Joseph Michael

Joseph Michael is an American singer. He is best known as the lead singer and songwriter of the band Witherfall, and for being the lead singer of Sanctuary. He is also a former member of White Wizzard, Midnight Reign and Peppermint Creeps.

Joseph Michael
Background information
Birth nameJoseph Michael Furney
BornUtica, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1995–present
Labels
Websitejosephmichaelofficial.com

Early life and career

Joseph Michael was born in Utica, New York, on December 26, 1979. Michael dropped out of school at the age of 15, and earned a living teaching music. At the age of 19, he bought a one-way bus ticket from Utica to Los Angeles, where he hoped to make a career in music. He took various jobs, and played in several cover bands before founding his own band, Midnight Reign.[1]

Musical career

Midnight Reign: 1995–present

Michael founded the metal band Midnight Reign in 1995, with drummer Adam Gust, celloist Starla Baker, and violinist Alma Cielo.[2] The band's debut album Never Look Back was released in 2007 on Hollywood Rx Records.[3][4] Michael recorded vocals, guitar, bass and keyboards for the album.[5]

Peppermint Creeps: 1998–2008

While in Los Angeles, Michael met Traci Michaelz of the glam metal band Peppermint Creeps. Michael was the bassist and backup vocalist of Peppermint Creeps from 1998 until 2008.[1]

White Wizzard: 2012–2013

Michael joined White Wizzard in 2012, and recorded vocals on their 2013 album The Devil's Cut.[6][7] He left the band in October 2013 following a disagreement with founder Jon Leon, who was allegedly skimming profits from the band.[8][9] Shortly after Michael's exit, White Wizzard members Will Wallner and Jake Dreyer announced their departures from the band.[10]

Witherfall: 2013–present
Main article: Witherfall

In 2013, Michael founded progressive metal band Witherfall with guitarist Jake Dreyer, his former bandmate from White Wizzard, drummer Adam Sagan, and bassist Anthony Crawford In 2017, the band released their debut album Nocturnes and Requiems,[11] followed by A Prelude to Sorrow (2018), which peaked at #18 on the Top Heatseekers Chart.[12] They released the acoustic EP Vintage in 2019.

Witherfall released their third album, Curse of Autumn in 2021.[13] The album peaked at #83 in the United States,[14] #20 in Germany,[15] and #73 in Switzerland.[16]

Sanctuary: 2017–present

Michael became the touring singer of Sanctuary after the death of lead vocalist Warrel Dane in December 2017. Michael toured with them in 2018, as part of a farewell tour to pay tribute to Dane.[17] In May 2019, the band announced that they were continuing with Michael as their lead singer, and were working on a new full-length album titled Transmutation.[18][19] At the same time, Sanctuary confirmed that they would be embarking on further European and North American tours that year.[20]

Other work

Michael co-wrote "LMFAO" by Dez Cleo which was featured on the soundtrack of the 2013 horror-comedy film Fright Night 2: New Blood.[21] In 2019, he recorded a cover of Savatage's "Chance" along with Van Williams, Anthony Crawford, Joey Concepcion, Alex Nasla, and Will Wallner.[22]

Michael recorded lead vocals for the band Omery Rising, and was featured on the 2014 single "Lady Snow",[23] and their debut album The Rising (2015).[24] He was also the vocalist for Omicida,[25] recording their debut album Certain Death.[26]

Singing style

Michael is known for his operatic heavy metal singing style, and wide vocal range.[27][28] His voice has been favorably compared with singers Bruce Dickinson, Daniel Gildenlöw and Ronnie James Dio.[21] In an interview with Decibel, he cited artists like Dream Theater, Type O Negative, King Diamond and Guns N' Roses as influences on his singing style.[29]

Personal life

Joseph Michael is the cousin of Ronnie James Dio.[30] In an interview with Rock Hard, he mentioned that he had never met Dio, but that he saw him as an influence growing up.[31]

Discography

Witherfall
  • Curse of Autumn (2021)
  • Vintage EP (2019)
  • A Prelude to Sorrow (2018)
  • Nocturnes and Requiems (2017)

Sanctuary
  • Transmutation (TBA)

Omery Rising
  • The Rising (2015)

Omicida
  • Certain Death (2015)

White Wizzard

Midnight Reign
  • Never Look Back (2007)

References
  1. "Utica-born metal singer poised to make his mark in L.A." syracuse. February 8, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  2. "Midnight Reign – "Never Look Back" (CD Review)". www.metalunderground.com. June 2, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  3. "Midnight Reign – Never Look Back". Metal-Rules.com. October 1, 2008. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  4. Perez, Natalie (June 30, 2009). "Midnight Reign – Glendale 2009". www.reflectionsofdarkness.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  5. McLean, Gary (May 7, 2007). "MIDNIGHT REIGN – Never Look Back [Album Reviews]". Metal Express Radio. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  6. Welding, Alan D. (February 25, 2013). "WHITE WIZZARD posts video from in the studio". PITTSBURGH MUSIC MAGAZINE. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  7. "White Wizzard Drama Alert!". MetalSucks. October 7, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  8. Gehlke, David E. (October 13, 2013). "Singer Joseph Michael Explains His Side of the White Wizzard Split". Dead Rhetoric. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  9. "White Wizzard boots Joseph Michael, hires Giles Lavery amongst drama, drama, drama | Metal Insider". October 7, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  10. "PRETTY MUCH EVERY MEMBER OF WHITE WIZZARD LEAVES THE BAND | Zero Tolerance Magazine". October 10, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  11. Blabbermouth (April 6, 2017). "Nocturnes And Requiems – WITHERFALL". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  12. "Witherfall". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  13. "Sh*t That Comes Out Today: March 4, 2021". MetalSucks. March 5, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  14. "Top Current Album Sales Chart". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  15. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  16. "Witherfall – Curse Of Autumn – hitparade.ch". hitparade.ch. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  17. "Sanctuary Announce Farewell Tour with Witherfall's Joseph Michael on Vocals". MetalSucks. January 11, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  18. Blabbermouth (July 22, 2019). "SANCTUARY's JOSEPH MICHAEL: 'I'm In No Way A Replica' Of WARREL DANE". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  19. "Sanctuary Soldiering on Without Warrel Dane; New Tour Dates Announced, New Album in the Works". MetalSucks. May 24, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  20. "Sanctuary to release new album in 2020 | Metal Insider". May 24, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  21. "A Talk with White Wizzard's New Vocalist Joseph Michael". New Noise Magazine. October 2, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  22. EvilG (August 25, 2019). "Former and Current Members of Nevermore, Sanctuary & Witherfall Cover Savatage". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  23. "Omery Rising – Lady Snow". Metal-Rules.com. May 1, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  24. "Omery Rising Album Review: "The Rising" – METAL GODS TV". metalgodstv.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  25. BraveWords. "OMICIDA – Featuring Former MONUMENT, WHITE WIZZARD Member Release "Dead Eyes See No Evil" Video". bravewords.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  26. jlegg. "Metal-Temple.com :: Omicida – Certain Death (CD Review)". www.metal-temple.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  27. "ALBUM REVIEW: The Curse of Autumn – Witherfall". Distorted Sound Magazine. March 1, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  28. Marshall, Chuck (February 14, 2021). "Curse of Autumn by Witherfall". Loud Hailer Magazine. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  29. "Joseph Michael (Witherfall, Sanctuary) Lists Top 5 Albums That Influenced His Vocals". Decibel Magazine. July 29, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  30. BraveWords. "WHITE WIZZARD's Joseph Michael On His Cousin RONNIE JAMES DIO – "People Make A Bigger Deal Out Of It Than It Seems To Me, But Yeah... He Was A Family Member"". bravewords.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  31. Werner, Max (April 2017). "Interview mit Witherfall". Rockhard.de. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017.
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