Michael Poulsen
Encyclopedia
Michael Poulsen is a Danish
vocalist and guitarist. He is currently the singer and main songwriter of the band Volbeat
. He is also responsible for all of the band's lyrics.
, Denmark
which is about a one hour drive away from Copenhagen
in a working class family. He has a twin
sister and two younger sisters who are also twins. His parents were big fans of Elvis Presley
, Jerry Lee Lewis
, Johnny Cash
, and Chuck Berry
. As a teenager, he got in touch with metal music like Metallica
, Iron Maiden
, Whitesnake
, Deep Purple
, and Black Sabbath
. At the age of 17, he moved to Copenhagen and formed his first band Dominus
.
Dominus released four records between 1994 and 2000. The band split-up a year later as Poulsen was fed up with death metal music and the death metal scene. He wrote new songs with a more rock'n'roll approach and established Volbeat. After releasing two demos, their debut album The Strength / The Sound / The Songs
reached number 18 in the Danish charts and became the first album of a Danish metal band in 20 years to enter the top 20. On 22 April 2006, Poulsen performed with some of Elvis Presley's studio musicians in Copenhagen. Volbeat's sophomore record Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil
and their third effort Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
went straight to number 1 in the Danish charts.
Poulson later showed his affinity towards Social Distortion, and taking queues from a "new influence" created Volbeat's distinct sound.
guitars, early on he used a Toni Iommi signature model but has lately switched to a GT-model equipped with Seymour Duncan
pickups. Occasionally an ESP Ltd
and Gibson Les Paul Goldtop
is also used. Poulsen plays his guitars through an Ibanez Tube Screamer
, a noise suppressor
, a vintage equalizer and a maximizer pedal. For amplification Poulsen uses a Marshall JCM800
2210 model.
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
vocalist and guitarist. He is currently the singer and main songwriter of the band Volbeat
Volbeat (band)
Volbeat is a Danish rock band formed in Copenhagen. They play a fusion of rock and roll, heavy metal, punk and rockabilly. They are inspired by classic rock and roll artists such as Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, as well as more contemporary hard rock, punk rock and metal bands, such as AC/DC,...
. He is also responsible for all of the band's lyrics.
Biography
Michael Poulsen grew up in RingstedRingsted
Ringsted, a city in Ringsted municipality, is in the middle of the Danish island of Zealand. The municipal population is about 31,000 and the city population is 21,151 .Ringsted is approximately 60 km from Copenhagen.-Modern hotspot:...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
which is about a one hour drive away from Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in a working class family. He has a twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
sister and two younger sisters who are also twins. His parents were big fans of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, and Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
. As a teenager, he got in touch with metal music like Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
, Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. At the age of 17, he moved to Copenhagen and formed his first band Dominus
Dominus (band)
Dominus was a death metal band from Ringsted, Denmark, which formed in 1991 and split up in 2000-2001. They released one single, two demos and four albums, each differing in style...
.
Dominus released four records between 1994 and 2000. The band split-up a year later as Poulsen was fed up with death metal music and the death metal scene. He wrote new songs with a more rock'n'roll approach and established Volbeat. After releasing two demos, their debut album The Strength / The Sound / The Songs
The Strength / The Sound / The Songs
The Strength / The Sound / The Songs is the first album from Danish heavy metal act Volbeat released in 2005.-Track listing:...
reached number 18 in the Danish charts and became the first album of a Danish metal band in 20 years to enter the top 20. On 22 April 2006, Poulsen performed with some of Elvis Presley's studio musicians in Copenhagen. Volbeat's sophomore record Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil
Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil
The second album from Danish heavy metal act Volbeat released in 2007.-Track listing:-Credits:* Michael Poulsen - vocals, guitar* Jon Larsen - drums* Anders Kjølholm - bass* Franz "Hellboss" Gottschalk - guitar-Guest Contributors:...
and their third effort Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
-Credits:* Michael Poulsen - vocals, guitar* Jon Larsen - drums* Anders Kjølholm - bass* Thomas Bredahl - guitar-Chart positions:...
went straight to number 1 in the Danish charts.
Poulson later showed his affinity towards Social Distortion, and taking queues from a "new influence" created Volbeat's distinct sound.
Musical equipment
Poulsen primarily plays Gibson SGGibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
guitars, early on he used a Toni Iommi signature model but has lately switched to a GT-model equipped with Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
pickups. Occasionally an ESP Ltd
ESP Guitars
, located in North Hollywood, California, is an American-based, Japanese-owned manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.- History :In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo. It provided custom replacement parts for guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation...
and Gibson Les Paul Goldtop
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
is also used. Poulsen plays his guitars through an Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez Tube Screamer
The Ibanez Tube Screamer is a guitar overdrive pedal, made by Ibanez. The pedal has a characteristic mid-boosted tone popular with blues players...
, a noise suppressor
Active noise control
Active noise control is a method for reducing unwanted sound.- Explanation :...
, a vintage equalizer and a maximizer pedal. For amplification Poulsen uses a Marshall JCM800
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
2210 model.
Awards
In 2006, Poulsen was nominated in the categories Singer of the year and Composer of the year at the annual Steppeulven awards. Two years later, he was nominated in the category Best singer at the Danish Music AwardsDanish Music Awards
The Danish Music Awards is a Danish award show. The show has been arranged by IFPI since 1989, and was originally called IFPI-prisen until 1991, when it changed its name to Dansk Grammy . The current name was given in 2001, after the American Grammy Awards took copyright on the name Grammy....
.
with Dominus
- 1994: View to the Dim
- 1996: The First Nine
- 1997: Vol. Beat
- 2000: Godfallos
with Volbeat
- 2005: The Strength / The Sound / The SongsThe Strength / The Sound / The SongsThe Strength / The Sound / The Songs is the first album from Danish heavy metal act Volbeat released in 2005.-Track listing:...
- 2007: Rock the Rebel / Metal the DevilRock the Rebel / Metal the DevilThe second album from Danish heavy metal act Volbeat released in 2007.-Track listing:-Credits:* Michael Poulsen - vocals, guitar* Jon Larsen - drums* Anders Kjølholm - bass* Franz "Hellboss" Gottschalk - guitar-Guest Contributors:...
- 2008: Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac BloodGuitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood-Credits:* Michael Poulsen - vocals, guitar* Jon Larsen - drums* Anders Kjølholm - bass* Thomas Bredahl - guitar-Chart positions:...
- 2010: Beyond Hell/Above Heaven