Mike Schleibaum

Michael J. Schleibaum (born June 7, 1977) is a guitarist, musician, composer, and producer.[1] He is the rhythm guitarist in the Melodic death metal band Darkest Hour, which he co-founded along with lead vocalist John Henry. He also works with bands as a studio producer, composes music for TV and film.

Mike Schleibaum
Mike Schleibaum in a concert with Darkest Hour in Barcelona in May 2009
Background information
Birth nameMichael J. Schleibaum
Born (1977-06-07) June 7, 1977
Fairfax, Virginia, US
Genres
Occupation(s)
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1994–present
Associated acts

Biography

Michael Schleibaum was born in Fairfax, Virginia, grew up in and around the Washington, DC northern Virginia suburbs. Son to an ex-nun turned insurance claims adjuster Lucy Schleibaum and land developer John Schleibaum. Michael started playing guitar at age 14. While a student at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax, Virginia, Schleibaum discovered punk and metal music and in his senior year, founded Darkest Hour with lead singer John Henry. Schleibaum then attended George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia), while continuing to tour and write with Darkest Hour. In 1999 Darkest Hour signed and was dropped from MIA records before their first full-length album, Mark of the Judas, was officially released. In 2000, while still in college, Darkest Hour signed to Chicago's Victory Records, and released So Sedated So Secure soon afterwards. After graduating in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work, Schleibaum started pursuing Darkest Hour full-time. Darkest Hour has since gone on to record and release 6 full-length records, 2 EPs, and tour in over 32 countries and 5 continents.

Schleibaum has had the opportunity to work with legendary metal producers: Fredrik Nordström (Studio Fredman, Gothenburg Sweden), Devin Townsend (Greenhouse Studios, Vancouver, BC), and Brian McTernan (Salad Days Studios, Baltimore, Maryland).

With the help of his good friend and producer, Brian McTernan, Schleibaum began producing and recording records in 2006. Many of the studio albums he has worked on were recorded at McTernan's Salad Days studios. In December 2007 Schleibaum produced his first major record for Dead To Fall, called Are You Serious? (Victory Records). He then worked with From Autumn to Ashes on their final record Holding a Wolf By the Ears (Vagrant Records). Schleibaum has also worked with artists: Destroy the Runner (Solid State), With Honor (Victory Records), These Green Eyes (Blackledge Music), Strike Anywhere (Bridge Nine), Thieves & Villains (Victory Records), and Domino Team (unsigned). Schleibaum also produced two of his personal projects Man and Wasp (featuring Frodus guitarist Shelby Cinca) and Washington DC's Beasts of No Nation. In 2006 Schleibaum began composing music for TV documentaries, and continues to do so for several DC based companies, including: The Smithsonian Channels 2 hour WWII special "Wings of Honor" and "Iwo Jima” Specials, MSNBC's "Charles Manson and His Followers," National Geographic's "Behind the Photo," as well as the 13 part series "Real Interrogations" and “The Real NCIS” currently airing on Investigation Discovery.

In 2008, Schleibaum launched www.askthedude.net. Drawing from his 15 years of life as a musician and unique social work background, Schleibaum set out to provide self-help and advice for aspiring musicians and professional musicians alike. The site includes letters, interviews, gear reviews, and a band classifieds section.

Starting August 2011, he will be the new columnist for Pulp Magazine, a Philippine-based rock and heavy metal magazine, together with Paolo Gregletto of Trivium.

Projects

Current bands

Former bands
  • My Best Mistake
  • WD-40
  • Indivision
  • Astoria
  • The Bradshaw Express
  • Battery

Discography
  • Darkest Hour: The Misanthrope (Death Truck Records / AF Records) CD EP /
  • Darkest Hour: The Prophecy Fulfilled (Art Monk Construction / AF Records) CD EP /
  • Darkest Hour: Darkest Hour/Ground Zero (East Coast Empire Records) Split 7 Inch /
  • Darkest Hour: Where Hero’s Go To Die (Join the Team Player) 5 Inch Record /
  • Darkest Hour: Mark of the Judas (Join the Team Player, MIA, Art Monk Construction, Southern Loard) CD, LP /
  • Darkest Hour: So Sedated So Secure (Victory Records) CD LP /
  • Darkest Hour: Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation (Victory Records) CD LP /
  • Darkest Hour: Undoing Ruin (Victory Records) CD LP /
  • Darkest Hour: Deliver Us (Victory Records) CD LP /
  • Darkest Hour: The Eternal Return (Victory Records) CD LP /
  • Darkest Hour: The Human Romance (Victory Records) CD LP /
  • My Best Mistake: Demo (Self Released) CD /
  • Man And Wasp: EP (Self Released) CD /
  • Beasts of No Nation: TBA /
  • Dead To Fall’s, Are You Serious? (Victory Records) CD Produced /
  • From Autumn to Ashes: Holding a Wolf By the Ears (Vagrant Records) CD Co-Writer /
  • Destroy the Runner (Solid State) CD Engineer /
  • With Honor (Victory Records) CD Engineer /
  • These Green Eyes (Blackledge Music) CD Engineer /
  • Strike Anywhere (Bridge Nine) /
  • Thieves and Villains (Victory Records) CD Engineer /
  • Domino Team (unsigned) Produced /

Personal life

He resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Sari and two cats Eddie and Alex Van Halen. In April 2011, it was reported on Darkest Hour's official Facebook page that his wife had given birth to their first daughter.

References
  1. Sharpe-Young, Garry (2005). New Wave of American Heavy Metal. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-9582684-0-0.
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