Michael Stanley

Band-bioMichael StanleySørenRasmusFlemming

Michael Stanley

Born November 22nd 1967, Michael Stanley, could very well be a product of the Flower Power period. Michael Stanley was raised in Naestved in a family where music was part of the daily life. His dad being able to play basically any instrument, and being active as both a live and studio musician, brought the interest of playing music to Michael at a very early age. First as a listener of band rehearsals at the family’s house, but soon as an active singer while playing keyboard on an old Farfisa organ. Not before long the guitar became the main instrument, first an old beaten-up acoustic Yamaha which was used to play old folk/beat music on, performing at numerous family parties. Later on Michael got electrified with a low budget Hofner Galaxy guitar through a VOX AC-30 (actually the amp choice of The Beatles).

His first real band was formed at Herlufsholm Gymnasium during 1983, rehearsing for the yearly concert. The first number performed was of course a Beatles song, namely “Things We Said Today”.

After Herlufsholm Michael went to India to get lessons in sitar playing and ended up staying in India for 3 months. After returning from India, Michael moved to Copenhagen, and formed the band Route 66 in spring 1987, with bassist Niels Wulff and lead guitarist Michael Jepsen. The band concentrated on 60’s music, especially the music of The Beatles were well present in the repertoire. The band was very active on the Danish music scene, and performed several hundred live gigs until the break-up of the band, in summer 1994. During this period Michael Jepsen and Michael Stanley also worked on their own material.

In summer 1994, Beat The Meetles now featuring Søren and the remaining members of Route 66, was formed as The Danish Beatles Tribute Band. Michael’s role in this band is first and foremost John Lennon’s vocals and guitar playing, but he also handles several keyboard-parts and occasionally the Indian sitar. As part of the joy with guitars, Michael is a keen vintage guitar collector and user.

Besides enjoying playing with Beat The Meetles, Michael at rare occasions can be experienced performing in a band dedicated to the 60’s music with among others Michael Jepsen as singer/guitarist.

Michael Stanley – Instrumentation

Elvis Lennon (Michael Stanley): Vocals, guitar, harp, keyboard, sitar.
Gear:
Rickenbacker 325V59, jetglo, reissue 1989
Rickenbacker 325C58, mapleglo, reissue 2002
Rickenbacker “Rose Morris” 1996, fireglo, 1964
Gibson J-160E, sunburst, 1964
Epiphone Casino, sunburst, 1966
VOX AC-30, 1963
Rikki Ram Sitar (Build by the same person who build George Harrison’s sitar in ’66)
Harp: Hohner chromatic