Michael Jackson (Satan, Pariah)

Michael Jackson was the lead singer for Satan and Pariah in the middle and late 80's, having recorded the Ep "Into the Future" and the Lp "Suspended Sentence" with Satan, and "The Kindred" and “Blaze of Obscurity” with Pariah. We had a chat with this great singer about his days in Satan and Pariah.

Q. – Hello Michael, when did you join "Satan"? Was it around 85? How did that happen?

Mike- I joined Satan in early 1986 if I recall correctly it was a l not time ago. It all came about when I was playing in a local band called Rough Edge and working in the merchant navy and really wanted to spread my wings outside of my home town. So I answered an advert in the NME asking for a singer. So I sent a demo tape got the audition and ultimately the job and then joined up with the band in London to start work on another album.

Q. - What other bands did you play before "Satan"?

Mike - I played in a band called Rough Edge before I joined Satan.

Q. - Who were your main influences at that time? -

Mike - I was and still am a massive Queen fan. I was also very much into Judas Priest, ELO, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd.

Q. - What memories do you keep from the recording seasons of "The Dirt" demo from 86? Was it your first experience in studio?

Mike - It wasn’t my first experience in a studio but it was a great thing meeting likeminded lads who became great, great friends writing and recording music we All loved. Experimenting as co-writers for the first time.

Q. - After the edition of the EP "Into the Future", Satan played Dynamo Open Air alongside with Angel Witch and Laaz Rockit, do you have any special memories from that festival?

Mike - The Dynamo festival was a fantastic experience for me definitely the biggest stage I had played at that time. We became great friends with Angel Witch and also ended up doing a small tour with the lads In Europe shortly afterwards all sharing a battered mini bus. It got wild at times but great fun. Laaz Rocket where also fantastic lads. It was most defiantly a crazy week that week we stayed for the festival.

Q. - Why did you change the name of the band to "Pariah", after the edition of "Suspended Sentence"? Maybe the name "Satan" was a little scary to some labels?

Mike - When we supported German band Running Wild on your  to promote Suspended Sentence it sort of happened then. We would sometimes turn up at venues and religious groups would be burning our shirts and protesting that a band called Satan where in town. So we decided to take a change in direction and change the name.

Q. - At that time you worked for the band Sabbat, as roadie, how did that happen?

Mike - We met the band at a gig and became friends and when the bands first album came out we had just recorded Blaze Of Obscurity and waiting for its release.  So they needed some mates as support so we offered to go on tour with them as roadies. Steve was road manager and me and Graham did the driving crowd control and PA. That was also a very drunken tour but so many laughs.

Q. - The first Pariah album "The Kindred", had a heavier sound comparing to Satan albums, what made you change the sound in a heavier way?

Mike - That is a difficult question. I really don’t think it was really intentional if I remember rightly there was a lot of heavier thrash coming out that could have influenced us a little. And we wanted to just experiment although It wasn’t a favourite album of mine at all. Going back to more melodic metal was the only way forward after The Kindred although the album was received well by metal fans.

Q. - Why did the band split up after such a great album as “Blaze of Obscurity”? What made you feel it was time to call it a day?

Mike - It wasn’t the band it was me I will hold my hands up to that. At the time I wasn’t happy with the lack of record company help and no real quality management.  I felt Blaze was our best work and it just wasn’t being promoted the way it should have been and no decent support tours coming our way.. To many record company promises with little action  So I went back to Morecambe for a short break and decided I didn’t want to pursue making another album. Sad times but life moves on and so did the boys so all was well.

Q. - At a certain point, after the edition of "Blaze of Obscurity" there was talk about the recording of a live album, why did that album never see the light of the day?

Mike - I’m not sure where that story comes from but the only way we would have done a live album was if we had been on tour after the album. The songs on the album never got a lot of live exposure unfortunately and we did very little touring after the album release.

Q. - After the split, did you stay in touch with each other’s over the years?

Mike - I still chat to Russ every now and again. But no we never really kept in touch.

Q. - By 1997 "Pariah" did a comeback, recording the album "Unity", were you invited to come back at that time? If yes, why didn't you accept?

Mike - No I didn’t get asked but I had made it quite clear I had really had enough.

Q. - The same related to "Satan", when they came back, some years ago?

Mike - No the lads already had contact with Brian and we had not spoken for many years so it was inevitable that Brian would sing on the future albums. I am so pleased the lads have made new music under Satan. I wish them all the best for the future.

Q. - How do you see the heavy metal scene nowadays? Do you keep interest on what "Satan" has been releasing lately?

Mike - I take a look every now and again to see what the lads are doing but I don’t really keep up with the metal scene anyone to be honest.

Q. - So what are you doing these days? Do you still play in any band? Tell us a bit about it please.

Mike - No I joined a couple of bands but it didn’t work out so I went into cabaret to make my living. I don’t sing anymore just DJing, photography work and various promotions and different entertainment.

Q. - Looking back in time, did you have some fun with Satan and Pariah, do you miss those days?

Mike - I had some of the best days of my life with the lads. It’s quite scary to see how many years have just disappeared it’s almost like a life time ago and another person who sang on the albums lol.

Q. - How do you want to end up this interview? Anything more you want to say?

Mike - Thank you for asking the question as it’s such a long time ago and is still quite strange when people are still interested in what has to be said.

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!