I got my first guitar when I was in 5th grade. I learned the chords and words to the Beatle's song, “Please, Please, Me”, and was playing and singing it that very same day. While I had no idea what the song was about, that didn't matter – my dream of being musician had officially taken off! I got my first electric guitar and joined my first rock band in 8th grade. Soon, I was playing gigs at military bases, schools, colleges and private parties. For the next 40-years I honed my skills and endeavored to keep abreast of the latest dance music and guitar techniques while periodically performing on the road and in local night clubs. While I loved and played the music of the 70's, 80's and 90's, the music I've always felt the greatest passion for is the music of the 60's. As a member of various configurations of cover bands playing rock, blues and funk, I toured the North Western United States and Western Canada. Along the way, I was fortunate to hit the big stage on a number of occasions as guitarist/singer in the opening act for major recording groups including REO Speedwagon, Rare Earth, Styx and Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show. MOD MEN gives me the opportunity to perform the music I love the most, and the pleasure of doing so with 3 great guys and excellent musicians…what more could an old guitar player ask for?

I started playing the electric bass in 1966 after being smitten by the Beatles and the onslaught of great new bands each week that I heard over the airwaves of radio and TV. My friends and I began eyeing the instruments we saw in the Sears & Roebuck Catalogue. I was at an impressionable age at just the right time! I had also played trumpet along with bass in school bands, but since I was more in demand as a bassist, that became my primary role in many bands that played rock, pop, jazz and blues. I eventuall started singing in bands in the late 70's and took some lessons to catch up with the great singers I was working with. During the 80's I attended Cornish College of the Arts and attained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in jazz. While I loved jazz, I took an opportunity with a top Seattle 50's and 60's rock band called The 57's whom I toured the northwest with, as well as a far east USO tour of Hawaii, Japan, Guam, Okinawa and the Phillipines. Eventually I played plenty of jazz and blues and more rock and pop with Grammy winning artitsts and rock and roll hall of famers. I am currently the Music Director for the Kent School of Rock. I've been playing the trumpet and keyboards lately and plan to add those skills to our Mod Men repertoire soon. I'm excited to be working with some of the best players around and to be strutting our stuff as we revisit some of the best dance hits of the 60's-80's and beyond. See you at a show!!
You can see my full bio and the rest of my web site at: http://MichaelNotticello.com

My musical career began when I joined by school choir. I was in the Madrigal Group and sang my first solo in 7th grade. The Beatles on Ed Sullivan was ground-zero for most musicians of my generation, and I was no exception. I bought my first drum set from a high school friend and began my musical journey. Fast forward to 1972 and my first tour with Tacoma rock group Academe', where we studied voice with George Peckham. This experience ultimately put me on the road (literally and figuratively) to playing full time until 1995 when I formed the rock trio, The Relics, with my brother Mark. We played weekends until 2010 when Mark passed from cancer. Since then, I've been solo and have played Washington, Oregon, California,Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Hawaii, Canada, Alaska, Cabo Mexico, Memphis and New Orleans. Since retiring from the road I've played in Pacific Northwest regional bands including N2O, Alien Culture, Nasty Habits, U253 (U2 tribute band), Dirty Wight Boyz and FuzeBoxx, among others. My broad experience has enabled me to do my own drum projects and original music. I retired from my day job 3 years ago and moved to Tacoma. I am excited to be playing with The Mod Men!