Mick Thomson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mick Thomson
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Thomson performing with Slipknot in 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mickael Gordon Thomson |
| Also known as |
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| Born | November 3, 1973 |
| Origin | Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1993–present |
Mickael Gordon "Mick" Thomson (born November 3, 1973) is an American musician. He is one of the guitarists for the band Slipknot. In the band, he is known as #7. Mick joined Slipknot in early 1996. He had met some of the original band members through another band called Body Pit. As of 2025, Mick is the second longest-serving member of Slipknot.
Contents
Early Life and Music
Mick Thomson grew up loving heavy music, especially bands like Internal Bleeding and Morbid Angel. He also says that the Beatles were a big influence on his music. He started playing guitar in different local bands in his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa. One of his first bands was Body Pit, which started in 1993. Some of the first members of Slipknot, like Anders Colsefni, Donnie Steele, and Paul Gray, also played in Body Pit. Besides playing in bands, Mick also taught guitar lessons to students in Des Moines.
Mick Thomson's Music Career
Mick Thomson joined Slipknot in the summer of 1996. He took over as guitarist when Craig Jones started focusing on being the band's full-time sampler.
First Album with Slipknot
Mick's first album with Slipknot was their self-titled debut, released in 1999. Recording this album was very challenging for the band. They didn't have much money and faced many difficulties during the process.
The Iconic Mask and Number
When Mick joined Slipknot, he started wearing a hockey mask. Over the years, his mask design has stayed mostly the same, with only small changes for each new album. He felt the original design perfectly showed his personality. Mick also chose the number #7 for himself in the band, because he considered it his "lucky number."
Collaborations with Other Artists
Outside of Slipknot, Mick Thomson has worked with other bands.
- In 2007, he played a guitar solo on the song "Deliver My Enemy" for the band Malevolent Creation. This song was on their album Doomsday X.
- In 2011, he played guest lead guitar on Necrophagia's album Deathtrip 69.
- Mick also appeared in the music video for "No Pity on the Ants" by the band Lupara in 2007.
Guitar Equipment and Gear
Mick Thomson is known for using specific guitars and equipment to create his unique sound.
Guitars Mick Thomson Uses
In the early 2000s, Mick played B.C. Rich guitars, especially the Warlock model. His custom Warlock had special "HATE" inlays on the fretboard. Since 2003, Mick has mainly used Ibanez MTM guitars. These guitars are custom-made for him. They feature special pickups called Seymour Duncan EMTY Blackout and use d'Addario EXL117 strings. In July 2016, Mick joined Jackson Guitars. He was very proud to be part of the Jackson family and praised his custom Double Rhoads and Soloist guitars. As of March 2023, Mick Thomson also works with ESP Guitars and Fishman pickups.
Guitar Pedals and Effects
Mick uses several effects pedals to shape his guitar sound. These include a Maxon OD820, a Death by Audio Fuzz War, an MXR Carbon Copy Delay, and an Electro-Harmonix Bassballs Envelope Filter. He also uses a custom fuzz pedal made by his guitar technician.
Mick Thomson's Personal Life
Mick Thomson generally keeps his personal life private when he is not performing with Slipknot. He has mentioned that he enjoys his quiet time and likes to be left alone. However, he also loves being a part of the band. He prefers to be by himself rather than around people he doesn't know well.
Mick married his girlfriend, Stacy Riley, on October 5, 2012. He has several tattoos, including the word 'seven' on his left arm, which represents his number in Slipknot. He also has the word 'hate' written in Japanese on his right arm. Mick is a big fan of the Las Vegas Raiders football team.
Music and Filmography
Albums with Slipknot
- Slipknot (1999)
- Iowa (2001)
- Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) (2004)
- All Hope Is Gone (2008)
- .5: The Gray Chapter (2014)
- We Are Not Your Kind (2019)
- The End, So Far (2022)
Albums with Other Bands
- With Malevolent Creation:
- Doomsday X (2007) – on the song "Deliver My Enemy"
- With Necrophagia:
- Deathtrip 69 (2011) – guest lead guitar parts
Films and Videos
- 1999: Welcome to Our Neighborhood
- 2002: Disasterpieces
- 2002: Rollerball
- 2006: Voliminal: Inside the Nine
- 2008: Nine: The Making of "All Hope Is Gone"
- 2009: Of the (sic): Your Nightmares, Our Dreams
- 2010: (sic)nesses
- 2011: Goat
- 2017: Day of the Gusano: Live in Mexico
See also
In Spanish: Mick Thomson para niños
