recreational city at the mouth of Nissan in the province of Halland on the Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat of Halmstad Municipality and the capital of Halland County...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Michael began playing guitar as a young teenager, learning to play by copying Punk/Hardcore and Thrash/Speed Metal out of his record collection. Michael soon went to a new level with his playing and became influenced by players such as Frank Marino
Frank Marino
Frank Marino , born November 20, 1954, in Montreal, is the guitarist and leader of Canadian hard rock band Mahogany Rush. Often compared to Jimi Hendrix, he is acknowledged as one of the best and most underrated guitarists of the 1970s.-Biography and career:After playing drums since he was five,...
, Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker
Michael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
, Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
, Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
, and Uli Jon Roth. He has stated in guitar magazines that he has a preference for pentatonics.
Michael co-formed the death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band Carnage
Carnage (band)
Carnage was a Swedish death metal band whose members later went on to found Dismember, Arch Enemy and the Grindcore band Carcass. The band was formed by Michael Amott and Johan Liiva in 1988. They released only one album before dissolving in 1991.-History:...
in 1988 with singer Johan Liiva
Johan Liiva
Johan Patrik Mattias Liiva is a Swedish extreme metal vocalist, most widely recognized as the founding vocalist of popular melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, as well as a former member of Carnage, Furbowl, and NonExist...
, and released two widely traded cassette demos, gaining instant underground interest. Plagued by constant lineup changes, Carnage would eventually record their only album Dark Recollections with Michael as the sole original member, but by the time the album came out on Necrosis records in 1990, the band was broken up.
Soon afterwards, Michael was recruited by Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
in 1990, and released the seminal album Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious
Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious
Necroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious is the third album from the band Carcass, released in 1991 through Earache Records. This album is the first to feature guitarist Michael Amott...
in 1991. The band would go on to release their highest selling album, Heartwork
Heartwork
Heartwork is the fourth album by metal band Carcass, released through Earache Records in 1993. The album was recorded at Parr Street Studios, Liverpool between May 18 and June 21, 1993....
(Columbia/SONY), in 1993 , helping to define what is now known as melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
.
Michael left Carcass in 1993, and decided to form a classic rock influenced band, Spiritual Beggars
Spiritual Beggars
Spiritual Beggars is a hard rock/stoner metal band from Halmstad, Sweden, formed by Michael Amott, who is known from Arch Enemy, Carcass and Carnage.- Biography :...
. The band released their debut album Spiritual Beggars in 1994, which led to a European record deal with Music for Nations
Music For Nations
Music For Nations was a British independent record label focusing mainly on rock and metal. They were a subsidiary of the larger label distributor Zomba Records who in turn is owned by BMG....
, who released Another Way to Shine in 1996.
Still heavily into extreme metal, Michael formed a new melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
project in the same vein as Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
, whose Heartwork
Heartwork
Heartwork is the fourth album by metal band Carcass, released through Earache Records in 1993. The album was recorded at Parr Street Studios, Liverpool between May 18 and June 21, 1993....
album was now considered a Death Metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
masterpiece. Michael contacted original Carnage
Carnage (band)
Carnage was a Swedish death metal band whose members later went on to found Dismember, Arch Enemy and the Grindcore band Carcass. The band was formed by Michael Amott and Johan Liiva in 1988. They released only one album before dissolving in 1991.-History:...
vocalist Johan Liiva
Johan Liiva
Johan Patrik Mattias Liiva is a Swedish extreme metal vocalist, most widely recognized as the founding vocalist of popular melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, as well as a former member of Carnage, Furbowl, and NonExist...
, as well as his younger brother Christopher Amott
Christopher Amott
Christopher Amott is a Swedish guitarist and vocalist, younger brother of Michael Amott and founding member of the Swedish metal bands Arch Enemy and Armageddon.-Biography:...
, who was attending music school at the time, and put together Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy (band)
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...
. Featuring then session drummer Daniel Erlandsson
Daniel Erlandsson
Daniel John Erlandsson is the drummer in the melodic death metal band Arch Enemy.His early work includes drumming on the In Flames album Subterranean...
, the band's first album Black Earth was originally intended to be a one-off project, but the album's first single, "Bury Me An Angel" received unexpected airplay on Japan's MTV Rocks! program, and in 1997 Arch Enemy was signed by major Japanese label Toy's Factory
Toy's Factory
is a Japanese record label founded in 1990 as a VAP subsidiary, based in Japan. It has since become an independent company.-Sub-Labels:* bellissima!* Carnage* Deep Blue* Idyllic* Kimi* Meme Tokyo* -Artists:*Aobozu*Armageddon*Bump of Chicken...
, and invited to tour Japan. Michael decided to put a full band together, recruiting drummer Peter Wildoer (Darkane
Darkane
Darkane is a melodic death / progressive thrash metal band that originated in Helsingborg, Sweden in 1998. Their music contains ample thrash elements interspersed with acoustic interludes and symphonic features, such as the in studio use of synthesizers and occasionally full orchestras and choir...
), and bassist Martin Bengtsson
Martin Bengtsson
Martin Bengtsson is a Swedish metal musician. He was a key part of the influential Swedish melodic death metal scene. He was a member of the melodic death metal band Arch Enemy between 1997 and 1998, and played bass guitar on their second album, Stigmata...
.
After the Japanese tour, Michael returned to Spiritual Beggars and released Mantra III early in 1998, now featuring Per Wiberg
Per Wiberg
Per Jonas Wiberg is the former keyboardist of Swedish progressive death metal band Opeth, and a member of Michael Amott's stoner metal band Spiritual Beggars. Wiberg toured with Opeth from the 2003 Deliverance/Damnation tour onward, and joined Opeth officially in 2005. Wiberg provided backing...
on keyboards. In April the same year, Arch Enemy returned with Stigmata, their first album released outside of Japan, now on Century Media records. The album would prove to be a critical success, and Arch Enemy toured for the better part of the year. Later in 1998, Michael also contributed guitars to the Candlemass
Candlemass
Candlemass are an influential Swedish doom metal band established in 1984 by Leif Edling , their leader and songwriter. The band is originally from Stockholm. After releasing five full-length albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Candlemass disbanded in 1994, but...
album Dactylis Glomerata
Dactylis Glomerata
Dactylis Glomerata is an album by doom metal band Candlemass, released in 1998. This was the first album they released since their split in 1994 and reunion in 1997. It is the only Candlemass album that features guitarist Michael Amott of Arch Enemy and Carcass notability on lead guitar.In 2006 it...
.
Arch Enemy returned in 1999 with Burning Bridges and Burning Japan Live 1999
Burning Japan Live 1999
-Reception:Burning Japan Live 1999 received mixed reviews by critics. Metal Rules's El Cid criticized mainly the crowd writing that "the Japanese crowd doesn't help much in this matter, no offense to anyone but it does seem like everyone is just sitting down listening and doing nothing else during...
which would prove to be Johan Liiva's last recording with the band. Michael went on to release Ad Astra with Spiritual Beggars in 2000, then returned to Arch Enemy, and recruited amateur German vocalist Angela Gossow
Angela Gossow
Angela Nathalie Gossow is the lead vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. Her previous bands include Asmodina and Mistress. She is considered to be one of the few successful female metal singers to use growling as her primary singing style...
to replace Liiva in 2000. Arch Enemy released Wages of Sin
Wages of Sin
Wages of Sin is the fourth studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. It is the first Arch Enemy album to feature the vocals of Angela Gossow...
in 2001, and propelled by the new frontwoman, the band achieved new worldwide success. Arch Enemy toured worldwide in support of Wages of Sin, and Michael did not return to his Spiritual Beggars project until late 2002, releasing On Fire, again on Music For Nations.
In 2003, Arch Enemy released Anthems of Rebellion
Anthems of Rebellion
-Release:At its time of release, Anthems of Rebellion gave Century Media its then highest first-week Soundscan sales in the United States, and later became one of the top ten best-selling albums under the record label. -Bonus disc:...
, again on Century Media, and for the first time, Arch Enemy received US MTV airplay with the video for "We Will Rise". The band would reach new heights in popularity worldwide, and toured constantly until the release of 2005s Doomsday Machine
Doomsday Machine (album)
* The end of the lyrics to "Skeleton Dance" recite the death poem of Ōta Dōkan. The beginning of "Skeleton Dance" contains backmasked messages containing the phrases "The world on his shoulders" and "Bleeding forever" among others....
, which saw the departure of Christopher Amott, who would go on to focus on his education. Michael returned once again to Spiritual Beggars in 2005, releasing the album Demons.
He has also performed guest guitar solos on The Haunted's
The Haunted
The Haunted is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1996.The original members were Anders & Jonas Björler, Peter Dolving, Adrian Erlandsson and Patrik Jensen...
One Kill Wonder
One Kill Wonder
One Kill Wonder, released in 2003, is the third studio album by death/thrash metal band The Haunted."D.O.A." served as the album's only single. It was accompanied by a violent music video which found limited television airing due to its graphic nature...
for the song "Bloodletting", and the Kreator
Kreator
Kreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
record Enemy of God for the song "Murder Fantasies".
In 2006, Amott made his voice acting debut when he appeared on the Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
show Metalocalypse
Metalocalypse
Metalocalypse is an American animated television series, created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha, which premiered on August 6, 2006 on Adult Swim...
. In the episode "Snakes 'n Barrels", he voiced scientist Dr. Amomolith Chesterfield and Snakes 'n Barrels bassist Antonio Tony DiMarco Thunderbottom, who would end up getting his memory erased during the first song of their reunion show. Michael Amott returned for more voice acting in the second season of Metalocalypse
Metalocalypse
Metalocalypse is an American animated television series, created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha, which premiered on August 6, 2006 on Adult Swim...
in the episode "Snakes n' Barrels II" (Part 1 and 2).
In 2007, Arch Enemy released Rise of the Tyrant
Rise of the Tyrant
Rise of the Tyrant is the seventh album by the melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, produced by Fredrik Nordström, and was released on September 24, 2007.Vocalist Angela Gossow told the band's website that: Guitarist Michael Amott described it as:...
on Century Media and embarked on a world tour dubbed "World Tyranny".
In 2008, Michael Amott joined the re-united Carcass and toured with them extensively in Europe, North America, South America, Australia, South Africa and Japan until the summer of 2010.
Today, Michael is busy touring the world with Arch Enemy
Arch Enemy (band)
Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...
on the band's current Khaos Legions
Khaos Legions
Khaos Legions is the eighth studio album by Swedish extreme metal band Arch Enemy. It was released on May 30, 2011 by Century Media. The record marks a return to new, original material, after releasing the Tyrants of the Rising Sun - Live in Japan live CD/DVD and The Root of All Evil which...
touring cycle. Michael does not rule out a return to Spiritual Beggars in the future.
Equipment
Amott was endorsed by KrankKrank Amplification
Krank Amplification is an American company based in Arizona that designs and manufactures guitar amplifiers. Krank manufactures tube amplifiers and recently a hybrid amplifier.- Amplifiers :...
Amps but later switched over to Randall and had his own signature "Ninja" V2 model. As of November 2009, Michael dropped off the Randall endorsee list and is currently using "whatever we're (both himself and brother Chris) interested in trying out for the next couple of tours and we'll see what comes out of that, the search for the ultimate tone continues!!!" which was said directly from Michael in the Myspace bulletin announcing his leave. He was also endorsed by ESP Guitars
ESP Guitars
, located in North Hollywood, California, is an American-based, Japanese-owned manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.- History :In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo. It provided custom replacement parts for guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation...
, and had his own signature series. His personal guitars were built in the ESP Custom Shop in Tokyo, Japan. He used Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
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...
pick-ups: the JB in the bridge and the '59 in the neck position. While in Carcass, he used Ibanez (a road flare red RG550), a US-made Charvel and a Gibson white flying V. In 2006, Michael's signature ESP-Ninja guitar became a member of the ESP-USA signature series family, with an LTD model, the Ninja-600 also becoming available and his Ninja has been released in white on Musikmesse 2007. Before using Krank amplifiers, he was a long-time user of the Peavey 5150 amp, and during his time in Carcass mostly used various Marshall amps. In the Arch Enemy live DVD Live Apocalypse
Live Apocalypse
Live Apocalypse is a double DVD by Arch Enemy, released in 2006. It's the bands first DVD release and contains a full concert and several extras. It was released on July 24 in Europe, July 26 in Japan, and August 8 in the US.-Disc one:-Disc two:...
, Amott's stage side had two Krank Rev 1 heads and four Krank Rev Cabinets.
As of July 2008 he is no longer endorsed by ESP. An announcement posted by Dean Guitars on October 1, 2008, confirmed that he is now endorsing Dean. Furthermore, this was proved during the US leg of the 2008 Carcass 'Exhume to Consume' reunion tour, when Michael Amott was frequently seen playing a black and white Michael Schenker V Six String. Michael Amott now has his own signature "Tyrant" (flying V) signature series guitar with Dean Guitars.
In early 2009, Zoom Corporation released a Michael Amott signature pedal called G1M.
Guitars
- DeanDean GuitarsDean Guitars is an American manufacturer of guitars. It was founded in 1976 by Dean Zelinsky in Chicago, Illinois and is currently under the ownership of Armadillo Enterprises in Tampa, Florida.- History :...
Michael Amott Signature Tyrant Bloodstorm (2009) - DeanDean GuitarsDean Guitars is an American manufacturer of guitars. It was founded in 1976 by Dean Zelinsky in Chicago, Illinois and is currently under the ownership of Armadillo Enterprises in Tampa, Florida.- History :...
Schenker Flame V (2008) - ESP 2008 Ninja (used in the Black Crusade Tour '07/08; 2 versions, one with Floyd RoseFloyd RoseThe Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
tremolo, also 24 frets and 24.75 scale) - ESP-Ninja Michael Amott signature series (previously AV-395 Ninja)
- ESP AV-310MA Flying V models (previous signature model only available in Japan, discontinued)
- ESP Custom F-Series model (seen in Arch Enemy Live Apocalypse DVD)
- ESP Vintage Plus (seen in the Spiritual BeggarsSpiritual BeggarsSpiritual Beggars is a hard rock/stoner metal band from Halmstad, Sweden, formed by Michael Amott, who is known from Arch Enemy, Carcass and Carnage.- Biography :...
"Killing Time" promotional video)
(ESP models are no longer used)
- IbanezIbanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
RG 550 Road Flare Red (no longer used. Used in Carcass 1990-1992) - FernandesFernandesFernandes is a Portuguese language surname. The name is a patronymic form of the Spanish and Portuguese personal name Fernando.People with the surname "Fernandes" include:*Aaron Fernandes, Canadian field hockey player...
"Burny" Les Paul Custom (White, used 1996-1999, featured in the Arch Enemy video 'The Immortal') - Fernandes "Burny" Les Paul Custom (Black, used 1996-1999.)
The 'Tyrant' series is similar to his previous ESP Signature V's, but does feature some differences from the ESP. It comes equipped with Dean USA Pickups, a Michael Amott signature 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...
in the bridge and a Time Capsule humbucker in the neck. The guitar has 22 frets.
Effects
- Homebrew Electronics 'Michael Amott' Signature Wah
- IbanezIbanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
TS-808 Tube Screamer - MXRMXRMXR, also known as MXR Innovations, was a manufacturer of guitar effects units, co-founded in 1973 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood . MXR was based in the United States in Rochester, New York. MXR Innovations, Inc. was incorporated in 1974...
– Phase 90 - BOSSBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
"TU-2" Chromatic Tuner - Digitech GSP1101 (Multi effects processor)
- Line6 G90 Wireless Unit
Bands
- Disaccord (guitars, 1983–1984 and 1986–1988)
- CarnageCarnage (band)Carnage was a Swedish death metal band whose members later went on to found Dismember, Arch Enemy and the Grindcore band Carcass. The band was formed by Michael Amott and Johan Liiva in 1988. They released only one album before dissolving in 1991.-History:...
(guitars, 1988–1990) (founding member) - CarcassCarcass (band)Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
(guitars, 1990–1993. Re-union shows in 2008-2010) - Spiritual BeggarsSpiritual BeggarsSpiritual Beggars is a hard rock/stoner metal band from Halmstad, Sweden, formed by Michael Amott, who is known from Arch Enemy, Carcass and Carnage.- Biography :...
(guitars, 1994-) (founding member) - Arch EnemyArch Enemy (band)Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup, from Halmstad, formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan...
(guitars, 1996-) (founding member)
Carcass
- Necroticism - Descanting the InsalubriousNecroticism - Descanting the InsalubriousNecroticism – Descanting the Insalubrious is the third album from the band Carcass, released in 1991 through Earache Records. This album is the first to feature guitarist Michael Amott...
(1991) - Tools of the TradeTools of the TradeTools of the Trade is an EP by Carcass. It was released through Earache Records in 1992 .-Track listing:-Other appearances:The EP is wholly contained on the compilation album Gods of Grind and the limited edition 2008 dualdisc reissue of Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious. It also appears on...
(1992, EP) - HeartworkHeartworkHeartwork is the fourth album by metal band Carcass, released through Earache Records in 1993. The album was recorded at Parr Street Studios, Liverpool between May 18 and June 21, 1993....
(1993) - Wake up and Smell the... CarcassWake up and Smell the... CarcassWake Up and Smell the... Carcass is a compilation album by the band Carcass, and is also the name of a Video/DVD compilation of the band's songs. The cover is a photo of John F...
(1996)
Spiritual Beggars
- Spiritual Beggars (1994)
- Another Way to Shine (1996)
- Mantra III (1998)
- Ad Astra (2000)
- On FireOn Fire (Spiritual Beggars)On Fire is an album by the Swedish stoner rock band Spiritual Beggars.It was released on November 2, 2002.-Track listing:*All Songs Written By Michael Amott, except where noted...
(2002) - Live Fire! (2005, DVD)
- Demons (2005)
- Return To ZeroReturn to Zero (Spiritual Beggars album)Return To Zero is the 7th album by the Swedish stoner rock band Spiritual Beggars.It was released in Europe on August 30, 2010. It is their first album to feature Apollo Papathanasio of Firewind on vocals.-Track listing:...
(2010) - "Return To Live (2011)
Arch Enemy
- Black EarthBlack Earth (Arch Enemy)Black Earth is the first album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. The album was reissued on April 24, 2007 on Regain Records, featuring "Losing Faith", two Iron Maiden covers and the video for "Bury Me an Angel"....
(1996) - Stigmata (1998)
- Burning Bridges (1999)
- Burning Japan Live 1999Burning Japan Live 1999-Reception:Burning Japan Live 1999 received mixed reviews by critics. Metal Rules's El Cid criticized mainly the crowd writing that "the Japanese crowd doesn't help much in this matter, no offense to anyone but it does seem like everyone is just sitting down listening and doing nothing else during...
(2000) - Wages of SinWages of SinWages of Sin is the fourth studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. It is the first Arch Enemy album to feature the vocals of Angela Gossow...
(2001) - Burning Angel (2002, EP JAPAN only)
- Anthems of RebellionAnthems of Rebellion-Release:At its time of release, Anthems of Rebellion gave Century Media its then highest first-week Soundscan sales in the United States, and later became one of the top ten best-selling albums under the record label. -Bonus disc:...
(2003) - Dead Eyes See No FutureDead Eyes See No FutureDead Eyes See No Future is an EP by melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. It was released on November 2, 2004 through Century Media Records.The title track is taken from Arch Enemy's Anthems of Rebellion album....
(2004, EP) - Doomsday MachineDoomsday Machine (album)* The end of the lyrics to "Skeleton Dance" recite the death poem of Ōta Dōkan. The beginning of "Skeleton Dance" contains backmasked messages containing the phrases "The world on his shoulders" and "Bleeding forever" among others....
(2005) - Live ApocalypseLive ApocalypseLive Apocalypse is a double DVD by Arch Enemy, released in 2006. It's the bands first DVD release and contains a full concert and several extras. It was released on July 24 in Europe, July 26 in Japan, and August 8 in the US.-Disc one:-Disc two:...
(2006, 2-disc DVD) - Rise of the TyrantRise of the TyrantRise of the Tyrant is the seventh album by the melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, produced by Fredrik Nordström, and was released on September 24, 2007.Vocalist Angela Gossow told the band's website that: Guitarist Michael Amott described it as:...
(2007) - Tyrants of the Rising SunTyrants of the Rising SunTyrants of the Rising Sun is a DVD+CD set of Arch Enemy, released in Europe on November 24, 2008 and in North America on November 25, 2008 via Century Media...
(2008, 1-disc DVD, 2-disc CD, 2-Vinyl) - The Root of All EvilThe Root of All Evil (album)-Limited Edition bonus tracks:-Japan bonus tracks:The Japanese release of the album includes the above mentioned live tracks plus an additional two tracks.-Release Dates:* Germany / Austria / Switzerland / Italy / Benelux: September 25, 2009....
(2009) - Khaos LegionsKhaos LegionsKhaos Legions is the eighth studio album by Swedish extreme metal band Arch Enemy. It was released on May 30, 2011 by Century Media. The record marks a return to new, original material, after releasing the Tyrants of the Rising Sun - Live in Japan live CD/DVD and The Root of All Evil which...
(2011, 1-disc CD, 2-disc CD, 2-Vinyl)
Other
- Deranged - Architects of Perversion (1994) (Guest, lead guitar)
- CandlemassCandlemassCandlemass are an influential Swedish doom metal band established in 1984 by Leif Edling , their leader and songwriter. The band is originally from Stockholm. After releasing five full-length albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Candlemass disbanded in 1994, but...
- Dactylis GlomerataDactylis GlomerataDactylis Glomerata is an album by doom metal band Candlemass, released in 1998. This was the first album they released since their split in 1994 and reunion in 1997. It is the only Candlemass album that features guitarist Michael Amott of Arch Enemy and Carcass notability on lead guitar.In 2006 it...
(1998) (Guest, lead & rhythm guitar) - The Quill - "Voodoo Caravan" (2002) (Guest, lead guitar on the song "Shapes of Afterlife")
- The HauntedThe HauntedThe Haunted is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1996.The original members were Anders & Jonas Björler, Peter Dolving, Adrian Erlandsson and Patrik Jensen...
- One Kill WonderOne Kill WonderOne Kill Wonder, released in 2003, is the third studio album by death/thrash metal band The Haunted."D.O.A." served as the album's only single. It was accompanied by a violent music video which found limited television airing due to its graphic nature...
(2003) (Guest, lead guitar trade-off with Anders BjörlerAnders BjörlerAnders Björler is a musician from Sweden. He is the current lead guitarist for heavy metal bands The Haunted and the well-known melodic death metal band At the Gates. He joined them in his former position on a reunion tour in 2007...
on the song "Bloodletting") - KreatorKreatorKreator is a thrash metal band from Essen, Germany, formed in 1978, but formalized in 1982 under the name Tormentor. They originally performed a speed metal style with Venom influences. Their style of music is similar to their compatriots Destruction and Sodom, the other two big German thrash metal...
- Enemy of God (2005) (Guest lead guitar on the song "Murder Fantasies") - AnnihilatorAnnihilator (band)Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, also from Vancouver, British Columbia between 1987-2002 by founding member, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters. The band has been around since 1984 and is the biggest selling heavy metal artist from Canada in history,...
- MetalMetal (Annihilator album)Metal is the twelfth studio album by the Canadian thrash metal band Annihilator. It was released on April 16, 2007. However, it wasn't released in the United States until January 15, 2008...
(2007) (Guest, lead guitar trade-off with Jeff Waters on the song "Operation Annihilation") - Mojobone - "Cowboy Mode" (2010) (Guest, lead guitar on the song "Damaged Gods")
- Michael SchenkerMichael SchenkerMichael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
- Temple of Rock (2011) (Guest, lead guitar trade-off with Michael SchenkerMichael SchenkerMichael Schenker is a German rock guitarist, best known for his tenure in UFO, in addition to his solo band. He first rose to fame as a founding member of the Scorpions, then achieved fame in the mid 1970s as the lead guitar player for UFO. Since leaving UFO in 1978, he has been leading the...
and Leslie WestLeslie WestLeslie West is an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter.-Biography:Originally named Leslie Weinstein, West was born in New York City, grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and in East Meadow, Forest Hills and Lawrence. After his parents divorced, he changed his surname to West...
on the song How Long (3 Generations Guitar Battle version)).
Personal life
Michael Amott is a vegetarian. He is also a self taught guitar player. Michael and Christopher AmottChristopher Amott
Christopher Amott is a Swedish guitarist and vocalist, younger brother of Michael Amott and founding member of the Swedish metal bands Arch Enemy and Armageddon.-Biography:...
are part-British. Their father is from England and their mother is Swedish.