When Michael was 6 years old he started listening to Kiss records and was obsessed with their make up and how they looked. So he started to perform for his family pretending to sing and playing guitar. When he was 11 years old his dad bought him his first cheap electric guitar. At that time he was obsessed with the Van Halen’s guitar player Edward Van Halen. His father was a drummer and was always in bands throughout his life so he was very well acquitted with the lives of musicians and how bands functioned. This was all very useful knowledge and experience when he started his first band After School Special. With 15 years old Michael had been exposed to heavy metal, thrash metal, and punk and became obsessed with Slayer, Metallica, DRI, MOD, SOD, Iron Maiden, Black Flag, Death, Suicidal Tendencies, Exodus and Sex Pistols. He was also influenced for Rock n roll bands introduced by his father, like Steely Dan, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Robin Trower and Jimi Hendrix His mother listened to a lot of soul, R&B, and Disco which influenced him incredibly. Acts such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Sade, Earth Wind and Fire, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and several other motown artists.
The festival of the dead deer is a post-punk band founded in 1997 in Los Angeles, CA. The current members are Michael Crain, Chris Hathwell and Dylan Gordon. In 1996 they released their first single called The festival of the dead deer and in 1999 The festival of the dead deer/ The Crimson Curse produced by the independent labelThree One G founded by Justin Pearson and also a compilation called The many faces of Mental illness made in 1998 by Three One G label.
Kill the Capulets
Is a post-punk band founded in 2009 in Los Angeles- California. The members are Michael Crain, Erick Anguiano, Keith Hendriksen and Rockey Crane. In 2014 the albumThe Stranger was produced by Three One G label.
Retox
Was birthed in Southern California, specifically in San Diego and Los Angeles during the later part of 2010. Influenced by political disdain, horror, and sarcasm Retox has been described as punk, post-punk, hardcore, metal, and even power violence. The members are Justin Pearson, Michael Crain, Ryan Bergmann, and Kevin Avery.
Dead Cross
Formed in Southern California in November 2015 the band offers a frantic-paced mix of hardcore and punk. Produced by Ross Robinson with the drummer Dave Lombardo, the guitarist Michael Crain, bassist Justin Pearson and the vocalist Mike Patton. In 2017 the album called Dead Cross was produced by Mike Patton’s label Ipecac Recordings and also Three One G label.
The Festival of the dead deer Label: Blackbean and Placenta Tape Club Format: Vinyl 7”, 33 ⅓ RPM, White label Style: Hardcore, Emo. The Many Faces of Mental Illness. Label: Three One G Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Limited edition, Clear with Red Spot Style: Hardcore The Festival of the dead deer/The Crimson Curse Label: Three One G
Kill the Capulets
Various artists – KXLU 88.9FM Live Vol. II Label: KXLU 12 The Stranger Label: Three One G
Retox
Ugly animals Label: Ipecac Recordings, Three One G YPLL Label: Epitaph, Three One G Beneath California Label: Epitaph, Three One G Retox Label: Three One G Violitionist Sessions Label: Violitionist Sessions NRWS/Retox Label: Three One G NRWS/Retox Label: French Kiss Label Group Format: Vinyl 7”
Dead Cross
Label: Ipecac Recordings, Three One G Singles & EPs Dead Cross Label: Ipecac Recordings EP https://mikecrain1.bandcamp.com/
