Michael Bland facts for kids

Michael Bland (born March 14, 1969) is an American musician. He is best known as a drummer. He played for the famous artist Prince starting in 1989. Michael was part of Prince's band, The New Power Generation. He played with Prince in live shows and on albums for seven years.

From 1995 to 1997, Michael Bland worked with French pop star France Gall. He recorded and performed live with her. He appeared on one of her studio albums and two live albums.

In 2010, Bland joined Nick Jonas & the Administration. This was a special project by Nick Jonas from the Jonas Brothers. Other former members of The New Power Generation, like bass player Sonny T. and keyboardist Tommy Barbarella, also joined. Michael Bland also played drums on the song "Hero Town" for the band Vulfpeck in October 2017.

Early Life and Music Career

Michael Bland was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He finished high school at Minneapolis South High School in 1987. He still lives in Minneapolis. However, he often plays in Los Angeles as a session drummer. This means he plays drums for recordings by different artists. Some artists he has worked with include Mandy Moore, Clay Aiken, and the Backstreet Boys. He also played on the soundtrack for the movie Anchorman.

Playing with Famous Artists

Michael Bland played with Prince from 1989 to 1996. After that, he worked with other well-known musicians. He played with Paul Westerberg in 1996 and Chaka Khan in 1997. From 1998 to 2000, he played with Maxwell. In 1997, he tried out to be the drummer for the band Guns N' Roses.

In 2000, Bland was part of a music project called Minneapolis with French musician Michel Portal. He also formed a band called News from the Jungle with Jef Lee Johnson and Sonny T. They recorded an album. Both of these bands toured in France. Bland also played on some songs for Michel Portal's album Birdwatcher in 2006.

In 2005, Michael Bland was the drummer for Paul Westerberg's tour. He also played in a TV event to help people after Hurricane Katrina. He played with the Dixie Chicks during this event. Michael Bland also works as a producer. He has worked with the rock-pop band Catchpenny from Minneapolis.

He is the drummer for the band Soul Asylum. He played on their album The Silver Lining. He also tours with them.

Reuniting with Prince

Michael Bland and his friend Sonny T. (Thompson), who was also in Prince's band, played with Prince again. They provided the drums for the song "3121" on Prince's album 3121. Bland also played drums on Indigenous's album Chasing the Sun in 2006.

In 2007, Bland and Thompson recorded the drum and bass parts for some songs on Prince's album Planet Earth. They also recorded with Prince again for his album Lotusflow3r, which came out in 2009.

Other Projects and Recent Work

In late 2007, Michael Bland worked with his own student, Mayda. He performed with her often in Minneapolis and recorded a studio album. Her first music, an EP called Stereotype, was released in 2007. Michael Bland continued to work with Mayda. He played on and produced her full album, The Interrogation, in 2009.

Also in 2009, Bland joined Nick Jonas' band, Nick Jonas and The Administration. His former bandmates from Prince's band, Sonny T. and Tommy Barbarella, also joined. This led to many TV performances, an album, and a tour in early 2010.

In 2016, Michael Bland shared stories about joining The New Power Generation and working with Prince. He talked about Prince as a bandleader and his time in the band.

According to musician Cory Wong, Michael Bland is known for tuning his snare drum to the main musical note of the song.

Michael Bland still records and tours with Soul Asylum. The band toured in 2020 to support their latest album, "Hurry Up And Wait". The tour was stopped early because of COVID-19.

Albums Michael Bland Played On

• I Am – Elisa Fiorillo (1990)
• Smile Blue – Ricky Peterson (1991)
• Diamonds and Pearls – Prince and the New Power Generation (1991)
• Whatever Happened to the Blues – Phil Upchurch (1992)
• I'm Ready – Tevin Campbell (1993)
• The Voice – Mavis Staples (1993)
• 1-800-NEW-FUNK – Various Artists (1994)
• Come – Prince and the New Power Generation (1994)
• 3 Chains o' Gold – Prince and the New Power Generation (1994)
• The Gold Experience – Prince and the New Power Generation (1995)
• A Tear Can Tell – Ricky Peterson (1995)
• Love Is Strange – Phil Upchurch (1995)
• Closer than Close – Rosie Gaines (1995)
• Chaos and Disorder – Prince (1996)
• Emancipation – Prince (1996)
• France – France Gall (1996)
• Live at the Olympia – France Gall (1996)
• Salinas – Luis Salinas (1996)
• Eventually – Paul Westerberg (1996)
• Concert Privé – France Gall (1997)
• That's Right – George Benson (1997)
• Crystal Ball – Prince (1998)
• CPR – David Crosby (1998)
• Minneapolis – Michel Portal (2000)
• Now – Maxwell (2001)
• News From The Jungle – Jef Lee Johnson (2001)
• The Handler – Har Mar Superstar (2004)
• Coverage – Mandy Moore (2004)
• Open Season Motion Picture Soundtrack - (Paul Westerberg) (2005)
• 3121 – Prince (2006)
• Turn Around – Jonny Lang (2006)
• The Silver Lining – Soul Asylum (2006)
• Birdwatcher – Michel Portal (2007)
• Planet Earth – Prince (2007)
• Bringing Back the Funk – Brian Culbertson (2008)
• Breakout – Miley Cyrus (2008)
• Lotusflow3r – Prince (2009)
• Who I Am – Nick Jonas & the Administration (2010)
• Crescendo in Duke - Benoît Delbecq (2012)
• Delayed Reaction - Soul Asylum (2012)
• Change Of Fortune - Soul Asylum (2016)
• Mr. Finish Line – Vulfpeck (2017)
• Hurry Up And Wait - Soul Asylum (2020)
• The Striped Album - Cory Wong (2020)
• Passion at a Distance - Leo Courbot (2024)

See also

In Spanish: Michael Bland para niños

• List of drummers