“Chunk, Grit, Fury” — Sitting Down with Mike from Party Cannon

When we sat down with Mike, guitarist for Party Cannon, it didn’t take long to realise we were talking to someone who lives and breathes heavy music — with a good dose of humour on the side. He’s got that perfect blend of dry Scottish wit and genuine passion, the kind that can only come from years of chaos on the road. His tone? “Chunk, grit, fury.” His philosophy? “Performance beats perfection.” And his mission? To keep living the dream his teenage self imagined - inflatables, bin pits, banana suits and all.

The Origin Story

Mike laughs when he calls his path into metal “a slow descent into madness.” He started young, at 11 years old with a blue Stagg acoustic guitar that, in his words, “had action so high you could pitch a tent under it.” But it didn’t stop him. From Green Day and Pink Floyd to seeing Iron Maiden live at 13, that show was the spark that lit a lifelong fire. “That was the moment I knew I needed to do this,” he told us.

His influences are as wide-ranging as they are telling: Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Fredrik Thordendal, Björk, Jeff Buckley, and Sting. “I take influence from anything my ear likes,” he admits. “A lot of it doesn’t translate into Party Cannon’s music, but it’s all there, somewhere.” It’s a mix that defines his playing: instinctive, musical, and always curious.

Finding the Right Partner

That instinct and curiosity eventually led Mike to Ormsby Guitars. His number one is a Seafoam SX-7, loaded with a custom Ormsby bridge pickup and, true to Party Cannon’s spirit, dressed up with pink unicorn and rainbow racing stripes. “There’s nothing I’d change,” he told us. “Except maybe the decorations, that was a moment of nonsense.”

His backup? A Tuxedo Black Goliath 7, complete with gold hardware and glow-in-the-dark stars. “Both guitars just do everything I need them to,” he says. It’s no surprise that Mike’s collection reflects his personality: serious gear that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Tone and Philosophy

When it comes to tone, Mike’s view is as balanced as his playing.

“You’re going to struggle massively getting exceptional cleans from high-output pickups through an amp with no clean headroom,” he explained. “But I don’t believe anyone could just get another guitarist’s rig and suddenly sound like them the player makes up the majority of that.”

He runs his guitars in B standard, switching between six- and seven-string setups to balance ferocious 240 bpm blasts with what he affectionately calls “SHUDUDUDUUUN caveman slam riffs.” It’s all about tension and release  a sonic signature that defines Party Cannon’s chaos.

Live Mayhem

Talking live shows with Mike is like opening a scrapbook of absurdity.

“There’ve been circle pits that went around the entire stage site,” he recalls. “We had a guy in a banana suit try to drink two bottles of hot sauce and miss his mouth got it in his eyes. There was a power cut once and people started pitting in bins.”

Despite the madness, Mike’s approach remains deeply personal: “Every gig I play, I just go up and try to use it as catharsis. It’s desire  that’s what keeps you going.”

Now 35 and a father of two, his pre-show routine is less whisky and cigars, more soft drinks and vapes. “We just dick around, act like big children, and set up our inflatables,” he laughs. “It’s symbiotic when I let it all go, people do the same back.”

The Man Behind the Mayhem

Offstage, Mike’s humility shines. “I’m merely a man old enough to know better, living his adolescent self’s dream,” he says. Beneath the humour is a musician who’s still chasing the same thrill that started it all always learning, always moving forward.

If he weren’t playing guitar? “I’d probably be a car guy or a mountain biker,” he grins. “Both involve going fast and nearly dying, so it tracks.”

Advice and the Road Ahead

His advice to younger players feels like something every musician needs to hear: “Practise, jam with anyone, live in the moment, don’t get blinkered, and don’t obsess over gear. Do what makes you happy and gets you excited.”

As for what’s next, he’s cautiously optimistic. “We just got announced for Bloodstock 2026 Mainstage, which I’m so excited about,” he says. “We’re trying to keep growing, getting better at our craft, and loving every minute of it. Here’s to many more years.”

At Ormsby, we love working with artists like Mike  players who remind us that passion and individuality matter more than perfection. Whether it’s a seafoam SX-7 with unicorn stripes or a tuxedo-black Goliath 7, Mike’s guitars reflect exactly who he is: bold, brilliant, and unapologetically himself.

Mike’s touring rig complements his guitars perfectly:

Amps

• Deadweald Audio–modded Jet City JCA50H
• Revv G20

FX & Signal Chain

• Shure GLXD16+ (wireless & tuner)
• Deadweald Audio Duality DX
• Revv G3
• Electro-Harmonix .44 Magnum (power amp)

These tools help him channel his tone from polished studio tightness to full live chaos. “Both my Ormsbys just do everything I need them to,” he says. “I can go from tight modern tones to caveman slam without fighting the instrument.”