Mick Thompson

Mickael Gordon "Mick" Thomson� (born November 3, 1973), or known by his number� #7, is an� American� musician, best known as being the� lead� and� rhythmgutiarist for the Grammy winning metal band� Slipknot.

Biography
Mick Thomson is one of the guitarists for� Slipknot. Thomson was born in� Des Moines, Iowa. In his youth, he performed in bands such as Body Pit. Thomson joined Slipknot in 1997, replacing the band's guitarist,� Craig Jones, who then became the band's� sampler.

Thomson expresses his pseudonym as #7 more than most members of Slipknot. For example, as well as being credited with the number in the liner notes of albums he has recorded, he also has the word "seven" tattooed on his left arm, and features the word "seven" on the designs all of his custom Ibanez guitars, and on all of his Ibanez MTM1's. Outside Slipknot, Thomson has taught guitar lessons at Ye Olde Guitar Shoppe, a local music shop in Des Moines, and has appeared on� Malevolent Creation's album� Doomsday X. He also made a guest appearance in the music video for Lupara's "No Pity on the Ants".

According to Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor, Thomson is an avid writer of poetry, loves cats, and has a fascination with� serial killers. On the topic of the latter, Thomson himself has stated, "If I were a famous killer, I'd take some of the finer points of quite a few of them-� Albert Fish� and� Ed Gein� spring to mind. But I'mnot� a violent person by nature. Don't fuck with me, and you'll be fine."

Mick has a number of tattoos on his body: he has the word "嫌惡" on his right arm (which means "detest" and "disgust" in Mandarin and "HATE" in Japanese), the word "Seven" on his left forearm, a "demon attempting to� rape� an angel" on his shoulder (actually artwork from� Immolation's first album Dawn of Possession), on his other shoulder a morbid angel tattoo by Paul Booth, an� inverted cross� on his upper back, "Slipknot" going down his right calf, and the Zodiac sign for Scorpio on his left calf.

[edit]Masks
Mick Thomson performing at the Allstate Arena in Illinois on January 30, 2009During Slipknot's demo tape and self titled era, Thomson wore a hockey mask that had six circular holes in the mouth area which was a mottled green color. The mask represented hate. Later in the� Slipknot� era, and in� Iowa, Thomson wore a leather mask that looked like metal and had slits in the mouth area. In� Vol. 3, he wore a silver mask that had the same slits, but they were longer and the eyes were altered, making it look more aggressive and featuring an evil grin. Thomson's recent mask (for� All Hope Is Gone) had the same appearance and is truly metallic.

[edit]Technique
Thomson commonly employs an extremely fast and accurate� alternate picking� technique, also implementing� pinch harmonics� into his work. He also utilizessweep picking� on occasion. He has admitted he found influence in bands such as� Racer X, stating that it gave him something to strive for when he was young.

Other characteristics in his playing includes� tremolo picking� passages, and� dropped tunings.

[edit]Guitars
Thomson was a long time player and endorsee of� B.C. Rich Guitars� until late� 2004, and he had previously designed a signature model with this company based on their Warlock model. According to Thomson, he stated that the reason he left B.C. Rich was because they were not giving him the instruments that he needed.

In 2004, Thomson moved to� Ibanez, with whom he designed his own Ibanez� MTM1 and MTM2� Signature Models. The� MTM1� is a higher priced model, which features a mahogany body with a fixed Edge bridge, jumbo frets, custom "seven" inlay, black hardware, reversed headstock, and active� Seymour Duncan Blackout� humbuckers. It is available in black or blood red finishes, while the� MTM2� is a more affordable version. It features Ibanez V7 and V8� pickups, and has no inlays.

Thomson also has a signature� Ovation� acoustic/electric guitar, labeled the MT37. It features a textured black finish, Thomson's signature� seven� inlay, a custom ultra-thin neck, a deep contour body with spruce top and rounded bowl back, OP Pro preamp, and Ovation's High Output pickup.

Mick Thomson's current tour guitars include: �
 * Unofficial Markmax Signature� - Mahogany body, maple neck, neck-through construction, Seymour Duncan Blackout pickups, and black hardware. Manufactured in White and Black. Only 5 manufactured.

[edit]Pickups
� �
 * Seymour Duncan
 * EMG

[edit]Picks
Thomson previously used Dunlop Jazz lll picks and cut into the tip them for grip. Now he uses the Dunlop Carbon Fiber Jazz lll Picks as claiming on the Dunlop T.V. interview with his rig, saying that they don't slip out of your hand, and their material is made that they don't wear down like most picks.

[edit]Amplification
Thomson currently uses his signature Rivera KR-7 amp model and its matching speaker cabinet.[1]

[edit]Effects
To avoid problems with pedals being damaged during live performances, Thomson keeps his effect pedals in a rack along with his amplifiers and his tech controls them through a pedalboard sidestage. The pedal controller allows him to change between different effect pedals and amplifiers. He also uses a FURMAN voltage regulator to power, protect and stabilize his system.