James Michael

James Michael
James Michael in 2011.
Background information
Birth name	James Andrew Michael
Born	(1967-09-26) September 26, 1967 (age 49)
Origin	Holland, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock hard rock alternative metal heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Producer musician songwriter singer sound engineer mixer
Instruments	Guitar keyboards bass vocals drums organ
Labels	Indivision/Beyond Music
Associated acts	Sixx:A.M., Mötley Crüe, Scorpions
Website	jamesmichael.net

James Andrew Michael (born September 26, 1967) is an American record producer, songwriter, mixer, vocalist and musician. He is currently the lead singer of the rock band Sixx:A.M.

Michael's actual given name was James Michel, but he changed the spelling of his surname to Michael so people would not mispronounce it. He took piano lessons while growing up and sang in Holland High School's show choir, Vocal Dimensions. As a teen, he played in different local rock bands including The Way We Dress and Night Shift. In the late 1980s, he moved to Los Angeles where he slept on a friend's couch the first year and lived on a diet of junk food and beer.

James Michael has worked as a record producer, songwriter and/or engineer/mixer with many recording artists including Kelly Clarkson, Alanis Morissette, Meat Loaf, Mötley Crüe, HammerFall, Scorpions, Hilary Duff, The Rasmus, Papa Roach, Trapt, American Bang, Saliva, The Exies, Deana Carter, Sammy Hagar, Lillix, Sarah Kelly, Taylor Momsen, Halestorm, Jack's Mannequin, Brides of Destruction, Shahnaz and Marion Raven.

He put out his first solo album in 2000 entitled "Inhale". Michael wrote and mixed the entire album and often played all of the instruments, with the exception of a few guest artists. He released the song "Los Angeloser" on May 7, 2009 on MySpace.