Mike Squires | |
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![]() Squires performing with Loaded at the Maquinaria Festival in São Paulo, Brazil in 2009 | |
Background information | |
Born | Concord, California, U.S. | December 28, 1971
Genres | Pop rock, hard rock, punk rock, alternative rock |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist |
Years active | 1993–present |
Labels | PopLlama, Barsuk, V2, The Control Group, Century Media, Eagle Rock Entertainment |
Mike Squires (born December 28, 1971) is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist in the hard rock group Loaded, the group led by Velvet Revolver and Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan.
Previously, he was a member of a number of Seattle-based groups such as Eat the Feeling, Nevada Bachelors, Harvey Danger, Alien Crime Syndicate and The Long Winters which featured former members of The Western State Hurricanes, Harvey Danger and Death Cab for Cutie among others. He also performed with Green Apple Quick Step for a number of "reunion" shows alternating between guitar and bass.
Squires was born in Concord, California on December 28, 1971. [1] He moved around frequently as a child, attending various grade schools before eventually settling in Granite Falls, Washington. He joined the Marines before eventually moving to Seattle, Washington. [1]
During his early career, Squires formed or joined a number of groups but with little or no releases. One of his first musical ventures was a jam band named Eat the Feeling, where he played bass; they recorded a CD in 1993 which was released in 1994. [1] Next was the Minutemen influenced group, Compass, where they recorded a few demos, and Suttree, a Country/pop influenced group. [1] Squires and Darius Minwalla, future drummer for The Posies, attempted to put a band together, recording demos in the process, however they eventually moved on to other projects. [1]
In 1997, Squires joined the Nevada Bachelors, a group formed by Robb Benson. [1] The band's lineup was rounded up by bassist Ben Brunn and drummer Dusty Hayes. They released debut album Carrots & So On in 1998 through Pop Llama Records [1] [2] [3] with a sound reminiscent of The Police. [4] They toured in support of the album and played shows in their native Seattle supporting Death Cab for Cutie in 1998 [5] and Fountains of Wayne in 1999. [6] The presidents of the United States of America drummer Jason Finn joined the group replacing Dusty Hayes. The group recorded and released their second and last album Hello Jupiter in 2000 [1] [7] [8] and toured in support.
After taking some time off following the success of their previous album and the single "Flagpole Sitta", [9] Harvey Danger decided to regroup and record the follow-up to Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? with the result being King James Version [9] released in September 2000. For the album's supporting tour, Squires was added as the group's live guitarist as well as The Western State Hurricanes founder John Roderick on keyboard. [10] [11] During his time in the group, Squires recorded some demos with the band however they remain unreleased. [1]
Squires contributed guitar and bass tracks for The Long Winters first record, The Worst You Can Do Is Harm , on the track "Scent of Lime", however his strict conditions of his parole at the time, as well his involvement with other bands, prohibited him from joining the band until 2005 where he played with the group for less than a year before departing. [1] [12] [13]
While recording for The Long Winters, Squires added additional guitar parts for Loaded's debut album Dark Days , [1] with Duff McKagan, Geoff Reading and Dave Dederer, [14] which was released in the United States and Japan in July 2001. It was later released in Europe in July 2002. Loaded announced three dates at the House of Blues taking place in Anaheim, California, Las Vegas, Nevada and West Hollywood, California in November. [15] Before these shows, Squires officially joined the group as lead guitarist and was joined by Alien Crime Syndicate bassist Jeff Rouse. In January 2002, Loaded announced a string of dates in the United States and Japan. [16] During one of the shows, in Los Angeles, Loaded were joined onstage by The Cult duo Billy Duffy and Matt Sorum, also formerly of Guns N' Roses. [17] After these shows, Squires left Loaded to join bandmate Rouse in Alien Crime Syndicate and was replaced by former Wasted Youth and Electric Love Hogs guitarist Dave Kushner. When Loaded went on a semi-hiatus, still playing shows occasionally, following the formation of Velvet Revolver both Squires and Rouse returned to the group.
In December 2006, the group reunited for a special benefit show for Jerry Allen's Cancer Fund. Supporting Loaded that night were Top Heavy Crush and Jeff Angell of Post Stardom Depression. [18]
In February 2008, while on tour with Velvet Revolver, McKagan announced that Loaded were planning on releasing a new album in the summer. [19] During the United Kingdom leg of Velvet Revolver's tour in April, McKagan stated that Loaded were to enter the studio in late April. [20] After a few jam sessions, Loaded began recording what would become Sick with Dark Days producer Martin Feveyear at Jupiter Studios in Seattle. They released a series of Webisodes during this time featuring footage from the recording sessions for the group's new album [21] which was completed in less than 2 weeks. After signing a deal with Century Media, [22] [23] the band changed their moniker to Duff McKagan's Loaded to help promote the band further and an EP, Wasted Heart , was released September 22, 2008 to coincide with their European Tour. [24] Sick was released on March 20, 2009 in Europe and April 7, 2009 in the United States where it placed at number 43 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart selling 1,400 copies. [25] Loaded toured in support of Sick playing dates in the United States and appearing at several European festivals such as Download in the United Kingdom, Rock AM/IM in Germany and they also supported Mötley Crüe on their European tour. The band continued to tour and were announced as the main support for Black Stone Cherry, along with New Jersey group The Parlor Mob, during their tour of Europe and the United Kingdom. [26] [27]
On July 4, 2010, the band announced they were to begin pre-production and enter the studio in August to record the follow-up to Sick stating:
'We have been writing for the last few months and next week we start pre-production on the new Loaded record! We couldn't be happier and we think you fuckers will be, too! As it is looking, we will be recording it in August and thus begins Loaded Mach III!' [28] [29] [30] [31]
In August, it was announced that the group were to record their new album with producer Terry Date, whose production credits include albums by Soundgarden, Pantera and Deftones among others. [32] [33] [34]
On September 2, it was announced that the album was completed and that the group were looking for a label. McKagan also stated that it was Date that approached the group about producing their new album. [35] [36]
After Alien Crime Syndicate regrouped, Squires successfully auditioned for the position of second guitarist. [13] [37] They recorded the album XL from Coast to Coast [37] in 2002 released through Nabil Ayers' label The Control Group (which was then picked up and released by V2). The album featured a Japanese bonus track cover off Elton John's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" recorded with Duff McKagan and Kim Warnick, and toured in support of the album. Squires left the band sometime before the recording of Ten Songs in the Key of Betrayal .
Squires filled the position of second guitar for the 2022 European tour of the Spring and early Summer legs. There are plans for him to continue in that role in the Fall for more UK dates.
With a short reprieve from the Ugly Kid Joe Tour, Squires was tapped to fill bassist Jack Bates' shoes in Peter Hook & the Light when he left to perform on tour with the Smashing Pumpkins. Of note, Squires had but a 2 week period to learn 43 songs on bass before joining Peter Hook on a UK and North American tour.
The Couch Riffs Podcast is hosted by musician Mike Squires and features a variety of musical guests of all backgrounds and styles. Squires and the guests converse on his living room couch (sometimes on location) then perform a "first take only" version of a song of their choice. Guests have included Duff Mckagan, Ryan Roxie, Vivian Campbell, [38] Alex Skolnick, [39] Joe Reineke, Buckcherry, Walking Papers, Eric Howk, Nabil Ayers and Jared James Nichols. The podcast is found on all podcasting providers and live performances on YouTube and social media channels.
On August 21, 2020 Couch Riffs released a video of Rod Stewart's "Young Turks" featuring Alice In Chains’ William DuVall (vocals), The Killers’ Ronnie Vannucci (drums), Afghan Whigs’ Jon Skibic (guitar), The Shins’ Mark Watrous (keys), Dragged Under’s Ryan “Fluff” Bruce (guitar) and Mike Squires on bass. Metal Insider named it one of the top 5 videos of quarantine. [40]
Squires was briefly a member of the group The Burning Rivers, with Ben London, [13] but left after his move to Portland, Oregon, he became part of Lael Alderman's band. [13] [41] Squires also did some guitar tech work for The presidents of the United States of America and Mindless Self-Indulgence [13] while he also worked at CD Baby and for an independent Portland based music label, Badman Recording Co. [13]
On March 26, 2010, Squires performed with Green Apple Quick Step, whose lineup consisted of members Tyler Willman, Dana Turner, Leif Andersen along with singer Christa Wells and Squires's former Loaded bandmate Geoff Reading, [42] at the Hell's Kitchen in Tacoma, Washington. [43]
During the years of 2011-2014 Mike taught private guitar at The Guitar Store in Seattle.
Title | Release | Label | Band |
---|---|---|---|
The Stunstanstunstun Session | 1994 | Eat the Feeling | |
Carrots & So On | 1998 | Pop Llama | Nevada Bachelors |
Hello Jupiter | 2000 | ||
The Worst You Can Do Is Harm | 2002 | Barsuk | The Long Winters |
XL from Coast to Coast | The Control Group/V2 | Alien Crime Syndicate | |
Dark Days | Pimp | Loaded | |
Wasted Heart | 2008 | Century Media | |
Sick | 2009 | ||
The Taking | 2011 | Eagle Rock Entertainment |
Velvet Revolver was an American hard rock supergroup consisting of Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth, and Scott Weiland formerly of Stone Temple Pilots. The band formed in 2002 and was active until 2008, when Weiland left the band abruptly to rejoin Stone Temple Pilots.
Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan is an American musician. He was the bassist of hard rock band Guns N' Roses for twelve years, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. McKagan rejoined the band in 2016, following their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
L.A. Guns are an American glam metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1983. The lineup currently consists of Tracii Guns, Phil Lewis, Ace Von Johnson, Johnny Martin, Adam Hamilton and Shawn Duncan. The first incarnation of the group was formed by Tracii Guns and Rob Gardner in 1983 and merged with fellow Los Angeles group Hollywood Rose to form Guns N' Roses in March 1985. After only a brief tenure in that band, Guns reformed L.A. Guns with a new lineup, consisting of Paul Black, Mick Cripps, Robert Stoddard, and Nickey Alexander. Black would soon be replaced by former Girl singer Phil Lewis while former Faster Pussycat bassist Kelly Nickels was added to the group. Later, Alexander would be replaced by former W.A.S.P. drummer Steve Riley with this being known as the "classic lineup" of L.A. Guns. They achieved moderate chart success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, the group went through numerous lineup changes and failed to regain mainstream attention.
Dave Kushner is an American musician best known as the rhythm guitarist for the hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver. Kushner has also been a member of Wasted Youth, Electric Love Hogs, Loaded, Danzig, Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro's solo band, Sugartooth, Zilch while he has also recorded with Infectious Grooves, Cyco Miko and more recently collaborated with Scars on Broadway guitarist Franky Perez releasing songs under the pseudonym of DKFXP, a combination of the initials of Perez and Kushner, as well as working with Indian singer and actress Shruti Haasan.
Gosling was an American rock band formed in Tri-Cities, Washington. The band was composed of Davey Ingersoll, Mark Watrous, Shane Middleton (bass) and Isaac Carpenter. As Loudermilk, formed in 1995, the group released two albums; the independently released Man with Gun Kills Three! (1998) and then major label debut The Red Record (2002), and toured with Megadeth and Mötley Crüe. Loudermilk appeared in an episode of Dawson's Creek under the stylized name "LoudMilk" performing "Rock 'N' Roll & The Teenage Desperation" on stage. They also performed "Elekt" on the TV show Charmed.
Loaded is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1999. Since 2001, the band's line-up has included vocalist and rhythm guitarist Duff McKagan, lead guitarist Mike Squires and bassist Jeff Rouse. Since 2009, Isaac Carpenter has been the band's drummer, replacing Geoff Reading.
Dark Days is the debut studio album by American rock band Loaded. Recorded between December 2000 and February 2001 at Jupiter Studios in Seattle, Washington, it was self-released in July 2001.
Wasted Heart is the first EP, and third release overall, by American rock band Loaded.
Episode 1999: Live is a live album by American rock band Loaded, released in May 1999. Recorded during two shows in Los Angeles, California, it is the only album to be released by this incarnation of the band. Initially a backing band for bassist/vocalist Duff McKagan's solo and Guns N' Roses material, they later formed as their own band.
Sick is the second studio album by American rock band Loaded. It is their first album since reforming after they went on hiatus in 2002. It was recorded and produced by Martin Feveyear at Jupiter Studios in Seattle, Washington, and was released on March 30, 2009, in Europe and April 7 in the US, through Century Media Records. Writing for the album began in 2008 when vocalist Scott Weiland departed Duff McKagan's other band, Velvet Revolver, in April of the same year. Recording for the follow-up to their 2001 debut album Dark Days began and was completed in June 2008.
Alien Crime Syndicate, often abbreviated to ACS, were a rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1997. From 1999 to the band's breakup in 2005, the lineup consisted primarily of Joe Reineke, Jeff Rouse, Nabil Ayers (drums), while guitarists Jason Krevey, Mike Squires and Mike Davis were also members of the band.
Jeff Rouse is an American musician who is best known as the bassist for the rock bands Alien Crime Syndicate and Duff McKagan's Loaded. In September 2014, it was announced Rouse was the newest member of Fozzy. Previously, Rouse was a member of a number of Seattle-based groups such as Vendetta Red and Sirens Sister while he also has his own solo project titled To the Glorious Lonely and The Gemini Affair.
Isaac Heath Carpenter is an American musician, producer, and audio engineer. He is best known as the former drummer for the alternative rock group Gosling as well as its previous incarnation Loudermilk. Currently, Carpenter is the drummer for Awolnation. He previously played with Duff McKagan's Loaded as well as Adam Lambert's live band and he has performed and/or recorded with The Exies, Ours, Seaspin, Black Lab, Marion Raven, Tyga and Unified Theory among others.
Geoff Reading is an American drummer. In his career, he has been a member of a number of groups, including Loaded, Green Apple Quick Step, New American Shame, The Disciples and Top Heavy Crush while he also recorded with The Pin-Ups.
Nevada Bachelors were an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1997. The band's lineup consisted of Robb Benson, Mike Squires and Ben Brunn. Dusty Hayes was the band's drummer from their formation until 1999, and was replaced by Jason Finn. They released two studio albums, Carrots & So On (1998) and Hello Jupiter (2000), before disbanding in 2001.
Martin John Feveyear born late 1966 is a British record producer and audio engineer based in Seattle, Washington. Beginning as a singer-songwriter and musician, Feveyear soon began recording work for artists in both the UK and US before moving to Seattle at the age of 25. Together with Christian Fulghum, he opened Jupiter Studios in Seattle in 1996. He has since worked with artists and groups — producing, engineering, arranging, mixing, mastering and additional instruments — such as Mark Lanegan, Mudhoney, Duff McKagan's Loaded, Kings of Leon, The Presidents of the United States of America, Queens of the Stone Age, Amber Pacific, Jesse Sykes, Sirens Sister, Green Apple Quick Step, Nevada Bachelors, The Minus 5, and Brandi Carlile, among others.
Loaded is an American hard rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1999. Since 2001, the band's line-up has included vocalist and rhythm guitarist Duff McKagan, lead guitarist Mike Squires and bassist Jeff Rouse. Since 2009, Isaac Carpenter has been the band's drummer replacing Geoff Reading. The band has released 3 studio albums, 1 live album, 1 extended play, 4 singles and 4 music videos.
The Taking is the third studio album by American rock band Loaded. It was produced by Terry Date in Seattle, Washington, and was released on April 19, 2011, through Eagle Rock Entertainment. Writing for the album began in 2009, while the band was touring in support of Sick. It was the first Loaded release, since Episode 1999: Live, without drummer Geoff Reading, who, after departing the band, was replaced by Isaac Carpenter in September 2009.
The Gentlemen was an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. Formed by Duff McKagan, formerly of Guns N' Roses, the band's first lineup consisted of guitarists Michael Barragan, formerly of Plexi, and Dez Cadena, formerly of Black Flag, as well as drummer Taz Bentley, formerly of The Reverend Horton Heat. The same year, they adopted the Loaded moniker before disbanding.
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