Voted the “no. 1 Shredder of ALL TIME” Guitar One Magazine

Voted one of the “Top 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of ALL TIME” Guitar World Magazine


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January 2009 - Michael WON the Guitar World Magazine 15th annual readers choice award in the BEST SHREDDER category. Paul Gilbert placed second, Buckethead third, John 5 fourth and finally Herman Li and Sam Totman. The article appears in the April 2009 issue.

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MAB overview and background

Michael started playing the piano at age 5 and started playing the guitar at age 10.

Michael is from Chicago, Illinois and has a B.A. in Music Theory and Composition from Northeastern Illinois University.

Michael has been signed to 2 major labels in his career. Atlantic Records with the band “Holland” and Rhino/Warner Brothers Records with the band “Nitro.”

Michael started his own record label titled M.A.C.E. Music, Inc. in 1993 and was one of the first music companies to go on line in 1996.

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MAB is an innovator and inventor. His inventions and innovations include:

Michael invented and was the world’s first player of the twin-necked, left and right-handed Double-Guitar. He plays the guitar right or left-handed. He also plays both guitars together in harmonies or two separate parts together at the same time.

Michael invented the String Dampeners that he uses on the Double-Guitar. “The MAB String Dampener” is available at Angelo.com. Michael has been issued a patent for “The MAB String Dampener.”

Michael invented his signature stage move called the “MAB Over-Under” technique.

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MAB has performed over 600 shows around the world since 2003 and literally thousands of shows during his lifetime.

Michael has performed over 1,500 shows in 44 different countries since 1993. He has toured the world performing guitar workshops for Dean Guitars, touring with various bands and as a solo artist. The 44 countries he has toured in are: U.S.A (44 states including Alaska), ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, WALES, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, SPAIN, ITALY (including Sicily), PORTUGAL, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, FINLAND, DENMARK, SWITZERLAND, LITHUANIA, CANADA, MEXICO, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, FRANCE, PERU, The CANARY ISLANDS, TURKEY, JAPAN, CHINA, The PHILIPPINES, MALAYSIA, BRAZIL, EL SALVADOR, TAIWAN, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE, THAILAND, SWEDEN, NORWAY, HUNGARY, SLOVAKIA, GREECE, SLOVENIA, CHILE, TAHITI and KOREA.

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Michael exclusively endorses Dean Guitars. MAB has 3 signature guitars from Dean Guitars. Michael also has a Dean signature pick up called the “HWS.”

Michael has a Dean Guitars Signature guitar model called the MAB 1 Armorflame that is available in stores everywhere released in 2008.

Michael has a Dean Guitars Signature guitar model called the MAB 2 Aviator that will available in stores everywhere in late Spring 2009.

Michael has a Dean Guitars Signature guitar model called the MAB 1 Lazor that will available in stores everywhere in late Spring 2009.

Michael has a signature neck position pick up called the “HWS” pick up that was released in January 2008 and is available worldwide.

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Michael has a Signature MAB Over Drive pedal from T-Rex. It is available in stores worldwide.

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MAB is a columnist for Guitar World Magazine. His column is called “Time to Burn.” It is also available on the GW CD - ROM. Michael has the honor and distinction of being the longest running guest columnist in the history of Guitar World Magazine.

In May 2008 Guitar World Magazine released a DVD called “Learn Shred Guitar” containing all of Michael’s columns from the last few years.

Guitar World Magazine featured MAB’s Monster Mix Recording Studio in 2008.

Guitar World Magazine filmed and released a TV commercial in the Spring of 2008 featuring Michael and the Double-Guitar.

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Michael’s instructional DVDs are some of the most famous and best selling products in the world!

Michael has filmed 5 acclaimed instructional DVDs for Metal Method Productions in California. “Speed Kills”, “Speed Kills 2”, “Speed Kills 3” and “Speed Lives” and ‘Speed Live 2.”

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Michael had a no.1, best-selling "Star-Licks" instructional video. This the very FIRST “shred” instructional video, showing for the first time concepts such as arpeggio sweeps, advanced Alternate picking, the applications of Economy of Motion, PPS (potential picking speed) and practicing the Tremolo. Guitarists such as John Petrucci, Dimebag, Michael Romeo and many more learned from this groundbreaking instructional program. Over 100,000 videos have been sold worldwide. This video was Star Licks no.1 bestseller for 2 years straight!

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Michael, like Joe Satriani also has a famous guitar student! Michael taught (Rage Against The Machine and AudioSlave) guitaristTom Morello while Michael was attending college. Tom has credited MAB with teaching him in a feature article in Guitar World Magazine.

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Michael performed a major guest guitarist segment on former “Creed” and now “Alter Bridge” guitarist Mark Tremonti’s instructional DVD released in late 2008.

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Additional MAB information

Michael was voted and featured on 3 “best of” lists in April 2008! Michael was named one of the 50 fastest guitarists of all time by Guitar World Magazine (in alphabetical order), one of the 20 greatest Shredders of all time by Total Guitar Magazine in the U.K. and named one of the 20 greatest Chicago Guitarists of all time by the famous music magazine, the Illinois Entertainer. All in the same month!

Michael was featured on the Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report” hosted by Stephen Colbert on Wednesday January 23rd, 2008! This extremely popular cable show is seen by millions of people around the world. Michael was mentioned along with Tom Brady, Jimmy Carter and Al Gore.

MAB will be featured in a new Randy Rhoads documentary film to be released this year. Director Peter Margolis and Dakota Pictures will be releasing the film. More information below.

The January 2005 issue of Japan’s Young Guitar Magazine listed Michael as one of the greatest guitarists of ALL TIME! The list is divided into three categories. Legends, Maestro’s and Masters. Michael Angelo Batio is listed in the Masters section. Other names in this category are Eric Johnson, Frank Zappa, Larry Carlton, Django Reinhardt and Johnny Winter. Other names included in the Legends section and overall list are Edward Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and more.

On October 27th, 2005 Michael released his critically acclaimed “Hands Without Shadows” CD. This is Michael’s most ambitious work to date featuring guest appearances by Mark Tremonti of Alter Bridge and Creed, Rudy Sarzo of Ozzy, Whitesnake and Quiet Riot, Doug Marks, founder of Metal Method, virtuoso guitarist Bill Peck and more. Bobby Rock played drums on the entire CD. The primary bassist William Kopecky is a 6 string and fretless virtuoso.

In October 2005, Guitar World Magazine launched a cable TV show on the Comcast Cable network with MAB having an 11 minute segment on the show. The top 3 video segments in terms of popularity and viewer ship were Zakk Wylde, Michael Angelo Batio and Steve Vai coming in at numbers 1, 2 and 3 with Dave Mustaine at no. 4.

Guitar World Magazine’s July 2005 issue featured Michael in a major 6 page article plus a 2 page “collectors choice” color poster of his famous Dean Double-Guitar. In addition to this there was a full page Dean Guitars ad featuring Michael as well as a Metal Method ad also featuring Michael. Guitar World Magazine called Michael “the most blazing guitarist on the planet” in this issue. This was huge!

Guitar One Magazine voted Michael the no. 1 Shredder of ALL TIME in their April 2003 issue. Other notable guitarists that made the top 10 were John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Buckethead, (the late, great) Shawn Lane and Yngwie Malmsteen.

Guitar World Magazine, Jan 2004 issue, names Michael Angelo Batio’s “Speed Kills” one of the “75 Essential Guitar DVD’s”, Guitar World and a host of rock giants named their favorite guitar DVD’s. “Speed Kills”, Michael’s instructional DVD is in the category “Master Classes” with B.B King, Flea, Frank Gambale and John Petrucci. Guitar World calls “Speed Kills”: “The ultimate face-melting instructional DVD”.

Guitar World Magazine (March 2004 issue) names Michael Angelo Batio one of the “Top 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time”. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Edward Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page were among the 100 chosen. Everyone from CNN to Yahoo on-line has talked and written about this.

Michael was honored by the G Martell University in Mexico City, Mexico in September 2003. They named a classroom in his honor and placed his hand prints in cement displaying them on their “Walk of Fame”.

FHM Magazine, November issue 2003 named Michael and his “Quad” guitar one of the top 50 most outrageous moments in rock history! The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Axel Rose, The Eagles and many more were also named to the list. Halle Berry is featured on the cover.

Michael has had 2 major label record deals. Atlantic Records with the band “Holland” and Rhino/Warner Brothers Records with the band “Nitro.”

Michael toured in Europe with the late, legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience Bass player Noel Redding in Winter of 1999.

June 1994, Michael's first solo CD "No Boundaries" was released worldwide on Michael’s label M.A.C.E. Music, Inc. Records. “No Boundaries” is considered by many to be one of the best instrumental electric guitar CDs of it’s kind ever recorded.

Michael started as a session guitarist when he was 19 years old. He has recorded TV, radio and industrial film music for: Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, United Airlines, United Way, McDonalds and the Chicago Wolves hockey team among others.

Michael starred in the made for cable movie "Shock'em Dead". The movie played on Showtime, Cinemax, The Movie Channel and Pay-Per-View.

The band "Nitro" (with Michael on guitar) released the disc "O.F.R." on Rhino/Capital records. Michael produced the record and it "hit" the Billboard charts. "Nitro" made 3 MTV video's, hosted MTV's "Headbangers Ball" (where Michael played live) and toured to sold-out shows everywhere.

At 14 MAB was playing Jazz and by 16 won an award for outstanding Jazz soloist on guitar.


MAB quotes

VOTED THE NO. 1 SHREDDER OF ALL TIME! Guitar One Magazine magazine

“The most blazing guitarist on the planet”! Guitar World, Magazine

Voted one of the Top 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time!

Guitar World Magazine March 2004 (Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix are among the Top 100 chosen)!

Laser guided fretwork and the fastest of fingers: Mr. Angelo is practically a god. Seriously"!

Total Guitar Magazine in the UK

“More machine than man”! Guitar One Magazine

Guitar World Magazine (January 2004 issue) voted Michael’s “Speed Kills” DVD one of the top 75 best, must have guitar DVDs of all time! Guitar World called “Speed Kills”: “The ultimate face-melting instructional DVD”.


“Michael Angelo Batio, the world’s fastest guitarist and inventor of the mind-boggling double guitar ...” Guitar World Magazine

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MAB will be featured in a new Randy Rhoads documentary film to be released in 2009! Director Peter Margolis and Dakota Pictures will be releasing the film. Below is a statement from Peter regarding Michael’s performance and appearance (filmed in Hollywood on Saturday September 22nd, 2007) in the new Randy Rhoads Documentary film.

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Quote about MAB from Director Peter Margolis

Last Saturday I was honored to be able to spend 10 hours filming two performance pieces and an interview with Michael Angelo Batio. We arrived at the studio at noon. Michael arrived on time and with his guitar tech ready to work. He was extremely accommodating and kind and polite and happy to be a part of this film. We shot 14 takes of his performance as I manipulated the camera in every conceivable position to properly photograph this event. He never once complained and replicated his tribute to Randy with 100% perfect accuracy every time. My respect level for him rose exponentially as the day progressed. Not only is he probably the most technically gifted hard rock/ heavy metal guitarist I have ever witnessed up close, he is equally adept at many other styles of guitar as he played anything and everything for the crew between takes. Then to top it off, after a grueling day of filming he sat down for a candid interview. He was articulate and passionate about how Randy affected the path he chose with the guitar. This interview was a highlight for me and I am certain will be for the viewers of the film.