Mike Williams (singer)
Encyclopedia
Mike IX Williams is the singer for Eyehategod
and former associate editor for Metal Maniacs
. He has also worked on other projects.
by Jimmy Bower
in 1988. Since then, all Eyehategod albums have featured his vocals which have been described as "tortured laryngitis screams", an "indecipherable ranting" and "the utmost sickening, puke-ridden audio atrocities that could actually prove deadly if taken in large doses".
For the recording of Dopesick
, Eyehategod's third album, Williams went through several issues. At the time he was living in Clinton Hill
, Brooklyn
in New York City so he had to travel between there and New Orleans, Louisiana
frequently for the recording sessions, which took place at Side One Studios. He attempted to record the sound of smashing glass for the introduction to the album, by smashing a bottle on the floor of the studio. In the process he slashed his hand open badly and bled all over the studio floor. One of the band members then apparently smeared the words "Hell" and "Death to Pigs" in his blood. The studio owner reportedly called Century Media
to ask if the band were insane, and threatened to kick them out because of this.
member, Mike was in two other bands. Drip, a sludge metal
band, which also featured fellow Eyehategod band members Jimmy Bower
and Brian Patton and Crawlspace.
In 2006 he began a hardcore punk
band along with Phil Anselmo
named Arson Anthem
. He's the band's singer. Williams stated on 2008 that his desire with this band is that it makes people explore early hardcore punk
, what he listened to when he had no responsibility and used to ride on his skateboard
.
Along with all Eyehategod members except Jimmy Bower he formed Outlaw Order, another sludge metal band. He provides vocals for the band.
In 2005, Mike's first book, Cancer as a Social Activity was released. The book includes old lyrics and portions of collages that Williams assembled for Eyehategod which date back as far as 1988 as well as unreleased stuff, written during the period of two or three years before the release of the book. The book also shows Eyehategod's history. It was mostly written in New Orleans
and New York City but there are also part which were written while he was travelling.
. His parents died when he was a child. At the age of 15 he left home. During most part of his life he has lived in New Orleans, Louisiana
but he also lived some time in New York City. He has always suffered from asthma
.
He used to be the associate editor of Metal Maniacs
.
hit New Orleans
, on August 29, Mike was at his home in the Lower Garden District
with his then girlfriend. About eight hours after the beginning of the storm the power went out. By listening to battery powered radio announcements they were able to find out that the situation in New Orleans was quite bad. After the hurricane passed, the water in Williams neighborhood subsided. At this time violence and crime in the area became rampant and the police were not in a position to help the residents.
Inside the house they could hear gunshots and at one time, upon leaving the apartment, Williams's partner was confronted by a person who attempted to rob her. Williams intervened on her behalf. In order to escape the violence, Williams and his partner slept at the apartment of a friend. The following morning they borrowed a car and traveled to Morgan City, Louisiana
, where Williams received word that his house had burned down.
They booked a hotel room in Morgan City. Apparently, the person who attended them could see they were from New Orleans because they had to show their identity document
; for unknown reasons this person contacted the police. Members of the police entered Williams room and arrested him.
Williams was then convicted of drug possession
and jailed. Bail was set at $150,000; an amount Williams was unable to afford. With help from his lawyer Williams filed for a bond reduction which was rejected by the court on the grounds that Williams was a threat to society. Williams was anxious at this time as his friends and associates were unaware that he was in prison. A fund to help to free Williams was created and his bandmates encouraged fans to send letters to him while he was in jail. Later, Phil Anselmo
paid the bail money to have Williams released. Upon his release Williams spent several months staying at Anselmo's home.
program. During his stay in prison he did not receive the substance. He couldn't sleep for about seven days. He hardly ate for six days; he just soaked the bread from lunch in water and swallowed it because he knew he needed to keep something down. After this sickness he wasn't addicted to opiate
s anymore. Jimmy Bower
stated in an interview that Mike inspired him to kick opiates also.
Eyehategod
Eyehategod is an American sludge metal band from New Orleans who formed in 1988. They have become one of the most well known bands to emerge from the NOLA metal scene...
and former associate editor for Metal Maniacs
Metal Maniacs
Metal Maniacs was a heavy metal magazine founded in 1989 by Mike G. and Katherine Ludwig of Metal Shop. It was focused largely on covering extreme metal, with emphasis on the black and death metal genres...
. He has also worked on other projects.
Eyehategod
Mike was invited to join EyehategodEyehategod
Eyehategod is an American sludge metal band from New Orleans who formed in 1988. They have become one of the most well known bands to emerge from the NOLA metal scene...
by Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower is an American sludge/heavy metal guitarist and drummer who has played with six bands, most notably Eyehategod, Crowbar, Down, and Superjoint Ritual....
in 1988. Since then, all Eyehategod albums have featured his vocals which have been described as "tortured laryngitis screams", an "indecipherable ranting" and "the utmost sickening, puke-ridden audio atrocities that could actually prove deadly if taken in large doses".
For the recording of Dopesick
Dopesick
Dopesick is the third studio album by the American sludge metal band Eyehategod, released on April 2, 1996. It was reissued in 2006 as part of Century Media's 20th Anniversary series with three bonus tracks that were recorded during the original Dopesick recording sessions.-Recording and...
, Eyehategod's third album, Williams went through several issues. At the time he was living in Clinton Hill
Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
Clinton Hill is a neighborhood in the north-central portion of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. It is bordered on the east by Bedford-Stuyvesant, on the west by Fort Greene, on the north by Wallabout Bay and on the south by Prospect Heights...
, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in New York City so he had to travel between there and New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
frequently for the recording sessions, which took place at Side One Studios. He attempted to record the sound of smashing glass for the introduction to the album, by smashing a bottle on the floor of the studio. In the process he slashed his hand open badly and bled all over the studio floor. One of the band members then apparently smeared the words "Hell" and "Death to Pigs" in his blood. The studio owner reportedly called Century Media
Century Media Records
Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
to ask if the band were insane, and threatened to kick them out because of this.
Role in the band
The band's lyrics and themes are completely conceived by Mike. He always has lyrics written by him ready so when the other members of the band send him songs he just decides which lyrics he wants for each song. His lyrics never try to portray anything, they never have a story attached to them. Sometimes he works with the musical atmosphere created by his partners in Eyehategod.Other projects
During his first years as an EyehategodEyehategod
Eyehategod is an American sludge metal band from New Orleans who formed in 1988. They have become one of the most well known bands to emerge from the NOLA metal scene...
member, Mike was in two other bands. Drip, a sludge metal
Sludge metal
Sludge metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk, and sometimes incorporates influences from southern rock, stoner rock and grunge. Sludge metal is typically abrasive; often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting...
band, which also featured fellow Eyehategod band members Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower is an American sludge/heavy metal guitarist and drummer who has played with six bands, most notably Eyehategod, Crowbar, Down, and Superjoint Ritual....
and Brian Patton and Crawlspace.
In 2006 he began a hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band along with Phil Anselmo
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
named Arson Anthem
Arson Anthem
Arson Anthem is an American hardcore punk band, formed in New Orleans in 2006. The lineup comprises singer Mike Williams of Eyehategod, vocalist Phil Anselmo of Pantera, Down and Superjoint Ritual on guitar, country musician, punk rocker and Assjack frontman Hank Williams III on drums, and bassist...
. He's the band's singer. Williams stated on 2008 that his desire with this band is that it makes people explore early hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
, what he listened to when he had no responsibility and used to ride on his skateboard
Skateboard
A skateboard is typically a specially designed plywood board combined with a polyurethane coating used for making smoother slides and stronger durability, used primarily for the activity of skateboarding. The first skateboards to reach public notice came out of the surfing craze of the early 1960s,...
.
Along with all Eyehategod members except Jimmy Bower he formed Outlaw Order, another sludge metal band. He provides vocals for the band.
In 2005, Mike's first book, Cancer as a Social Activity was released. The book includes old lyrics and portions of collages that Williams assembled for Eyehategod which date back as far as 1988 as well as unreleased stuff, written during the period of two or three years before the release of the book. The book also shows Eyehategod's history. It was mostly written in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and New York City but there are also part which were written while he was travelling.
Personal life
He was born in High Point, North CarolinaHigh Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
. His parents died when he was a child. At the age of 15 he left home. During most part of his life he has lived in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
but he also lived some time in New York City. He has always suffered from asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
.
He used to be the associate editor of Metal Maniacs
Metal Maniacs
Metal Maniacs was a heavy metal magazine founded in 1989 by Mike G. and Katherine Ludwig of Metal Shop. It was focused largely on covering extreme metal, with emphasis on the black and death metal genres...
.
Hurricane Katrina and prison
When Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
hit New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, on August 29, Mike was at his home in the Lower Garden District
Lower Garden District, New Orleans
Lower Garden District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: St...
with his then girlfriend. About eight hours after the beginning of the storm the power went out. By listening to battery powered radio announcements they were able to find out that the situation in New Orleans was quite bad. After the hurricane passed, the water in Williams neighborhood subsided. At this time violence and crime in the area became rampant and the police were not in a position to help the residents.
Inside the house they could hear gunshots and at one time, upon leaving the apartment, Williams's partner was confronted by a person who attempted to rob her. Williams intervened on her behalf. In order to escape the violence, Williams and his partner slept at the apartment of a friend. The following morning they borrowed a car and traveled to Morgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City is a city in St. Martin and St. Mary parishes in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population was 12,404 at the 2010 census....
, where Williams received word that his house had burned down.
They booked a hotel room in Morgan City. Apparently, the person who attended them could see they were from New Orleans because they had to show their identity document
Identity document
An identity document is any document which may be used to verify aspects of a person's personal identity. If issued in the form of a small, mostly standard-sized card, it is usually called an identity card...
; for unknown reasons this person contacted the police. Members of the police entered Williams room and arrested him.
Williams was then convicted of drug possession
Drug possession
Drug possession is the crime of having one or more illegal drugs in one's possession, either for personal use, distribution, sale or otherwise. Illegal drugs fall into different categories and sentences vary depending on the amount, type of drug, circumstances, and jurisdiction.A person has...
and jailed. Bail was set at $150,000; an amount Williams was unable to afford. With help from his lawyer Williams filed for a bond reduction which was rejected by the court on the grounds that Williams was a threat to society. Williams was anxious at this time as his friends and associates were unaware that he was in prison. A fund to help to free Williams was created and his bandmates encouraged fans to send letters to him while he was in jail. Later, Phil Anselmo
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
paid the bail money to have Williams released. Upon his release Williams spent several months staying at Anselmo's home.
Drug addiction
Before the hurricane, Williams had always struggled with drug addiction; he had stopped taking heroin and was in a methadoneMethadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
program. During his stay in prison he did not receive the substance. He couldn't sleep for about seven days. He hardly ate for six days; he just soaked the bread from lunch in water and swallowed it because he knew he needed to keep something down. After this sickness he wasn't addicted to opiate
Opiate
In medicine, the term opiate describes any of the narcotic opioid alkaloids found as natural products in the opium poppy plant.-Overview:Opiates are so named because they are constituents or derivatives of constituents found in opium, which is processed from the latex sap of the opium poppy,...
s anymore. Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower
Jimmy Bower is an American sludge/heavy metal guitarist and drummer who has played with six bands, most notably Eyehategod, Crowbar, Down, and Superjoint Ritual....
stated in an interview that Mike inspired him to kick opiates also.
External links
- Michael IX Williams at MySpace