Mike Lopez
Mike started playing music in the elementary school band, on drums and percussion. He thought that was pretty cool, until he went to his first rock concert, Blue Oyster Cult, and the dream of being in a rock band started forming in his mind. Soon after, on a visit to see family, Mike's cousin David, suggested A JAM.
Mike and his cousins played Beatles songs, Back in the USSR and Dear Prudence. All. Day. Long. Upon learning that he could play a fretted instrument without great difficulty, Mike immediately began begging his mom for an electric guitar.
Mike practiced on that guitar, unamplified, alone in his room, discovering chords and patterns and scales. Not bothering anybody. By himself. No one could hear. Then, Pop bought Mike an amplifier for his birthday.
Mike played and played, but didn't want to try out for a band until he thought he was READY.
He went to college at UCSD and studied acting, hoping to make enough money as an actor to afford the opportunity to play in rock bands.
After graduation, Mike moved to Los Angeles to seek his fortune as an actor (it was not there), and to, of course, play in rock bands. Mike played in the clubs in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley with The Underground, Big Hush, The Cake Hats, The Jack Lords, The Del Marlins, and NAIL.
When Reality Television became popular, many actors and writers found themselves suddenly... unnecessary. Mike left acting and started a career in EMS, and moved to Bakersfield, California.
He soon was playing in some very good Bakerfield bands, Mosaic, TNT, Ruby Supreme, The Gin Kitties, and Fuzzbox Voodoo.
Mike had the wonderful opportunity to share the stage with his son, Joshua, who was a fine guitarist at age 15, having started playing guitar at age 7. When Joshua selected Embry-Riddle University in Prescott, Arizona, for his university, Mike, with permission from Josh, followed.
Prescott
Mike immediately started playing gigs, and made wonderful friends in the fantastic Prescott musical community. Mike soon connected with a great 50's 60's 70's cover band called The Raves. When the flu came through, Mike found himself without a band, and teamed up with a hard rock project called Deadnamed, where Mike met drummer Jerry Deluca. Deadnamed fell apart, as bands so often do, but Mike and Jerry wanted to keep rocking together.
Mike and Jerry, along with Mike's son, Josh, and bass player/vocalist Rob Hewitt, have formed a new rock band, called The Bourbon Knights. The Bourbon Knights are now playing original rock and really cool covers, out and about in the great Prescott music scene. Mike is also performing as a solo artist in Prescott and Prescott Valley.
Mike is constantly writing and recording new original material and is very happy to be making music! Come see a show!
Butch the Rock and Roll Cowboy
During the flu epidemic, Mike was approached with the opportunity to play solo guitar and sing as an entertainer on the Grand Canyon Railway. This turned out to be a wonderful fit, as Mike could play rock and roll, sing, entertain, and have fun every show.
Mike was asked, "What is your train name?", and Mike selected "Butch", after his beloved grandfather. Mike now plays several times a week on the Grand Canyon Railway as Butch, The Rock and Roll Cowboy.
