Michael Bland

Michael Bland
Birth name	Michael Bland
Also known as	Michael B. (with The New Power Generation)
Born	March 14, 1969 (1969-03-14) (age 42)
Origin	Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Genres	Rock, pop, R&B, soul, funk, funk-rock, funk metal, New Wave, dance, psychedelic rock, hip-hop
Occupations	Musician, producer
Instruments	Drums, percussion
Years active	1989–present
Associated acts	The New Power Generation, Madhouse, Soul Asylum, Paul Westerberg, Dr. Mambo's Combo
Website	michaelbland.org

Michael Bland (born March 14, 1969) is best known as a drummer for Prince starting in 1989. He was with Prince during The New Power Generation era and played with him live and on albums for 7 years.^[1]

In 2010, Bland became a member of Nick Jonas and the Administration (a side project of Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers) along with other former members of The New Power Generation, bass player Sonny T. and keyboardist Tommy Barbarella.^[2]

Life and career

Bland was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Minneapolis South High School in 1987, where he thrilled his classmates with amazing rhythms at Pep Fests and other events, and still resides in Minneapolis, but is often heading to LA as a session drummer for such artists as Mandy Moore, Clay Aiken, the Backstreet Boys, the Anchorman Soundtrack, and many more.

In 2000, he played in the Minneapolis project of french reed player Michel Portal (the rest of the band was Tony Hymas, Sonny T., Vernon Reid and Jef Lee Johnson). With Jef Lee Johnson and Sonny T., Michael Bland created News from the Jungle which recorded one album for Universal also produced by Jean Rochard. Both bands, Michel Portal's and News from the jungle, toured in France (Paris Olympia). Michael will also play on several tracks of the Michel Portal album Birdwatcher in 2006.

In 2005, Bland was the drummer for Paul Westerberg's tour, and he recently played on the Hurricane Katrina Relief telethon with the Dixie Chicks. Bland is also now working as a producer, currently working with the upcoming rock-pop band Catchpenny, also from Minneapolis.

He is the drummer on Soul Asylum's album The Silver Lining.^[3] He also tours with them.

Bland, with colleague and ex-NPG member Sonny T. (Thompson) teamed up with Prince once again to provide drumming for the title track of Prince's 3121 album.

Bland also played drums on Indigenous's 2006 album, Chasing the Sun.

In 2007 Bland & Thompson laid down the rhythmtracks for some tracks on Prince's 2007 CD 'Planet Earth'.

When not on tour, Bland can usually be found every Sunday and Monday night at the nightclub "Bunker's" in downtown Minneapolis performing with Dr. Mambo's Combo. Bland also performs in the area with pop/R&B band, The Rule.

During the fall of 2007 Michael Bland has been busy working on a release by his own protege, Mayda, performing with her regularly in the Minneapolis area as well as recording a studio album. Her first release, the Stereotype EP, was released in 2007. Michael Bland continued working with Mayda and played on and produced a full length album with her in 2009, titled The Interrogation.

Currently, Michael Bland is the drummer of the band Nick Jonas and The Administration. He is also rehearsing with The Peterson Family (which includes St. Paul Peterson, a former member of The Family, a Prince protege band from 1985) as the Peterson's prepare to go on an Australian tour in the summer of 2010.

See also

• List of drummers

References

1. ^ "Michael Bland Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1969-03-14. http://www.discogs.com/artist/Michael+Bland. Retrieved 2011-10-06. 
2. ^ "Nick Jonas On The Administration ALBUM". oceanUP.com. 2009-11-17. http://www.oceanup.com/2009/11/17/nick-jonas-on-the-administration-album. Retrieved 2011-10-06. 
3. ^ "'The best drummer on the planet'". StarTribune.com. 2006-04-07. http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/11510596.html. Retrieved 2011-10-06. 

External links

• Official site
• Michael Bland at Drummerworld

Persondata
Name	Bland, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 14, 1969
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death