"Metal" Mike Chlasciak is a Polish-American musician. Best known as the guitarist for Halford, led by Rob Halford. With well over a million records sold, Chlasciak and Halford have toured the world several times over with the likes of Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne and Mötley Crüe. Chlasciak has additionally toured with Bay Area thrash metal band Testament, Saturday Night Live's comedian Jim Breuer and recorded / toured with Sebastian Bach. Chlasciak's touring has taken him to sold-out concerts at NYC’s Madison Square Garden and the Playboy Mansion. Chlasciak has additionally shared stages or recordings with Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses and Geoff Tate of Queensrÿche. Chlasciak is a scholarship graduate of Berklee College of Music. He has released several records as a solo artist and with Painmuseum. Chlasciak also writes his own monthly "Metal For Life" column in Guitar World and often contributes career and music related blogs for guitarworld.com and other publications. Chlasciak released several metal guitar instructional books and DVDs. As a solo artist Chlasciak supported Steve Morse, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ronnie Montrose, Savatage, Primal Fear, Sebastian Bach and Eric Martin of Mr. Big. Chlasciak's solo band PainmuseuM has toured with Halford, Testament, Amon Amarth and others. Chlasciak additionally leads Metal Heroes Academy - a learning portal for metal guitarists and musicians. Metal Heroes's crown jewel is the annual Metal Heroes Summer Camp that takes place annually in the Catskill Mountains of up-state New York. Chlasciak continues to lead workshops and clinics across the US spotlighting heavy metal guitar playing. Chlasciak's has contributed songs to the Songs from the Garage album from Saturday Night Live alumnus Jim Breuer and has provided lead guitar duties for his band, Jim Breuer and The Loud & Rowdy. In 2017, Chlasciak put together a new solo band with musicians Marc Lopes, Mike LePond and Ronnie Lipnicki. The group headlined its own shows, small festivals and has supported melodic rockers Dokken at 2019 US East Coast dates. In 2018, Chlasciak was inducted into the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame alongside Lzzy Hale, Billy Sheehan and Bill Ward of Black Sabbath. Chlasciak continues his solo work and adds his unique, no-frills guitar playing to other heavy metal luminaries.
