Michael Iceberg
Encyclopedia
Michael Iceberg is an American
musician. He is most noted as a performer at Walt Disney World and Disneyland in the mid-1970s to late-1980s and a highly visible early-adopter of new keyboard and synthesizer
technology. Thousands of visitors to the parks over the years enjoyed his frenetic live performances on his Amazing Iceberg Machine which were demonstrations of his prowess as a keyboard performer and his ingenuity in creating new sounds. The show was performed at Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland Terrace where Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe currently sits, Disneyland's Tomorrowland Terrace
, and also on the Disneyland Space Stage (where the Magic Eye Theater was built to accommodate the Captain EO
3-D film
).
Michael's "machine" was created from a collection of synthesizers and mixing devices that he referred to as "The Mechanical Contraption". The result was humorous, educational and amazing. Hunter S. Thompson
once said about Michael: "Now, here's somebody crazier than me!"
During the mid- to late-1970s, Michael used a custom Chamberlin
he had put together (an ancestor to the Mellotron
), using bicycle gearing to change voicings while he played, an Oberheim
4-voice synthesizer and DS-2 Digital Sequencer, a prototype Moog Polymoog synthesizer
, which was later sold to make way for a Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Synthesizer with sequencer, as well as other bits and pieces, some of which were custom-made or modified to facilitate playing in live performance by one person. The Chamberlin was often used to play back sound effects, such as the horse whinny during the William Tell Overture
, wind effects, or to simulate having pigs "sing in A", as well as providing realistic violin sounds. Michael's programs featured arrangements of classical pieces and movie music, including a Baroque Hoedown
, the Star Wars
and Close Encounters
themes, and the end of the William Tell Overture ("Lone Ranger theme") as the close to the show. There were also some rock-oriented songs (the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin"), Disney songs and an original ("Fanfare") that Michael wrote for daughter Wendy, which he sang at many of his shows.
A major portion of Michael's show was the visual presentation, which started off with a mirror behind and above him, that allowed audiences to see him play his multiple keyboards. Eventually, the "machine" came to encompass a 10-foot pyramid that opened up to reveal Michael and the Machine inside, with the mirror in the top part of the pyramid, an extensive light show and dry ice fog.
Michael had many guest performances and performed on Johnny Carson
's Tonight Show.
After leaving Disney (where he eventually performed at both Disney World in Florida and at Disneyland in California), Michael played the Iceberg Machine on corporate engagements and occasional shows at colleges. These allowed him to return to his hometown of Aspen, Colorado
and semi-retire where he lived as a neighbor to Michael Eisner
above Snowmass Creek.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician. He is most noted as a performer at Walt Disney World and Disneyland in the mid-1970s to late-1980s and a highly visible early-adopter of new keyboard and synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
technology. Thousands of visitors to the parks over the years enjoyed his frenetic live performances on his Amazing Iceberg Machine which were demonstrations of his prowess as a keyboard performer and his ingenuity in creating new sounds. The show was performed at Walt Disney World's Tomorrowland Terrace where Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe currently sits, Disneyland's Tomorrowland Terrace
Tomorrowland Terrace
Tomorrowland Terrace is a restaurant located in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Anaheim, California that is notable for its unique concert stage, which hydraulically rises out of the ground. It opened with the new Tomorrowland in 1967...
, and also on the Disneyland Space Stage (where the Magic Eye Theater was built to accommodate the Captain EO
Captain EO
Captain EO is a 3-D science fiction film starring Michael Jackson and directed by Francis Ford Coppola that was shown at Disney theme parks from 1986 through the 1990s...
3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
).
Michael's "machine" was created from a collection of synthesizers and mixing devices that he referred to as "The Mechanical Contraption". The result was humorous, educational and amazing. Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter Stockton Thompson was an American journalist and author who wrote The Rum Diary , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 .He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to...
once said about Michael: "Now, here's somebody crazier than me!"
During the mid- to late-1970s, Michael used a custom Chamberlin
Chamberlin
The Chamberlin is an electro-mechanical keyboard instrument that was a precursor to the Mellotron. It was developed and patented by Iowa, Wisconsin inventor Harry Chamberlin from 1949 to 1956, when the first model was introduced. Various models and versions of these Chamberlin music instruments...
he had put together (an ancestor to the Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
), using bicycle gearing to change voicings while he played, an Oberheim
Oberheim
Oberheim Electronics is an American company, founded in 1969 by Tom Oberheim , which manufactured audio synthesizers and a variety of other electronic musical instruments.-Oberheim Electronics:...
4-voice synthesizer and DS-2 Digital Sequencer, a prototype Moog Polymoog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
, which was later sold to make way for a Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Synthesizer with sequencer, as well as other bits and pieces, some of which were custom-made or modified to facilitate playing in live performance by one person. The Chamberlin was often used to play back sound effects, such as the horse whinny during the William Tell Overture
William Tell Overture
The William Tell Overture is the instrumental introduction to the opera Guillaume Tell by Gioachino Rossini. William Tell premiered in 1829 and was the last of Rossini's 39 operas, after which he went into semi-retirement, although he continued to compose cantatas, sacred music and secular vocal...
, wind effects, or to simulate having pigs "sing in A", as well as providing realistic violin sounds. Michael's programs featured arrangements of classical pieces and movie music, including a Baroque Hoedown
Baroque Hoedown
"Baroque Hoedown" was created by early synthesizer pioneers Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley in 1966. The composition was once described as being a "harpsichord gone country". It later became the theme song for Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade and for a time, the Electrical Water...
, the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
and Close Encounters
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, and Cary Guffey...
themes, and the end of the William Tell Overture ("Lone Ranger theme") as the close to the show. There were also some rock-oriented songs (the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin"), Disney songs and an original ("Fanfare") that Michael wrote for daughter Wendy, which he sang at many of his shows.
A major portion of Michael's show was the visual presentation, which started off with a mirror behind and above him, that allowed audiences to see him play his multiple keyboards. Eventually, the "machine" came to encompass a 10-foot pyramid that opened up to reveal Michael and the Machine inside, with the mirror in the top part of the pyramid, an extensive light show and dry ice fog.
Michael had many guest performances and performed on Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
's Tonight Show.
After leaving Disney (where he eventually performed at both Disney World in Florida and at Disneyland in California), Michael played the Iceberg Machine on corporate engagements and occasional shows at colleges. These allowed him to return to his hometown of Aspen, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
and semi-retire where he lived as a neighbor to Michael Eisner
Michael Eisner
Michael Dammann Eisner is an American businessman. He was the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 until 2005.-Early life:...
above Snowmass Creek.