- BIO -
VIRTUOSO INSTRUMENTAL GUITAR SOLOIST
Michael Kolar combines with an obsessive practice
the idioms from classical composers, ie., arpeggios,
ostinato's, counter point ( pedal tone ), diminished
patterns, scales and phrasing. Michael's distinct
compositional style with his trademark of arpeggiated
solos and the linear lines of diminished runs
( ascendind & descending patterns ). Has made his
instrumental debut album appropriately entitled,
Kolar's Horror Rock - Presents : The Grand Guignol !
a provisionary catalst for the phenomenon known as
'shredding', in which the music's main focus is on
demanding licks and technical command of the
instrument,( the guitar ), rather than songwriting.
Michael's approach and execution, artistically and
ultimately is filled with a subtle emotion and an
incredible amount of technique ; to emulate the
classical style his music is filled with the telling
of an amazing amount of practice. Michael became
obsessed with the guitar, and learning to play minor
scales as well as arpeggios by ear was what led him
towards classical music. Which exposed him to the
music of 19th century virtuoso violinist and composer,
'Niccolo Paganini', Paganini's style and image provided
Michael's blueprint for a synthesis of his technically
staggering instrumental explorations : 'incendiary-
guitar-work' and his artistic emotional expressions.
Michael Kolar ~ 'No Guts No Glory !'
- SoundBites -
By Jason Bracelin
OCTOBER ISSUE : 'The Cleveland Scene Magazine.'
Michael Kolar's living room looks like hell's Barnes & Noble. On wooden bookshelves that span an entire wall, there's more than 500 creepy tomes, with such titles as The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness, Blood Curdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre, and -- perhaps most unnerving -- Delta Style, the autobiography of husky actress Delta Burke.
As we browse through the stacks, Kolar's eyes gleam behind rose-tinted glasses. Combined with his shaven head, the giant scorpion tattoo on his neck, and his small, sinewy frame, the 35-year-old guitarist looks appropriately sinister, like a little hobgoblin. A well-read little hobgoblin.
'When I was in the fourth grade, that's when I got exposed to Randy Rhoads and Ozzy with Blizzard of Ozz,' Kolar recalls of his initial gateway into the dark arts and the works of notorious sorcerer Aleister Crowley. "Because of the song 'Mr. Crowley,' I got my first edition of Magick in Theory and Practice. I've been building my collection ever since."
Kolar then hands us the jewel of his library. It's a short script, with the rather shocking image on the cover of a woman getting her throat slashed. Its title, The Grand Guignol, refers to the infamous turn-of-the-century Parisian shock-theater company. Kolar wrote it himself.
"I want to be a horror icon," he tells us, and The Grand Guignol is one means to that end. The other is his dark, neoclassical guitar playing, which recalls the fire-and-brimstone virtuosity of Swede Yngwie Malmsteen. Combined, the two form the gory stage show Horror Rock, which Kolar describes as the "Trans-Siberian Orchestra meets Friday the 13th." On his website, Kolar boasts that performances are rife with 'Tortures and Mutilations. Stabbings and Gougings. Demonstrated Live! Before your very eyes!' ,p This is not a show for the kiddies. The Grand Guignol revolves around the slaying of women accused of practicing witchcraft and the violent revenge they seek (after death) on their religious persecutors. There's lots of death, sex, and uh, talk of how 'torchlit snatches were licked.'
'We went through 38 actors,' Kolar says, discussing the difficulty of finding folks willing to perform such graphic material. 'There was even a stripper from the Crazy Horse who was going to play the lead witch, but because of the content, she dropped out.'
Nevertheless, the show managed to debut at the Bottom Line Saloon over the summer. The audience response was predictably heated.
'There were people who had to just leave,' Kolar says. '[They] could not believe that they were seeing something like this in full view. It's almost like 'How dare you do that!'
In truth, though, the show is more fun than frightening. It serves much the same purpose as an over-the-top splatterfest like Dawn of the Dead: a way for its audience to revel vicariously in a violence that, with a lesser degree of severity, may have been directed at them.
'Have you seen the movie Trick or Treat?' Kolar asks about the cult-classic, heavy-metal horror film in which Eddie, an abused outcast teen, takes revenge against the jocks. 'I identified heavily with that film,' he recalls. 'Being small and not very athletic, and getting picked on.'
Kolar escaped into horror films and larger-than-life rock and roll. And now he's looking to lead a rebirth of both. 'I'm trying to make something tangible of this idea that Kiss and Alice Cooper originally had,' he explains, 'which is that, look, when you go and see a show, you don't want to be bored. It's getting boring to see a band just stand there and play. I want people to actually walk away feeling like This guy did something to really entertain me.'
On that level, Kolar's Horror Rock is a stomach-turning success. However, whether the show finds an audience remains to be seen. p 'I think that my greatest fear is that once I'm dead, people will forget who I am,' he says.With the stab-happy Grand Guignol, we think it's safe to say that Kolar will eventually rest in pieces.
"LIVE PHOTOS OF KOLAR'S HORROR ROCK ! PRESENTS : THE GRANDE GUIGNOL !" Written, Directed And Produced By Michael Kolar
NEW RESIDENT BRINGS ART, MUSIC, AND MARTIAL ARTS TO THE AREA By Pam Gilchrist
Michael Kolar is an artist, a musician, and a martial arts master who prefers to steer away from conformity. Michael staunchly supports self-awareness and encourages his students to pursue individuality.
Kinjiru, the martial art he founded, promotes practical self-defense techniques. Kinjiru combines eight different forms of martial arts, yet, according to Michael, is very simple to understand. Michael also says that Kinjiru is individually tailored and students are ultimately motivated to be self-taught. Michael began “Kinjiru Academy†in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Many students came to his school because they were concerned about the rising crime rate and wanted to learn realistic ways to protect themselves.
Michael’s love for music and art equals his love for martial arts. Michael enjoys neo-classical guitar music and considers Yngwie Malmsteen his favorite musician. Michael also appreciates musicians like Uli Jon Roth, who worked with several popular bands in the 1970s, but preferred to stay out of the commercial music scene. Michael’s own music can be sampled on the website www.kinjiruacademy.com.
In the field of art, Michael is a talented illustrator. His works generally depict Native American culture and nature. Samples of these works can be viewed at the Kinjiru Academy website.
Michael and his wife, Melissa, have two children, a two-year-old son named Davyn Yngwie and a four-month-old daughter named Zayla Zoso. The family moved to Queen Creek from Cleveland in May. Michael is excited for the many opportunities available in the area. He is currently working to get his artwork displayed at the Thunder Mountain Store in Apache Junction. He is also thrilled with the strong music industry and has high hopes for what that can mean for his own musical career.
Michael is available to teach Kinjiru, guitar, and illustrating to those interested. He can be contacted for any additional information at www.kinjiruacademy.com.
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