Mika Horiuchi

Infobox Musical artist
Name = PAGENAME


Img_capt =
Img_size = 175
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Born = birth date and age|1986|04|22 Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
Instrument = Bass guitar, Guitar
Genre = Heavy metal Thrash metal Power metal
Occupation = Musician Songwriter
Years_active = 1995 - Present
Label = Metal Blade
Associated_acts = Cellador
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/mikahoriuchi Official Mika Horiuchi MySpace]
Notable_instruments = Dean Demonator

Mika Kazuo Horiuchi, A Japanese-American born on April 22, 1986 in Seattle, Washington, is the current bass guitar player for North American power metal band Cellador. Mika is known for his guitar like bass solos and his finger speed.

Biography

Mika Horiuchi started playing the saxophone when he was about 9 years of age. At the age of 10 he also started playing the trumpet in Classical Ensemble and Jazz band. When Mika was about 11 years old he started taking serious interest in the bass guitar. He then switched to playing Bass full time in jazz and pep band. Mika Horiuchi formed his first serious band in 2001 called Netherelm.

Cellador

In 2006 Netherelm had disbanded due to unknown reasons. Shortly after, Mika had gotten in contact with Cellador. Mika's first show with the band was a double headliner with Unearth at Sokol Auditorium, in Omaha, Nebraska. The band wanted Mika to continue his audition and come on the All That Remains tour as a fill in. Mika has officially been announced into Cellador as of April 2007.

Influences

Mika's early influences for bass guitar were Jaco Pastorious and Victor Wooten. Mika started getting more into the metal side of music, playing older Metallica and jamming with friends. Cliff Burton is Mika's biggest influence and hero. He solos emulating a guitar type distortion/fuzz with a wah pedal, very similar to Cliff Burton's "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" and live solos. His biggest influences include Billy Sheehan, Joey DeMaio (of Manowar), Thomas Miller and Mike Lepond (of Symphony X) John Myung (of Dream Theater), Steve Harris (of Iron Maiden) and Markus Grosskopf (of Helloween). Although Mika is a bass player, a lot of his influences come from guitar players such as Michael Angelo Batio, Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, Steve Vai, Kris Norris of Darkest Hour, Syu of Galneryus, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jani Liimatainen of Sonata Arctica, Michael Romeo of Symphony X, Herman Li of DragonForce, Jeff Loomis of Nevermore, John Petrucci of Dream Theater, and Jason Becker.

Goals

Mika Horiuchi is striving to bring back arena bands and the icon musicians that go along with those bands. Mika is also on his way to becoming a bass virtuoso of the new era of metal. Eventually, Mika Horiuchi plans to start his own clothing company.

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/mikahoriuchi Mika Horiuchi's Official MySpace]
* [http://www.myspace.com/cellador Cellador's Official Myspace]
* [http://www.cellador.com Cellador's Official Website]