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John Michael (pictured above on the left with Celtic hard rockers Bog Iron) is featured in this week's edition of the Weekly. It was difficult to include all the words of the folks he's connected with throughout the years but Bog Iron bandmate Patrick Golden's sentiments were most striking and worth sharing:

I could write many pages about John Michael's importance to the local scene. I've had the pleasure of working with John Michael in several bands, notably Bog Iron. I've played with him in front of hundreds at major venues, and in front of no one but the bartender at the dingiest of dives. And no matter where we are, or who we're playing with, or how much we're getting paid (or NOT getting paid), John is a rock star.

He is a virtuoso vocalist of enormous talent and versatility. I've seen him switch from Frank Sinatra to Jim Morrison to Sublime to Johnny Cash to blistering hardcore vocalizations to some mad, screaming Irish folk tunes to full-fledged Italian opera--all within the same show. And I've seen him improvise his way out of the kind of technical difficulties that would make most musicians crumple--and he does it in a way that makes it look like it's all part of the show--because he is an entertainer, and he does it better than any one I've ever worked with.

He is incredibly supportive of all the local bands here, and goes out of his way to make sure that he attends every show that he can. Because of that, he has a collection of shirts (which he wears to every show!) and CDs from all the local bands. He is a fixture on the scene--and a great friend to many of the local musicians and bands. Everyone knows him, and he is welcome at any show in town. I'm honored to call him a band mate and a friend.

Michael's heart only beats when there is music involved and he'll do anything to keep his heart bumping. Turn it up to 11!