Mikael Eriksson was born in Eskilstuna, Sweden, September 9th, 1985. Pretty big, and with huge eyes, he entered the world with one purpose, to be a guitarist!
Mikael was raised by his mother and father, and his brother and sister, in Hällbybrunn in Eskilstuna, and went to the local school up to 6th grade.
New school
After that, when all his friends started new schools in town, Mikael started school a few miles in the other direction, called Tegelviken.
That turned out to be one of the best things he ever did, because there he met up with the former guitarist, today drummer of Tambu, Mikael Hronek, and they started to play music together.
After that it has been almost impossible to separate these two crazy musicians. The three years at Tegelviken went by in a flash, and soon it was time for both of them to choose new schools and education, but of course the two of them ended up in the same class.
Military service
They graduated together and it was time for their military service. But not even that could pull them apart. They ended up in the same squad.
After three weeks in the military, Mikael got bored living the woods of Stockholm, eating from a small plate and taking orders. So he quit his military service and decided to give all his time to music. And that's where he is today. Playing guitar, and living his life to the fullest.
Mikaels music-career started when he was 14 years old, when he started the new school in Tegelviken. He had been in a band earlier at the age of 11, but it was just a school-band that performed once, at a home-disco party.
Forming Tambu
At the age of 13 he started playing the electric guitar and when he met up with Mikael Hronek at Tegelviken they formed their first band, “The Wombats.”
After a few years of different band-settings, mostly playing covers at parties, they formed Tambu.
Guitar lessons
Mikael has taken electric guitar-lessons from the age of 13 until graduation. Going to a guitar-teacher has been one of the best things in his life.
His teacher was Janne Elvi, who works both as a schoolteacher and a musician. Janne answered everyone of Mikael's questions and taught him everything he knows today.
The music-teachers from Tegelviken has also helped Mikael a lot. Especially one, who taught him everything about being not just a good guitarist, but also a good musician, and everything you need to know when you're out and doing gigs.
Good friend
That teacher, who now is a very good friend of Mikael, is Jan-Erik “Janke” Jönnson.
“-Both Janne and Janke has helped me so much over the years and I can’t thank them enough for all their support! THANKS!!”
Mikael is influenced by many bands and artists. Toto and Steve Lukather, Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Clapton, Pain of salvation, Janne Elvi, Bengt “Evil Bengt” Andersson and Janke, are a few of them.
Guitars:
1 ESP Custom Stratocaster
1 ESP 800 Series Stratocaster
1 ESP 400 Series Stratocaster
1 Fender Richie Sambora Stratocaster
1 Art Luthier Acoustic
Rack:
12U Road Ready, Deluxe Shook Mount rack
Furman PL, Plus
CAA 3+SE Preamp
TC Electronics G-Major
DigiTech IPS33B
Digitech TSR-12
Rocktron PatchMate
Rocktron RackInterface
Marshall 9100 Poweramp
Interface panel
Other amps:
Marshall JCM800 2204, 50w Head
CAA OD-50 Head
Pedalboard:
Rocktron All Access
Dunlop CryBaby Wha-Wha
Boss TU-2
Boss AC-2
Ibanez TS-9
Tap Tempo pedal
Boss FV-300L
Small Pedalboard
Dunlop CryBaby Wha-wha
Boss TU-2
Boss RV-5
Boss DD-2
Carl Martin Red Repeat
MXR GT-OD
Line6 Space Chorus
Ernie Ball VP
Speakers:
2x Peavey 2x12
Pics
For electric guitar Mikael uses Jim Dunloop JazzIII
And for acoustic he uses Brain 0,73
Strings
Mikael uses Thomastik Powerbrights 0.10-0.50 for the Electric guitars
And for Acoustic guitar he uses Thomastik Spectrum 0.11-0.48
