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| death_date =
| death_date =
| alias = Whip
| alias = Whip
| genre = [[Progressive metal]]
| genre = {{flatlist|
*[[Progressive metal]]
*[[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]
⚫
| instrument = [[Guitar]], [[bass guitar]]
*[[glam metal]]
*[[hard rock]]
}}
⚫
| instrument = [[Guitar]]
| associated_acts = [[Queensrÿche]], [[Soulbender]]
| associated_acts = [[Queensrÿche]], [[Soulbender]]
| label =
| label =
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}}
}}


'''Michael F. Wilton''' (born February 23, 1962)<ref name="michael_wilton">{{cite web|url=http://www.queensrychehistory.com/michael.html |title=Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: Michael Wilton |author=Brett Miller |publisher=QueensrycheHistory.com |accessdate=2013-01-03}}</ref> also known as '''The Whip''', for how fast his fingers "whip" around the guitar [[fingerboard|fretboard]],<ref name="al_bio">{{cite web |url=http://anybodylistening.net/wilton.html |title=Wilton |publisher=Anybody Listening |accessdate=2012-12-29 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726213732/http://anybodylistening.net/wilton.html |archivedate=2013-07-26 |df= }}</ref> is an American lead guitarist and formerly rhythm guitarist for the [[progressive metal]] band [[Queensrÿche]], which he co-founded in 1982.
'''Michael F. Wilton''' (born February 23, 1962)<ref name="michael_wilton">{{cite web|url=http://www.queensrychehistory.com/michael.html |title=Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: Michael Wilton |author=Brett Miller |publisher=QueensrycheHistory.com |access-date=2013-01-03}}</ref> also known as '''The Whip''', for how fast his fingers "whip" around the guitar [[fingerboard|fretboard]],<ref name="al_bio">{{cite web |title=Declaration of Michael Wilton |url=http://www.anybodylistening.net/wilton.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122131842/https://www.anybodylistening.net/lawsuit/wilton.pdf |archive-date=Nov 22, 2021 |accessdate=2013-07-23 |website=Anybodylistening.net |publisher=}}</ref> is an American musician, best known for being a guitarist and [[songwriter]] in the [[progressive metal]] band [[Queensrÿche]], which he co-founded in 1982.


==Childhood==
==Childhood==
Wilton was born in [[San Francisco]], [[California]],<ref name="michael_wilton" /> but his family moved to [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] when he was 6 years old.<ref name="testimony_wilton">{{cite web|url=http://www.anybodylistening.net/lawsuit/wilton.pdf|title=Declaration of Michael Wilton|last=|first=|date=2011-06-12|website=|publisher=court testimony|accessdate=2017-03-07}}</ref> His father took him to concerts from an early age and introduced him to many musical styles, especially [[jazz]],<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> including [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Larry Coryell]] and [[Al Di Meola]],<ref name="metalfactory" /> but also to rock music like [[Led Zeppelin]], [[The Allman Brothers Band]], and [[Eric Clapton]].<ref name="metalfactory" /> At age 8, he started practicing on the [[bass guitar]], learning songs by bands from his father's collections, such as [[The Beatles]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[The Rolling Stones]] and [[Bob Dylan]]. At age 13,<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> he also got a nylon string acoustic from his aunt and accidentally blew his father's speaker. He convinced his father to give him the [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] Bassman and [[Loudspeaker|speaker]] cabinet Wilton inherited from an uncle who died in a [[motorcycle]] accident.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}
Wilton was born in [[San Francisco]], [[California]],<ref name="michael_wilton" /> but his family moved to [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] when he was 6 years old.<ref name="testimony_wilton">{{cite web|url=http://www.anybodylistening.net/lawsuit/wilton.pdf|title=Declaration of Michael Wilton|date=2011-06-12|publisher=court testimony|access-date=2017-03-07}}</ref> His father took him to concerts from an early age and introduced him to many musical styles, especially [[jazz]],<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> including [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Larry Coryell]] and [[Al Di Meola]],<ref name="metalfactory" /> but also to rock music like [[Led Zeppelin]], [[The Allman Brothers Band]], and [[Eric Clapton]].<ref name="metalfactory" /> At age 8, he started practicing on the [[bass guitar]], learning songs by bands from his father's collections, such as [[The Beatles]], [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[The Rolling Stones]] and [[Bob Dylan]]. At age 13,<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> he also got a nylon string acoustic from his aunt and accidentally blew his father's speaker. He convinced his father to give him the [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] Bassman and [[Loudspeaker|speaker]] cabinet Wilton inherited from an uncle who died in a [[motorcycle]] accident.{{Citation needed|date=April 2013}}


While attending [[middle school|junior high school]]<ref name="metalfactory">{{cite web |url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=188990 |title=Queensrÿche Guitarist Michael Wilton Interviewed On 'The Metal Factory' Radio Show (Audio) |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2013-04-20 |accessdate=2013-04-21 }}</ref> and [[Interlake High School]],<ref name="the_beginning">{{cite web|url=http://www.queensrychehistory.com/thebeginning.html |title=Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: The Beginning |author=Brett Miller |publisher=QueensrycheHistory.com |accessdate=2013-01-03}}</ref> Wilton began to explore the guitar world further by listening to [[hard rock]] and [[heavy metal music]] such as [[Judas Priest]], [[UFO (band)|UFO]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Van Halen]], and [[Deep Purple]],<ref name="metalfactory" /> and he began practicing seriously, for 2 hours per day. He changed his mind about playing bass guitar, and chose to play [[guitar]] instead. At age 16, his guitar teacher said, that Wilton "whipped on the guitar", which got him the nickname "Whip".<ref name="metalfactory" /> He bought a [[Gibson Les Paul|Les Paul]] copy and a fuzzbox,<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> and joined some [[garage (house)|garage]] bands with his school-mates,<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> such as Joker, which was formed in 1978.<ref name="the_beginning" /> In 1979, new sophomore [[Chris DeGarmo]] was briefly part of this band.<ref name="the_beginning" /> By the end of the 1979–1980 school year, they disbanded.<ref name="storm_coming">{{cite web|url=http://www.queensrychehistory.com/thestorm.html |title=Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: The Storm is Coming |author=Brett Miller |publisher=QueensrycheHistory.com |accessdate=2013-01-03}}</ref>
While attending [[middle school|junior high school]]<ref name="metalfactory">{{cite web |url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=188990 |title=Queensrÿche Guitarist Michael Wilton Interviewed On 'The Metal Factory' Radio Show (Audio) |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2013-04-20 |access-date=2013-04-21 }}</ref> and [[Interlake High School]],<ref name="the_beginning">{{cite web|url=http://www.queensrychehistory.com/thebeginning.html |title=Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: The Beginning |author=Brett Miller |publisher=QueensrycheHistory.com |access-date=2013-01-03}}</ref> Wilton began to explore the guitar world further by listening to [[hard rock]] and [[heavy metal music]] such as [[Judas Priest]], [[UFO (band)|UFO]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Van Halen]], and [[Deep Purple]],<ref name="metalfactory" /> and he began practicing seriously, for 2 hours per day. He changed his mind about playing bass guitar, and chose to play [[guitar]] instead. At age 16, his guitar teacher said, that Wilton "whipped on the guitar", which got him the nickname "Whip".<ref name="metalfactory" /> He bought a [[Gibson Les Paul|Les Paul]] copy and a fuzzbox,<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> and joined some [[garage (house)|garage]] bands with his school-mates,<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> such as Joker, which was formed in 1978.<ref name="the_beginning" /> In 1979, new sophomore [[Chris DeGarmo]] was briefly part of this band.<ref name="the_beginning" /> By the end of the 1979–1980 school year, they disbanded.<ref name="storm_coming">{{cite web|url=http://www.queensrychehistory.com/thestorm.html |title=Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: The Storm is Coming |author=Brett Miller |publisher=QueensrycheHistory.com |access-date=2013-01-03}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
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===Queensrÿche===
===Queensrÿche===
After high school, Wilton attended the Cornish Institute of Allied Arts in Seattle (now known as Cornish College of the Arts), where he studied among others [[music theory]], [[jazz improvisation]], [[gamelan]] music and [[classical music]] (piano and guitar).<ref name="testimony_wilton" /><ref name="metalfactory" /> This was a big step in his life as he began to appreciate more [[ethnic]] and [[improvisational]] music, which later gave him influences as a [[progressive rock]] musician. After studying for 1–5 years, he ran out of money,<ref name="metalfactory" /> but by this time, he had met bass guitarist [[Eddie Jackson (musician)|Eddie Jackson]] and drummer [[Scott Rockenfield]].<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> In 1980, Wilton and Rockenfield had founded a band called Cross+Fire, which DeGarmo and Jackson joined shortly thereafter.<ref name="testimony_rockenfield">{{cite web|url=http://www.anybodylistening.net/scottrockenfield.pdf |title=Declaration of Scott Rockenfield |publisher=court testimony |date=2011-07-10 |accessdate=2012-12-03 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722204408/http://www.anybodylistening.net/scottrockenfield.pdf |archivedate=2012-07-22 |df= }}</ref> The quartet began to play at parties, by which time they called themselves The Mob.<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> In late summer of 1982, [[Geoff Tate]] was involved as vocalist to record a four-song demo.<ref name="born">{{cite web|url=http://www.queensrychehistory.com/born.html |title=Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: The Rÿche Is Born |author=Brett Miller |publisher=QueensrycheHistory.com |accessdate=2013-01-05}}</ref> The band changed its name to [[Queensrÿche]], and the demo was released in 1983 as the eponymous [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Queensrÿche (EP)|Queensrÿche]]''.<ref name="testimony_wilton" />
After high school, Wilton attended the Cornish Institute of Allied Arts in Seattle (now known as Cornish College of the Arts), where he studied among others [[music theory]], [[jazz improvisation]], [[gamelan]] music and [[classical music]] (piano and guitar).<ref name="testimony_wilton" /><ref name="metalfactory" /> This was a big step in his life as he began to appreciate more [[ethnic]] and [[improvisational]] music, which later gave him influences as a [[progressive rock]] musician. After studying for 1–5 years, he ran out of money,<ref name="metalfactory" /> but by this time, he had met bass guitarist [[Eddie Jackson (musician)|Eddie Jackson]] and drummer [[Scott Rockenfield]].<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> In 1980, Wilton and Rockenfield had founded a band called Cross+Fire, which DeGarmo and Jackson joined shortly thereafter.<ref name="testimony_rockenfield">{{cite web|url=http://www.anybodylistening.net/scottrockenfield.pdf |title=Declaration of Scott Rockenfield |publisher=court testimony |date=2011-07-10 |access-date=2012-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722204408/http://www.anybodylistening.net/scottrockenfield.pdf |archive-date=2012-07-22 }}</ref> The quartet began to play at parties, by which time they called themselves The Mob.<ref name="testimony_wilton" /> In late summer of 1982, [[Geoff Tate]] was involved as vocalist to record a four-song demo.<ref name="born">{{cite web|url=http://www.queensrychehistory.com/born.html |title=Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: The Rÿche Is Born |author=Brett Miller |publisher=QueensrycheHistory.com |access-date=2013-01-05}}</ref> The band changed its name to [[Queensrÿche]], and the demo was released in 1983 as the eponymous [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Queensrÿche (EP)|Queensrÿche]]''.<ref name="testimony_wilton" />


Wilton remains a guitarist in Queensrÿche to date. After DeGarmo left Queensrÿche in 1998,<ref name="morsels">Waterbury, Mark E. (Aug. 2003).[http://www.serge.org/musicmorsels0803.htm "Crossroads: Scott Rockenfield - Queensrÿche's Drummer"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311033405/http://www.serge.org/musicmorsels0803.htm |date=2007-03-11 }}. ''Music Morsels''. Retrieved April 24, 2006.</ref><ref name="rathole">Dargon, Kieran. [http://www.rathole.com/fireworks/04/queensryche.asp Geoff Tate interview]. ''The RatHole - Fireworks Magazine''. Retrieved April 24, 2006.</ref> Wilton gradually began performing most of the songs that previously featured DeGarmo doing the main solo live, including "Silent Lucidity", "The Mission", "En Force", "I Am I", "Take Hold of the Flame", "Best I Can", "The Killing Words", "Bridge", "The Lady Wore Black" and "Anybody Listening?", amongst others. Queensrÿche had first taken in [[Kelly Gray (musician)|Kelly Gray]] as guitarist, who was replaced in 2002 by [[Mike Stone (musician)|Mike Stone]],<ref name="testimony_rockenfield" /> and in February 2009 by [[Parker Lundgren]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113658 |title=Blabbermouth.Net - Guitarist Mike Stone Quits Queensrÿche |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date= |accessdate=2011-07-14 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726025349/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113658 |archivedate=2011-07-26 |df= }}</ref> initially as a touring guitarist but mainly as a rhythm guitarist only joining in for dual guitar solos in songs like "Neue Regel" and "London". After the band's 2009 ''[[American Soldier (album)|American Soldier]]'' tour, Wilton took over all of the solos.
Wilton remains a guitarist in Queensrÿche to date. After DeGarmo left Queensrÿche in 1998,<ref name="morsels">Waterbury, Mark E. (Aug. 2003).[http://www.serge.org/musicmorsels0803.htm "Crossroads: Scott Rockenfield - Queensrÿche's Drummer"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311033405/http://www.serge.org/musicmorsels0803.htm |date=2007-03-11 }}. ''Music Morsels''. Retrieved April 24, 2006.</ref><ref name="rathole">Dargon, Kieran. [http://www.rathole.com/fireworks/04/queensryche.asp Geoff Tate interview]. ''The RatHole - Fireworks Magazine''. Retrieved April 24, 2006.</ref> Wilton gradually began performing most of the songs that previously featured DeGarmo doing the main solo live, including "Silent Lucidity", "The Mission", "En Force", "I Am I", "Take Hold of the Flame", "Best I Can", "The Killing Words", "Bridge", "The Lady Wore Black" and "Anybody Listening?", amongst others. Queensrÿche had first taken in [[Kelly Gray (musician)|Kelly Gray]] as guitarist, who was replaced in 2002 by [[Mike Stone (musician)|Mike Stone]],<ref name="testimony_rockenfield" /> and in February 2009 by [[Parker Lundgren]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113658 |title=Blabbermouth.Net - Guitarist Mike Stone Quits Queensrÿche |publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com |access-date=2011-07-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726025349/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=113658 |archive-date=2011-07-26 }}</ref> initially as a touring guitarist but mainly as a rhythm guitarist only joining in for dual guitar solos in songs like "Neue Regel" and "London". After the band's 2009 ''[[American Soldier (album)|American Soldier]]'' tour, Wilton took over all of the solos.


===Soulbender===
===Soulbender===
In 2002, Wilton started a side-band with former [[Alice N' Chains]] guitarist and [[My Sister's Machine]] vocalist [[Nick Pollock]], called [[Soulbender]].<ref name="al_bio" /> They released [[Soulbender (album)|one album]] in 2004 on Licking Lava Records, following which they played various shows around the [[Northwestern United States|Northwest]]. Soulbender subsequently went on an extensive hiatus. A new album, ''Soulbender 2'', was announced to be released in 2014, with plans to tour in 2015.<ref name="vinyldistrict">{{cite web |last=Pacella |first=Jon |url=http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2014/04/queensryches-michael-wilton-and-strypers-michael-sweet-the-tvd-m3-rock-festival-interview/ |title=Queensryche’s Michael Wilton and Stryper’s Michael Sweet: The TVD M3 Rock Festival Interview |date=2014-04-24 |accessdate=2014-05-05 |work=The Vinyl District}}</ref>
In 2002, Wilton started a side-band with former [[Alice N' Chains]] guitarist and [[My Sister's Machine]] vocalist [[Nick Pollock]], called [[Soulbender]].<ref name="al_bio" /> They released [[Soulbender (album)|one album]] in 2004 on Licking Lava Records, following which they played various shows around the [[Northwestern United States|Northwest]]. Soulbender subsequently went on an extensive hiatus. A new album, ''Soulbender 2'', was announced to be released in 2014, with plans to tour in 2015.<ref name="vinyldistrict">{{cite web |last=Pacella |first=Jon |url=http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2014/04/queensryches-michael-wilton-and-strypers-michael-sweet-the-tvd-m3-rock-festival-interview/ |title=Queensryche's Michael Wilton and Stryper's Michael Sweet: The TVD M3 Rock Festival Interview |date=2014-04-24 |access-date=2014-05-05 |work=The Vinyl District}}</ref>


===Wratchet Head===
===Wratchet Head===
In 2010, Wilton released the single "Coming for You" with his hard rock project Wratchet Head, which was intended for those Queensrÿche fans, "whose ears have longed to once again be filled with the classic, melodic and sometimes haunting sounds of 'the earlier years'".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ratpakrecordsamerica.com/wratchethead.cfm |title=Wratchet Head |accessdate=2013-07-20 |publisher=Ratpak Records |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20130720095330/http://ratpakrecordsamerica.com/wratchethead.cfm |archivedate=2013-07-20 |df= }}</ref> In 2012, he continued making music with Wratchet Head.<ref name="londonrocks">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OcmyH1ZIUo/ |title=London Rocks Interviews Todd La Torre of Queensryche about upcoming Album (audio - 20 minutes) |last=Fend |first=Ria |date=2013-06-15 |accessdate=2013-06-29 |work=London Rocks |publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
In 2010, Wilton released the single "Coming for You" with his hard rock project Wratchet Head, which was intended for those Queensrÿche fans, "whose ears have longed to once again be filled with the classic, melodic and sometimes haunting sounds of 'the earlier years'".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ratpakrecordsamerica.com/wratchethead.cfm |title=Wratchet Head |access-date=2013-07-20 |publisher=Ratpak Records |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130720095330/http://ratpakrecordsamerica.com/wratchethead.cfm |archive-date=2013-07-20 }}</ref> In 2012, he continued making music with Wratchet Head.<ref name="londonrocks">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OcmyH1ZIUo/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/7OcmyH1ZIUo |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=London Rocks Interviews Todd La Torre of Queensryche about upcoming Album (audio - 20 minutes) |last=Fend |first=Ria |date=2013-06-15 |access-date=2013-06-29 |work=London Rocks |publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


[[File:Michael Wilton.jpg|thumb|200px|Michael Wilton performing live.]]
[[File:Michael Wilton.jpg|thumb|200px|Michael Wilton performing live.]]
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===Pamela Moore===
===Pamela Moore===
* ''[[Stories from a Blue Room]]'' (2006)
* ''Stories from a Blue Room'' (2006)


===Ronnie Munroe===
===Ronnie Munroe===
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===Wratchet Head===
===Wratchet Head===
* "Coming For You" (2010)
* "Coming For You" (2010)

===Soundtrack appearances===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| <br/>Title<br/><br/>
! scope="col"| Release
! scope="col"| With
! scope="col"| Soundtrack
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Queensrÿche_(EP)#Reissues|Prophecy]]"
| 1988
| rowspan="3"|[[Queensrÿche]]
| ''[[The_Decline_of_Western_Civilization_Part_II:_The_Metal_Years#Soundtrack|The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Last Time in Paris]]"
| 1990
| ''[[The_Adventures_of_Ford_Fairlane#Soundtrack|The Adventures of Ford Fairlane]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Real World (Queensrÿche song)|Real World]]"
| 1993
| ''[[Last_Action_Hero#Music|Last Action Hero]]''
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 66: Line 92:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.michaelwilton.com/ Official home page]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100402092503/http://www.michaelwilton.com/ Official home page]


{{Queensrÿche}}
{{Queensrÿche}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilton, Michael}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilton, Michael}}
[[Category:Queensrÿche members]]
[[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]]
⚫
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Lead guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Cornish College of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Glam metal musicians]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Washington (state)]]
⚫
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Guitarists from San Francisco]]
[[Category:Musicians from Seattle]]
⚫
[[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]]
[[Category:Progressive metal guitarists]]
[[Category:Progressive metal guitarists]]
[[Category:Cornish College of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Washington (state)]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Soulbender members]]
[[Category:Soulbender members]]
[[Category:Queensrÿche members]]

Latest revision as of 14:10, 6 April 2024

Michael Wilton
Michael Wilton performing with Queensrÿche at the Reno Events Center on December 13, 2013
Michael Wilton performing with Queensrÿche at the Reno Events Center on December 13, 2013
Background information
Also known asWhip
Born (1962-02-23) February 23, 1962 (age 62)
San Francisco, California, United States
Genres
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1978–present
Websitehttp://www.michaelwilton.com

Michael F. Wilton (born February 23, 1962)[1] also known as The Whip, for how fast his fingers "whip" around the guitar fretboard,[2] is an American musician, best known for being a guitarist and songwriter in the progressive metal band Queensrÿche, which he co-founded in 1982.

Childhood[edit]

Wilton was born in San Francisco, California,[1] but his family moved to Seattle, Washington when he was 6 years old.[3] His father took him to concerts from an early age and introduced him to many musical styles, especially jazz,[3] including John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell and Al Di Meola,[4] but also to rock music like Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers Band, and Eric Clapton.[4] At age 8, he started practicing on the bass guitar, learning songs by bands from his father's collections, such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. At age 13,[3] he also got a nylon string acoustic from his aunt and accidentally blew his father's speaker. He convinced his father to give him the Fender Bassman and speaker cabinet Wilton inherited from an uncle who died in a motorcycle accident.[citation needed]

While attending junior high school[4] and Interlake High School,[5] Wilton began to explore the guitar world further by listening to hard rock and heavy metal music such as Judas Priest, UFO, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, and Deep Purple,[4] and he began practicing seriously, for 2 hours per day. He changed his mind about playing bass guitar, and chose to play guitar instead. At age 16, his guitar teacher said, that Wilton "whipped on the guitar", which got him the nickname "Whip".[4] He bought a Les Paul copy and a fuzzbox,[3] and joined some garage bands with his school-mates,[3] such as Joker, which was formed in 1978.[5] In 1979, new sophomore Chris DeGarmo was briefly part of this band.[5] By the end of the 1979–1980 school year, they disbanded.[6]

Career[edit]

Queensrÿche singer Todd La Torre with Michael Wilton.

Queensrÿche[edit]

After high school, Wilton attended the Cornish Institute of Allied Arts in Seattle (now known as Cornish College of the Arts), where he studied among others music theory, jazz improvisation, gamelan music and classical music (piano and guitar).[3][4] This was a big step in his life as he began to appreciate more ethnic and improvisational music, which later gave him influences as a progressive rock musician. After studying for 1–5 years, he ran out of money,[4] but by this time, he had met bass guitarist Eddie Jackson and drummer Scott Rockenfield.[3] In 1980, Wilton and Rockenfield had founded a band called Cross+Fire, which DeGarmo and Jackson joined shortly thereafter.[7] The quartet began to play at parties, by which time they called themselves The Mob.[3] In late summer of 1982, Geoff Tate was involved as vocalist to record a four-song demo.[8] The band changed its name to Queensrÿche, and the demo was released in 1983 as the eponymous EP Queensrÿche.[3]

Wilton remains a guitarist in Queensrÿche to date. After DeGarmo left Queensrÿche in 1998,[9][10] Wilton gradually began performing most of the songs that previously featured DeGarmo doing the main solo live, including "Silent Lucidity", "The Mission", "En Force", "I Am I", "Take Hold of the Flame", "Best I Can", "The Killing Words", "Bridge", "The Lady Wore Black" and "Anybody Listening?", amongst others. Queensrÿche had first taken in Kelly Gray as guitarist, who was replaced in 2002 by Mike Stone,[7] and in February 2009 by Parker Lundgren,[11] initially as a touring guitarist but mainly as a rhythm guitarist only joining in for dual guitar solos in songs like "Neue Regel" and "London". After the band's 2009 American Soldier tour, Wilton took over all of the solos.

Soulbender[edit]

In 2002, Wilton started a side-band with former Alice N' Chains guitarist and My Sister's Machine vocalist Nick Pollock, called Soulbender.[2] They released one album in 2004 on Licking Lava Records, following which they played various shows around the Northwest. Soulbender subsequently went on an extensive hiatus. A new album, Soulbender 2, was announced to be released in 2014, with plans to tour in 2015.[12]

Wratchet Head[edit]

In 2010, Wilton released the single "Coming for You" with his hard rock project Wratchet Head, which was intended for those Queensrÿche fans, "whose ears have longed to once again be filled with the classic, melodic and sometimes haunting sounds of 'the earlier years'".[13] In 2012, he continued making music with Wratchet Head.[14]

Michael Wilton performing live.

Personal life[edit]

Wilton is an avid sports fan and guitar collector.[2] In high school, he was better known for being a star athlete in football, baseball and basketball than as a musician. He was among others in an all-star youth baseball team that toured through Europe.[5]

Discography[edit]

Queensrÿche[edit]

Main article: Queensrÿche discography

Aury Moore[edit]

  • Just A Taste (2002)

Soulbender[edit]

Pamela Moore[edit]

  • Stories from a Blue Room (2006)

Ronnie Munroe[edit]

  • The Fire Within (2009)

Wratchet Head[edit]

  • "Coming For You" (2010)

Soundtrack appearances[edit]


Title

 Release With Soundtrack
"Prophecy" 1988 Queensrÿche The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years
"Last Time in Paris" 1990 The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
"Real World" 1993 Last Action Hero

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Brett Miller. "Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: Michael Wilton". QueensrycheHistory.com. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  2. ^ a b c "Declaration of Michael Wilton" (PDF). Anybodylistening.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on Nov 22, 2021. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Declaration of Michael Wilton" (PDF). court testimony. 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Queensrÿche Guitarist Michael Wilton Interviewed On 'The Metal Factory' Radio Show (Audio)". Blabbermouth.net. 2013-04-20. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  5. ^ a b c d Brett Miller. "Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: The Beginning". QueensrycheHistory.com. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  6. ^ Brett Miller. "Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: The Storm is Coming". QueensrycheHistory.com. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  7. ^ a b "Declaration of Scott Rockenfield" (PDF). court testimony. 2011-07-10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
  8. ^ Brett Miller. "Before the Storm: The Early Days of Queensrÿche: The Rÿche Is Born". QueensrycheHistory.com. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  9. ^ Waterbury, Mark E. (Aug. 2003)."Crossroads: Scott Rockenfield - Queensrÿche's Drummer" Archived 2007-03-11 at the Wayback Machine. Music Morsels. Retrieved April 24, 2006.
  10. ^ Dargon, Kieran. Geoff Tate interview. The RatHole - Fireworks Magazine. Retrieved April 24, 2006.
  11. ^ "Blabbermouth.Net - Guitarist Mike Stone Quits Queensrÿche". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  12. ^ Pacella, Jon (2014-04-24). "Queensryche's Michael Wilton and Stryper's Michael Sweet: The TVD M3 Rock Festival Interview". The Vinyl District. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  13. ^ "Wratchet Head". Ratpak Records. Archived from the original on 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  14. ^ Fend, Ria (2013-06-15). "London Rocks Interviews Todd La Torre of Queensryche about upcoming Album (audio - 20 minutes)". London Rocks. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 2013-06-29.

External links[edit]

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