Michael Anthony: 13 Things You May Not Know

On June 20, 1954 Michael Anthony was born. We all know the bassist from his time Van Halen And Chicken legbut here are 13 things you might not know about the now 70-year-old rocker:

1. Anthony is actually his middle name. His real last name is Sobolewski.

2. Michael was born in Chicago but grew up in Southern California, where he played baseball in high school and was a pretty good catcher.

3. Anthony chose the bass because all his friends played drums or guitar and he wanted to do something different.

4. Mike’s first instrument was actually a Fender Mustang electric guitar that he transformed into a bass by removing the top two strings.

5. Anthony modeled his bass playing after example Cream‘S Jack Bruce.

6. Michael is left-handed, but he plays right-handed.

7. Mike’s first band was called Poverty children. Other bands included Black opal, Snake And Balls.

8. Snake occasionally played gigs with a band called Mammoth of Eddie And Alex Van Halen. During a show at Pasadena High School when Snake opened for Mammoth, Mammoth’s PA broke, so Mike lent them Snake’s.

9. While in Van Halen, Mike took time to work on a project with his brother in the 80s, Robert Lee Sobolewski. In 1988 they made a demo together for their band, Asylum Sweet.

10. In 2002, Mike joined a supergroup called Planet us of Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani And trip‘S Neal Schon And Dane Castronovo. For the original they recorded a song called “Psycho Vertigo”. Spider-Man soundtrack, but it didn’t make the album.

11. In 2006, Mike toured with Sammy as The other half.

12. Michael is not only a rocker, but also a businessman. He sells a range of signature products including hot sauce, hot mustard and barbecue sauce. Mad Anthony’s brand hot sauce can be found at Hagar’s Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill locations.

13. Mike is married to his wife, Suesince 1981. They have two daughters together, Elisha And Taylor.

Happy Birthday, Mike! Hope you have fun parties!