Mike Martin is a guitarist, composer, producer, coffee drinker, cat rancher, fashion disaster, artist.Mike has toured and recorded as a solo artist opening for Joe Bonamassa, Richie Kotzen, Guthrie Govan's The Aristocrats and Steve Vai. Also with Chris Jericho's band Fozzy (Riot Records, Megaforce, Ash), Stuck Mojo (Century Media, Napalm Records), Agent Cooper (Universal/Binary, ProgRock Records) and The Duke (Eagle Rock/Spitfire). Highlights include opening for Motorhead, Tony MacAlpine, VolBeat, performing The Download Festival (2005), live on WWE's RAW, appearing in the music video for"Enemy" (FUSE & MTV rotation), producing the 14 minute long epic"Wormwood" for Fozzy's 2010 album"Chasing The Grail" and live concert tours around the world in 18 countries.Reviews:“Rating : 7.0 Mike Martin is a blast of a guitar treasure, as anyone who has seen Fozzy could attest heartily. So it’s no surprise that he’s created a gorgeous instrumental guitar album at a level arguably reached only by John 5 and Steve Vai, the latter – along with the fluid, new agey side of Eddie Van Halen – of which is felt all over this plush, tone-rich disc. As the album progresses, Satriani comes to mind as well, sort of in the joyous, sinewy quality to the soloing, as well as the hummability (check out ‘Living The Good Life’). With ‘Epiphany’ you’re also in that yearning Satriani/Vai place. What’s great testimony to Martin as an artist is that he doesn’t shred on this record, despite (well, this is my opinion) being pretty much the most explosive, fastest, musical, and intelligent of structure shred king I’ve ever seen. Grade-wise, there’s a hard ceiling to a minimally utilitarian record like this for me, and Mike hits that.”— Martin Popoff, Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles“Mike Martin, guitar slinger for hire, has been playing his instrument of choice for more than two decades — and it shows on 2 of 5, his first solo record featuring material written over a period of several years. He's applied his rock, classical, metal, jazz, folk and world-music influences into a series of bands and side projects, including Fozzy and Stuck Mojo, but he's never really had the creative freedom to simply play what he wants. Until now. The all-instrumental 2 of 5 is a musical melting pot of ideas that showcases Martin's clean playing and extensive reach. In fact, in the liner notes, he calls the record"my declaration of independence.""Prelude" and"Epiphany" sound darker and more mysterious than any other track, climaxing with a soaring solo that's the best piece of guitar playing on the whole record. Martin sums up his hefty style by mixing power chords with massive shredding on"Infection." more on: http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=4418”— Michael Popke, Sea of Tranquility“As a member of the band FOZZY, Mike Martin has had the opportunity to tour the world. But, for the past 15 years, Martin has been performing around the Southeastern United States while writing material for “2 Of 5.” I like to explain my views like this - there are the musicians who play during their songs, and there are the musicians who actually form the song as they play. Mike Martin is a guitar player that has a great feel for melody. Never overplaying or exploiting the melody for a moment in the spotlight, Martin is one of the few players that can write great songs. Joe Satriani and Jeff Beck are the cream of the crop when it comes to rock guitar instrumental music. Mike Martin reminds me of these two guys. He has the poise and perfect tone of Beck, and the overall sound and feel of Satriani. Sounding like Satriani may be taboo for many of you out there, but let me tell you this - Satch isn’t such a bad guy to sound like. More on: http://www.areuonsomething.com/”— MySpace Discovery Zone“Fozzy guitarist goes into smoother territories on solo effort Having played with Fozzy, Stuck Mojo, & many other wild tinged metal outfits that lurk upon the extreme, axeman Mike Martin brings a rich thick blend of smooth metal styles to the table, in the vein of Satriani, Edward Box, and early Uli John Roth. You can call it an alter ego, but there is nothing egotistical about this album, for which the playing flows with a sense of melody, and not all this overzealous shredding; just pure plectonic grooves. Martin's intellect of harmonious compositions is found all over the record; he covers all the bases he needs to in his own way on 2 of 5. Playing his six strings like a singer would sing the song, Martin chooses his own type of musical focus to portray harmonious passages of compositional intellect when it comes to playing music on his own terms. Score: ****”— Tommy Hash, Ytsejam.com“Rating: 10 out of 10 This genius guitarist has shared his talent in such bands as Fozzy and Stuck Mojo, so you know in order for him to play in those two bands alongside maniac fretman Rich Ward, he’s got to be good. This album proves it hand over fist!!! First of all, coming from a former drummer, I have to say that instrumental, guitar wanking albums don’t do a damn thing for me, however, 2 Of 5 is just so musically perfect you can’t deny the power it uses to hold your attention. Mike has crafted the album meticulously with emphasis being put on the perfect song order to completely become wrapped up in this thing. It’s so good and so brilliantly performed (his guitar playing is phenomenal!!!) that you have to listen to it all the way through. For fans of Steve Vai and Joe Satriani all the way, although I will say that 2 Of 5 is, in my humble opinion, better than any output I’ve heard from the former two since their debuts. more on: away-team.com”— Bam Bam, Away-Team.com“The title is an allusion to"Star Trek", and this guitarist's trek may become stars-studded. Today it's almost a rule: if you're a rock guitarist with a classical background your music is interesting to listen to but it rarely brings pleasure - it's an intellect-versus-pure joy game. Fortunately, Mike Martin counts jazz and folk amongst his influences as well as hard rock and doesn't bind himself to any particular style on this album, a fine collection of instrumental pieces. The centerpiece, though, is"Epiphany", the best example of what Mike's capable of in terms of composition. Starting Bach-like, it builds on riffs but it's the lyrical, spiral way up through both speedy and relaxed soloing to the climactic resolution. There's no showing off, there's genuine feelings on display. it's 4 - not 2 - out of 5. more on: http://dmme.net/reviews/reviews33.html#mikemartin”— DME Music, Let It RockNotes from Mike about each song on"2 of 5":2 of 5This song is about the feeling I have when trying to figure out who I am sothat I can be me with all confidence. I am an individual, and yet I am the sum constituent parts of everyone and everything around me. The title is a reference to the Borg character 7 of 9 on Star Trek. I am the second of five children so I thought it was pretty clever. My brothers and sisters and I are all very different people but still manage to maintain a"hive" mentality to protect the"collective." This song is about me acknowledging that I am because they are and we all have the responsibility to represent each other as we present ourselves while still declaring who I am as an individual.SaluteThe guitar theme was written sometime back after I was getting accustomed to my seven-string guitar. It sat on the shelf for a while until after September 11th, 2001. The feeling of patriotism I felt everywhere was amazing. I think I finally understood what it is to feel like an American. My father and his father were both military and served in times of war. I have many friends who serve in the armed forces to protect the very freedoms I take for granted everyday. This song is dedicated to all of those who serve, putting their lives on the line and their families that sacrifice with them in the name of freedom.LavenderLove is a powerful thing. Ideals are too. I am an idealist learning to be a realist. I wrote this when I was eighteen and in my first significant relationship. I had an ideal of what love was supposed to be. Her grandmother told her that she always pictured her being married in a field of lavender. This is my interpretation of that picture.Living The Good LifeOne of the hardest things for me to do is sit down and write a genuinely happy song. This one just about wrote itself. I was in a good place in my life and was finally able to afford my own apartment with no roommates completely on my earnings as a musician. It was only two tiny rooms and I had to share a hall bathroom with other tenants, but it was a great moment in time. It was here that I wrote this song.Prelude / EpiphanyI wrote this piece at a time in my life when I was questioning everything. I often sit and improvise solo guitar pieces as meditations and this one stood out. Part became the Prelude and the rest Epiphany. For me, this piece captures the frustration I was feeling at the time as I was beginning to realize that not everything in life goes according to well laid out plans. My moment of clarity. The effects of this time changed my life and perspective.The Trouser TroutThis song goes back a couple of years. I was finishing a classical guitar album before graduating from college at a studio in Waycross, GA. (in the middle of nowhere!) I had just bought my first seven-string electric guitar and after we finished the CD I had a couple of hours left over before I had to get back to class. The original demo was written and recorded in two hours and it remains pretty much as I laid it down, just rerecorded with real drums and a lot more production. All of the guitar parts are what I had written. Oh yeah, the Trout thing. While in Waycross, there wasn't anything for my girlfriend to do so she went to Wal-Mart to do some shopping. She came back with this key chain flashlight stuffed in a rubber fish called a"Pocket Trout". I figured they missed a great opportunity with the name andused it as inspiration for this song.InfectionI like the guitar tones on this song. It's straight up old school rock guitar. The idea here is that I never really had a choice to be a musician. My desire to play the guitar is beyond any obsession or addiction. I simply must. Music is an infection, and I have the disease.Peace Be With YouThe main guitar theme has been an idea I've been stewing over for a couple of years. Looking for something to do with it, I scored it out for full choir and the piece came to life. The choral textures lead me to write the interlude and it all came together. Here the interlude is orchestrated for guitar and mellotron strings. I like the feeling that this song continues togrow over time so I resisted the temptation to overdub an orchestra of guitars and left the main theme for guitar very simple. The concept for this work is the feeling of truly wishing someone peace. We say it all the time, but I imagine a deep meditation, a prayer to take away a loved one's pain and take it on myself, and with this focus, we can start to realize peace.