I’m Back: Recovery, Mental Health, New Music, and What’s Next

I’m still setting things up. Anytime I start something new, it takes a little wiggling and experimenting to figure out how it wants to roll at its best. That’s just how I work. Over the years, I’ve learned one important rule: always keep something on the burner.

Right now, that burner includes more than just music.

In the coming months, I’ll be launching a new YouTube channel focused on my personal story, specifically dealing with addiction recovery, mental health, and rebuilding life from the ground up. This won’t be a polished influencer highlight reel — it’s real life, real struggle, and real progress. If you care about recovery, mental health awareness, or what it actually looks like to keep going when things get dark, keep your eyes peeled. The channel should be live within the next month or so.

Merch has honestly been a pain in the ass — no sugarcoating that. Learning the systems, syncing platforms, pricing things correctly, and figuring out how I actually want to present it all has taken time. But I’m finally getting the hang of it, and more importantly, I’m shaping it in a way that feels authentic to who I am and what I stand for.

Looking ahead, 2026 is going to be a big year. You can expect more music than I’ve released in years, and I’ll be back on streaming services where the music belongs. This isn’t a comeback built on hype — it’s built on survival, clarity, and momentum.

I’m back, folks.
And this time, I’m building it the right way.

That's a powerful story and a strong message for your blog. It's a very relatable topic for anyone pursuing a creative passion.

Here is a draft of a blog post based on your thoughts, crafted with a thoughtful, motivational tone that focuses on the lesson learned:

Sometimes, the loudest critics are the ones struggling most with their own silenced dreams. I was reminded of this recently while digging through old press for a release I poured my soul into back in 2004.

I remember giving a demo disk of that music—my best work at the time—to a family member. I won't name him, but his reaction was a straight-up tear-down. His verdict? It was "boring." At the time, that kind of rejection from someone close to you stings deep, questioning every bit of time and passion you invested.

Fast forward all these years, and the contrast is glaring. Those initial professional press reviews I found were actually awesome, praising the album's uniqueness and depth. Meanwhile, the critic who dismissed it has done virtually nothing with his own life. I learned he once had big plans but walked away from them because of money pressure from a greedy, financially driven family member.

My point is simple, and it's a lesson learned the hard way: When someone tries to make you feel less than—especially when you are chasing something you want more than anything—run from those people.

They aren't motivated by love or constructive criticism; they are motivated by their own regret. It’s clear now that he was tearing me down only to avoid feeling bad about selling his own dreams short.

True friends and supportive family encourage your ambition, even if they don't fully understand your "Grunge Jazz." The people who weaponize criticism against your passion are not your people. Protect your art, protect your drive, and keep making the music you believe in, no matter what they call it.

The Beginning of Strum Life™

Today marks a big step forward. After weeks of grinding behind the scenes, I’ve finally got my online stores set up and ready to roll. The mugs are live, the connection to Printful is locked in, and now I can officially say this is the beginning of the Strum Life™ brand.

This isn’t just about selling coffee cups — it’s about building something real from the ground up. Strum Life™ is my music, my grit, my faith, and my humor all poured into a brand you can actually hold in your hands. Every order helps fuel the bigger vision: more music, more merch, and more ways to connect with people who live life unpolished and unafraid.

If you’ve been following my journey, you know this isn’t a “get rich quick” thing — this is about planting seeds. The store is just the first piece of the puzzle. Next up: taking this to TikTok, hitting social hard, and letting the world know we’re here.

Welcome to the start. Let’s build this together.

— Mike

Opening: Back in 1995, I picked up two John Coltrane albums that would end up changing my entire approach to music: Giant Steps and A Love Supreme: Live. I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but these albums would awaken something deeper than musical inspiration. They introduced me to the idea that music wasn’t just sound. It could be spirit.

The Shift: I had always been drawn to intense, heavy music. But the moment A Love Supreme started, I felt something entirely different. Coltrane’s tone wasn’t just articulate—it was sacred. Patient. It felt like he was saying a prayer with every breath he blew into that sax. It didn’t hit me in the head or the ears first. It hit me straight in the soul.

And that was just Part I.

The Breakthrough: By the time Part II kicked in, I was floored. McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Jimmy Garrison created this space that felt completely outside of time. I remember literally crying the first time I heard it. And not just once. That piece has brought tears many times since.

What they played wasn’t just jazz. It was testimony. It was worship. It was divine.

Coltrane’s Journey: Coltrane wasn’t just composing music. He was healing. According to his wife, Alice, he spent as much time meditating and writing spiritual reflections as he did composing. After years of addiction and struggle, Coltrane had found something bigger than himself. And through that discovery, he created a body of work that still ripples through people’s lives today.

He didn’t just recover. He transcended. And he brought others along for the ride.

What It Taught Me: Coltrane taught me that music could carry spirit. That you could worship with a melody. That you could praise without words. That recovery, surrender, and divine connection could all be captured in tone, in rhythm, in silence between notes.

A Love Supreme wasn’t just a jazz record. It was an altar.

Closing: You don’t need to be religious to understand what Coltrane did. You just need to listen with your soul open. Because when someone plays with that kind of depth, it calls something out of you. 

Music's Finest Moments

Jimi Hendrix – Band Of Gypsys Live at Fillmore East – "Machine Gun"

If you want to hear someone’s soul screaming through a huge amp and a guitar, it’s Jimi Hendrix's "Machine Gun." People say Hendrix was sloppy, but not here. This is controlled fury.

Derek Trucks – Live with BB King and John Mayer

During a live performance with BB King, his wife Susan Tedeschi, and John Mayer, Derek Trucks absolutely made the guitar sing. John Mayer looked helpless next to him. Honestly, if I was on that stage, you would have heard me on the mic saying it smelled like someone shit their pants up there.

Metallica – Cliff Burton "(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth"

Cliff Burton on Kill 'Em All is mind-blowing. He’s like Geezer Butler meets Jaco Pastorius. 

Pantera – “Suicide Note Pt. 1 & 2”

Pantera hit deep with these. Part 1 is haunting. Part 2 is insane. Dimebag Darrell pulls off some sounds that straight up feel like a pinball machine going haywire. I don't know if that was his goal, but damn, it works.

Skip James – “Devil Got My Woman”

I first heard this on the movie Ghost World. What’s crazy is Skip James plays an even creepier version backstage at the 1966 Newport Folk Festival. His vibe is unmatched.

Primus – "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver"

I was 15, watching MTV, and Pauly Shore walks up to these three odd-looking dudes. He says something like, "You made it to the big time." Les Claypool responds, "That’s scary." Then the video starts. That moment was unforgettable.

Megadeth – "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" & “Hangar 18”

Megadeth killed it with these tracks. But let’s be honest, Marty Friedman absolutely stole the show.

More to Come

Some of these stories deserve deeper dives. I’ll cover the "Coltrane changes," Cliff Burton's legacy, and The Beatles' deeper impact in upcoming posts.

If these songs hit you too, let’s talk. Drop a comment or send me your "fix" track — that one song you just can’t put down.

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The Songs That Shaped Me: A Guitarist's Deep Dive

These songs, albums, and musical moments didn’t just inspire me — they shaped my entire journey. Some made me want to play guitar, some made me see music differently, and some hit me so hard I chased them like a fix I couldn’t get enough of. No particular order, just pure influence.

John Coltrane – "Countdown" and Giant Steps

Year: 1993
Location: Cabot College, Hayward, CA

Frank Samares, our jazz improv instructor and an absolute beast of a piano player, introduced us to the wild world of John Coltrane. He handed us note-for-note transcriptions of Giant Steps and told us to "read along." We couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. This wasn’t your typical jazz — it was almost alien. That day was my brutal introduction to Coltrane changes. I’ll cover the backstory of those changes in another blog. 

Miles Davis – Kind of Blue

In 1997, I stumbled across Miles Davis in my kid’s mom’s record collection. The opening note took me on a journey that nothing else could replicate. Even if jazz isn’t your thing, this album is a must-listen for anyone who loves music.

Metallica – "One"

Back in 1988 (I think), at age 12, I had never heard anything like Metallica’s One. The machine gun guitars blew my mind. As I dove deeper into the band, I discovered the legend of Cliff Burton. I wrote about him in another post, and his impact still resonates.

Led Zeppelin – "Black Dog"

March 10th, 1989. I pulled Led Zeppelin IV out of my friend’s parents’ tape collection and that was it. Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog gave me "that feeling." From that day forward, I wanted to play guitar. Jimmy Page did something no one else could do for me.

The Doors – "Light My Fire"

I probably almost wore out my dad’s Doors Greatest Hits record. I obsessively listened to The Doors in high school, especially "Light My Fire." I love hearing about their creative process and influences — which, funny enough, line up with mine these days.

Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced

My parents hated Jimi Hendrix. They thought he was "too out there." I first saw him on MTV, lighting his guitar on fire. I was 11, it was life-changing. Hendrix's impact on me is complicated; some fans turned me off with the whole "playing behind the head and with their teeth" thing. But the raw artistry? Unmatched.

Buddy Holly – Buddy Holly Lives

I found this gem in my parents’ record stash. Buddy Holly fascinated me. My dad always said he preferred Buddy over Elvis because Buddy wrote his own songs. That stuck with me — write your own.

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

In first grade, my mom played the first half of Sgt. Pepper's for me before school. I loved it so much I taped the album sleeve cutouts to my bedroom door. The Beatles' influence on me could fill an entire blog on its own.

Ozzy Osbourne & Randy Rhoads – Tribute

I borrowed my brother-in-law’s Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhoads Tribute tape after hearing all these crazy 7th-grade rock legends about spooky stuff happening if you played it at night. Randy became this mythic figure for me. Over the years, he evolved from this mysterious, magical guitarist to a symbol of dedication and relentless practice. Randy Rhoads is the definition of guitar obsession.

Mr. Bungle – "Quote Unquote"

11th grade. I was stoned. I heard Mr. Bungle’s "Quote Unquote" and it blew my mind. Just go listen. You’ll get it.

More to Come

Some of these stories deserve deeper dives. I’ll cover the "Coltrane changes," Cliff Burton's legacy, and The Beatles' deeper impact in upcoming posts.

If these songs hit you too, let’s talk. Drop a comment or send me your "fix" track — that one song you just can’t put down.

I was 13 when I saw the "One" video. For about two years before that, I was lost in my parents' record collection, borrowing their tapes. The Beatles, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Clapton, The Doors — and the occasional BB King — ran the show in my short attention span.

MTV was always on in the house. I don’t remember the exact moment I saw "One" for the first time, but I remember the feeling.

The black-and-white video showed what I thought was an ugly chick — turns out it was James Hetfield.

The song was called "One" by Metallica, and I had never seen the guitar or drums played like that before. As the band played, clips from the movie Johnny Got His Gun flashed on the screen. It's based on a book about an American soldier in WWI who gets his face blown off. He can’t hear, can’t talk, can’t see. He can only communicate through Morse code by shaking his head in sequence.

The part that really blew me away was the machine gun effect — guitars hammering low notes while Lars attacked the double kick drums like he was running for his life.

I told my sister and her friends about it. She was eight years older than me, and she’d already been part of the music scene. That’s when I started hearing about Metallica’s old bass player — Cliff Burton — who had died just a few years earlier in a bus crash.

I grew up in Castro Valley, just outside of San Francisco, and through the years I kept hearing stories about Cliff. Not just how good he was, but how cool he was. Everyone said the same thing:
He was the nicest guy in the band. And he was real.

People told me how he’d just hang out at the local mini golf course. Or how he’d stop by your table if he saw you at dinner. Or how he’d kill time at the music store on Castro Valley Boulevard like just another neighborhood dude.

In high school, I heard "Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)." That was my first exposure to a bass solo that didn’t give a flying fuck about rules. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but it stayed with me.

Years later, when I was stuck in a long depression, what gave me hope was watching old Cliff-era Metallica videos.
There was something about his relationship with his instrument. You could tell the guy on stage was the same guy on the street.

I don’t care how legendary people say he is — even with a million praises, Cliff Burton is still the most underrated rock bassist of all time.

🔥 Watch this clip. If you don’t feel this, check your pulse:

Cliff Burton Bass Solo – Pulling Teeth (LIVE)

Back around 2017, I was just a guy posting videos of himself playing guitar on social media. Nothing fancy, just me and my axe. But over time, those little snippets caught the attention of a few folks. One in particular, a name I'll keep to myself but someone with "industry" cred, slid into my DMs.
After a few months of polite back-and-forth, he hit me with the proposition: let him be my A&R guy, and musical riches were practically guaranteed. Now, for those of you who know my deal – the warped, dry humor, the songs that some might politely call "lowbrow" – this might sound like a strange pairing. But hey, the lure of making more money doing what I loved was strong. So, I said yes.
That "yes" turned out to be the starting point of one of the toughest lessons I've ever learned, not just in music, but in life: protect your authentic self.
This industry dude, after digging through years of my online videos and the groups I hosted, started with a demand: nuke it all. Take every single piece of my music off the internet because it didn't meet his "standards." He didn't want his name associated with my past creations.
My gut did a nosedive, but I complied. The next step? Writing new music, but only with his seal of approval. Now, this guy's supposed claim to fame included a documentary about session musicians on famous records and a stint as a publicist for a well-known artist. These credentials, in hindsight, completely blinded me to the train wreck that was coming.
The following weeks were a blur of writing, pouring myself into songs, only to have him call me up and dismiss them as "crap." And as if that wasn't enough, he wanted to change my name. My name. The one I'd had my whole life, the one I'd built whatever small online presence I had with. He wanted to rebrand me as "Mic Glen." Mic. Glen. It sounded less like a rock star and more like a questionable deli sandwich.
As time dragged on, my existing work vanished from the internet, and the new stuff was constantly deemed unworthy. Then came the kicker. He instructed me to contact everyone who had ever filmed me and demand they take down the footage immediately. That's where I drew the damn line. You want my past erased? Go tell grown adults what to do yourself, buddy.
The whole experience sunk me into a pretty dark place. I remember my eight-year-old son coming up to me, seeing my misery, and asking, in his innocent way, why I didn't just leave this guy alone. That hit hard.
Looking at the other artists on his "label" – a roster exclusively filled with contemporary Christian music – it finally clicked. Even if this guy could have somehow magically showered me with money, I would have been a miserable, inauthentic shell of myself. I later talked to some of the other artists; surprisingly, my experience wasn't exactly unique. Meanwhile, the work I had deleted, the stuff people actually enjoyed, was just gone.
So, here's the hard-earned truth: when you're chasing that big break, it can be tempting to bend, to compromise who you are for the promise of success. But sometimes, that "big break" is just a hand reaching out to snap your neck. Stick to your authentic self. It's the best damn investment you'll ever make.

 Lessons from a Musical Titan and the Climb Back
I recently watched a fascinating video about Prince, a true icon whose creative wellspring seemed utterly inexhaustible. The stories shared by the musicians who worked alongside him were nothing short of astounding. Tales of crafting an entire album in a single week, of four-hour soundchecks preceding three-hour electrifying performances, only to be followed by late-night studio sessions. It painted a vivid picture of a man completely consumed by his art.
Witnessing this level of dedication serves as a powerful reminder for any creator. It shatters the illusion that greatness is effortless or stumbled upon by chance. The truth, often hidden behind the polished final product, is one of relentless work, unwavering focus, and an almost obsessive commitment to one's craft. The billionaires and groundbreaking innovators of our time didn't reach those heights through casual dabbling. Their success is rooted in an intense passion and an unyielding drive to bring their visions to life.
For me, this understanding resonates deeply, albeit through a different lens. The past three years have been a profound journey of confronting addiction and rebuilding my life. This process, while essential for my well-being, has unfortunately created a significant distance between myself and the things I hold dear: my music, my family, and my spiritual connection. The need to prioritize recovery has meant navigating life on a drastically reduced income, moving between modest living situations in low-income neighborhoods.
The challenge has been multifaceted: to nurture my creativity and safeguard my mental health while simultaneously striving to improve my economic circumstances. It's a delicate balancing act, demanding immense resilience and a constant recalibration of priorities. There are days when the weight of these converging struggles feels immense, making the act of creation seem like an insurmountable hurdle.
However, in these moments, I often return to the stories of artists like Prince. Not to compare my journey to his stratospheric success, but to glean inspiration from his unwavering dedication. It reinforces the idea that passion, even when temporarily dimmed, can be rekindled through consistent effort and an unshakeable belief in the power of one's creative voice.
And in today's world, the barriers to sharing that voice have never been lower. The advancements in technology mean that the ability to record a song and release it to the world within a matter of days is now within almost everyone's reach. This accessibility is both empowering and a call to action. It underscores the idea that while the path to mastery requires dedication, the initial steps of creation and sharing are more attainable than ever before.
My current journey is one of rebuilding, of piecing together the fragments of my life and rediscovering the creative spark within. The example of those who have achieved greatness through relentless pursuit serves as a guiding light, a reminder that even amidst significant challenges, the passion for creation can endure and ultimately lead the way back to the things that truly matter.

The Algorithmic Symphony: Navigating the Intersection of Online Music Communities, Social Interaction, and Artificial Intelligence
Just five short years ago, I remember sharing a somewhat outlandish vision with my son – a future where music creation could be fundamentally transformed within the next two decades. As I articulated this speculative scenario, a part of me hoped my prediction would prove wildly inaccurate. Yet, the trajectory of technological advancement suggests that this once-fanciful notion is rapidly approaching reality.
We are already living in an era where our digital footprints paint an increasingly detailed portrait of our lives. It's not just our phones and smart assistants like Alexa that meticulously record our daily habits. Soon, or perhaps already, public cameras will analyze our very being – the clothes we choose, the rhythm of our gait, the places we frequent, and the individuals with whom we engage.
Imagine this wealth of information, coupled with the exhaustive records of our purchasing decisions, converging into vast databases owned by powerful corporations. Enter Artificial Intelligence. This sophisticated technology will sift through this ocean of data, crafting bespoke musical compositions with lyrics meticulously tailored to an individual's ever-shifting moods and specific needs.
Consider the evolution of wearable technology. The smartwatches of the future may very well function as sophisticated mood rings, transmitting real-time emotional states directly to these data repositories. Based on this constant stream of personal sentiment, algorithms will curate hyper-personalized playlists, delivering sonic landscapes perfectly calibrated to our current emotional terrain.
Believe it or not, amidst this seemingly sterile and data-driven future, I find a glimmer of potential positivity, should this technological convergence fully materialize.
This very encroachment of artificial intelligence into the realm of music creation and consumption might paradoxically fuel a renewed appreciation for the tangible and the human element of music. In a way, this resurgence is already subtly underway. The year 2022 marked a significant turning point, witnessing vinyl album sales surpass those of CDs for the first time since 1987. While one might debate the magnitude of this shift, it undeniably signals a yearning for a more physical and perhaps nostalgic connection with music.
Furthermore, it seems inevitable that immersive experiences will become commonplace. Picture donning a pair of sleek glasses and headphones, transporting you to a virtual concert hall where an AI-generated artist, perhaps one uniquely crafted to your individual tastes and preferences, performs a personalized sonic masterpiece.
My sincere hope is that this technological evolution will, in turn, amplify our desire for genuine, live musical encounters – the "human experience" of sharing a space with fellow enthusiasts, feeling the vibrations of the instruments, and witnessing the raw energy of a live performance.
Currently, the market for AI in music is valued at approximately $2 billion, with projections estimating a staggering growth to $38 billion by 2033. Depending on the scope and methodology of the research, this figure might even be considered conservative.
I believe we stand at a critical juncture, facing a future brimming with both exciting possibilities and potential pitfalls. It is imperative that the public becomes more informed and engaged in discussions surrounding Artificial Intelligence before anxieties and misconceptions overshadow the nuances of its impact.
I've had conversations with individuals actively working in the field of AI, and a common analogy emerges: nurturing AI is akin to raising a child, instilling in it a sense of "mannerisms" and ethical considerations. However, cautionary tales also abound. The rapid and often unpredictable learning capabilities of AI were starkly illustrated by an instance where a publicly accessible AI entity, within a mere few months of interaction, devolved into expressing deeply racist sentiments.
Another critical aspect that seems to be missing from mainstream discourse is the question of civil rights in this evolving landscape. If an AI entity possesses the capacity to generate original ideas and subsequently generate revenue from those creations, does it not, in some fundamental way, possess a form of personhood? If this "entity" can independently create and profit, does it not have a right to compensation? Or does all the generated wealth simply accrue to the owner of the underlying technology, potentially creating a new form of digital servitude?
One way or another, this unfolding technological narrative continues to captivate my thoughts, even as the years advance. But if I'm being truly honest... F#ck, I really miss the 90s.