Michael Poulsen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Poulsen
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Poulsen in 2022
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| Background information | |
| Born | 1 April 1975 Slagelse, Denmark |
| Origin | Ringsted, Denmark |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
Michael Schøn Poulsen (born April 1, 1975) is a Danish musician. He is best known as the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for the rock band Volbeat. Before Volbeat, he was the singer for a death metal band called Dominus.
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Early Life and Music
Michael Poulsen grew up in Ringsted, Denmark. This town is about 64 kilometers (40 miles) from Copenhagen. His family was working-class. He has a twin sister and two older sisters, who are also twins.
His parents loved music from artists like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Chuck Berry. As a teenager, Michael listened to rock and metal bands. Some of his favorites were Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath.
Michael Poulsen's Music Career
Starting with Dominus
When Michael was 17, he moved to Copenhagen. There, he started his first band, Dominus. He said that Chuck Schuldiner and his band Death were a big influence on him during this time.
Dominus released four albums between 1994 and 2000. The band broke up in 2001. Michael was ready for a change from death metal music.
Forming Volbeat
After Dominus, Michael started writing new songs. These songs had more of a rock 'n' roll style. He then formed the band Volbeat.
Volbeat released two demo recordings. Their first album, The Strength / The Sound / The Songs, came out in 2005. It reached number 18 on the Danish music charts. This was the first time in 10 years that a Danish metal band's album made it into the top 20.
On April 22, 2006, Michael Poulsen even performed with some of Elvis Presley's original studio musicians in Copenhagen. Volbeat's next two albums, Rock the Rebel / Metal the Devil (2007) and Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood (2008), both went straight to number 1 in Denmark.
Michael Poulsen has also shared that the band Social Distortion influenced Volbeat's unique sound.
Honoring His Father
Michael's father was a big fan of Volbeat. He passed away on June 27, 2008. This was just before the release of the Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood album. The song "Light a Way" from that album was played at his father's funeral.
A week after his father's death, Michael got tattoos of his parents' names, Jørn and Else, on his fingers. Later songs, like "Fallen" from Beyond Hell/Above Heaven and "Our Loved Ones" from Outlaw Gentleman & Shady Ladies, were also inspired by his father.
Other Music Projects
In 2012, Michael Poulsen wrote a special note for the re-release of Death's 1990 album Spiritual Healing. He considers this one of his favorite albums.
In 2014, Michael sang a verse in "Highwayman." This was a song by Jimmy Webb that the band Iced Earth covered on their album Plagues of Babylon. Michael sang the same part that Johnny Cash sang in the original version of the song.
In 2023, Michael Poulsen started a new death metal band called Asinhell. He formed it with Marc Grewe and Morten Hansen. Their first album, Impii Hora, was released on September 29, 2023.
Michael Poulsen's Personal Life
Michael Poulsen got married at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, in March 2010. He and his wife divorced in 2015. After his marriage, he took on the middle name Schøn.
He has a daughter who was born in 2017 and a son born in 2021. In 2022, he announced that he married Jeanet.
Musical Instruments and Gear
Michael Poulsen mainly plays Gibson SG guitars. He first used a special Tony Iommi model. Later, he switched to a GT-model with Seymour Duncan pickups. Since 2019, he has been playing a Gibson Firebird Custom.
His favorite amplifier is a Marshall JCM800 2210 model. Sometimes, he also plays an ESP Eclipse guitar or a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. For effects, Michael uses an Ibanez Tube Screamer, a noise suppressor, an old equalizer, and a maximizer pedal.
Discography
With Dominus
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With Volbeat
With Asinhell
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Awards and Recognition
In 2006, Michael Poulsen was nominated for Singer of the Year and Composer of the Year at the Steppeulven awards. Two years later, in 2008, he was nominated for Best Singer at the Danish Music Awards.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Poulsen para niños
