“GIVE UP CONTROL & SURRENDER”
Twelve years old and from a family with four children, Michael Aiken was given his first guitar by his parents, probably because they got sick of hearing him bang on pots and pans. Mike learned to play that guitar by playing along with the radio and immediately started writing lyrics to his own songs. With a good ear for sound, Mike asked the local minister if he could have access to play the piano in his local church. Self taught this church was where he learned to play the piano.
After a couple of years he began listening to a local band practice down the street from where he lived. Mike became the roadie at the age of 14, thanks to the approval of his mom and dad who were very understanding allowing him to go to bars at that age. When he turned 15 the same band asked him to play bass guitar for them and he accepted. Mike first band gig was at a Boat House next to a lake. Though he was nervous, Mike and the people had a great time. Mike’s second gig was for a grand opening for a restaurant bar. It was so packed that the people were literally falling into the drum set and hitting the microphones pinning them up against the wall, and Mike loved every minute of it.
In the years following Mike played many different venues and refined his talents as a musician and singer song writer. He started recording different sounds and harmonies using a four track and dubbing. Then he moved up to a recording studio and released an album of all originals songs.
Mike went through different phases of music and bands ending up with his own band that catered to the public. This band took no breaks sometimes playing four and even five hours straight. It was a non-stop energized show and people still talk about to this day. They could play up to 80 songs in one show. It was always about giving the best show possible to the people. Playing hard and crazy, jumping all around with energy, music from new country, classic rock, to modern rock. Then the next week they would play for the local senior citizens dance, with their cowboy hats on, playing two to three hours straight of non-stop country classics songs that the people loved.
The songwriting never stopped for Mike, and he has taken a large step forward in the last year. Well over 30 great songs in just the last year only and with a lifetime of influences from Johnny Cash to Aerosmith, Journey to Dave Matthews, Alanis Morissette to Natoli Cole, and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Green Day. Mike is ready to perform for the public in any venue. Mike has had great and positive feedback on all of his songs and continues to write edgy heart felt tunes. With the newly developed modern rock project and album, the name of the band had a change to FORCEAIKEN. This combination of Mike’s songwriting, singing and musical talent mixes well with heavy electric guitar sounds and hot lead lick’s from his lead guitarist. The band need only one more thing to tighten the reins, and that was the steady beat of the areas best drummers who also is a master at producing and mix down of the FORCAIKEN sound. Together all three found that edgy hot new sound and can’t wait to share it with the rest of the world.