Michelle started playing music around 8 years old when her folks set her up with piano lessons. She stayed interested in music throughout her life, even played drums and clarinet in the school band. She got her first electric guitar when she was 13! It was a Sears Silvertone Jaguar. "That was very cool." But it wasn't until she turned 18 when she moved into her first apartment that she says she finally learned how to play the guitar. It turned out that she moved in next door to a "real guitar player". "He taught me a lot. Many of the Led Zepplin songs he taught me I still know today. He als... (+) expand

Michelle started playing music around 8 years old when her folks set her up with piano lessons. She stayed interested in music throughout her life, even played drums and clarinet in the school band. She got her first electric guitar when she was 13! It was a Sears Silvertone Jaguar. "That was very cool." But it wasn't until she turned 18 when she moved into her first apartment that she says she finally learned how to play the guitar. It turned out that she moved in next door to a "real guitar player". "He taught me a lot. Many of the Led Zepplin songs he taught me I still know today. He also showed me how to learn from records."

From then on, she picked up most of what she knows from copying records. She has a good ear and would get up at 4 AM every morning before going to school, plug her guitar into the home stereo, put on a pair of headphones, and study from the masters - Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rolling Stones, Joe Walsh, AC/DC, Eric Clapton, Aerosmith, and others. This is where she learn how to play. That was 30 years ago!

Over her career, Michelle has been in several bands. And in the 80's, she did some studio work, where she played lead guitar on several albums, back in the days of vinyl.

Michelle currently performs around the Seattle area with her friend, Al. We are currently in search of a drummer.

Michelle also performs LIVE GIGS, ONLINE, within the virtual 3D world known as Second Life. Performances there can be enjoyed from anywhere in the world by signing up with Second Life. Once signed up, you will get your own avatar, which is a cartoon representation of yourself within the virtual world, and you will be able to visit any performance venue (bar, tavern, nightclub) within the game (SEE UPCOMING SHOWS, above, for times and places). Signing up and "playing" the "game" to listen to Michelle perform (as her avatar, MICKI UNDERWOOD, is absolutely FREE.

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