Michael Robert Todd was born and raised in Woodstock, NY, the town that became a household word across the globe in 1969 when a Music Festival there changed a generation, and possibly the world.

Ever since, the entire Ulster County area embraced and had a large emphasis on music. So many famous musicians visited or made it their home, that music is a part of the fabric of the community, just like baseball or the church might be in others.  Impromptu jam sessions happen like pick up basketball games, and music is played in the city center as well as coffee shops and farmers’ markets.

Therefore growing up with this rich tradition of bohemia and hippiedom, Michael was growing up to be what you might call a music nerd.  Baggy dungarees, dreadlocks and a knitted cap, he immersed himself at a young age in a diet of Dylan, Coltrane, Clapton, Prince and the Police.  He also gorged on newer rock bands of the era such as Sunny Day Real Estate, Jane's Addiction, Primus, Blind Melon, and Hum.

In his early teens, he obsessed to learn every major instrument.  Playing guitar, stand up bass and percussion for the Onteora High School band, and joining NYSSMA, and competing regionally.

While in a Music Theory class at OHS (seriously, how many high Schools have a music theory class?), Mike befriended a local drummer who introduced him to Claudio Sanchez and asked him to join their band, Shabutie. Mike would be asked to put down his guitar and focus on the bass and, not surprisingly, he thrived on the instrument.

Mike continued to breathe in Woodstock, being influenced and jamming with local artists the area, including members of Dave Matthews Band, Bad Brains, the Band, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Harvey Sorgen, Jerry Marotta, Charlie Kniceley, and others. Michael even worked as a chef through his teens to support his musical ambitions.

Shabutie began playing out and amassed a small, but passionate following in the Ulster/Rockland county areas, and the band were noticed by seminal indie record label, Equal Vision Records. The label was not a fan however of the band’s name, and the band eventually dropped the Shabutie moniker in favor of Coheed and Cambria.

The band grew quickly, touring the country almost immediately after signing, even before the record came out, and Michael was quickly noticed for his bastardized finger picking style that was largely influenced by finger style guitarists such as Ani Difranco, Funk and Jazz bassists like Jaco Pastorius, Sly Stone, and Bootsy Collins to name a few. His playing style jumps between 3 finger plucking and thumb slap techniques with his right hand rarely resting on the bass.  It’s very unique to the bass, and he almost never plays a song exactly the same way twice.
In 2002, Michael signed on to his first endorsement deal with Specter Basses, and in 2003 with Ampeg Amps.  This year, Michael made the official move to Fender basses, where his weapons of choice are a ‘60s American Jazz and ’62 Jazz.

Over the past 6 years, Coheed and Cambria have released 4 albums and 3 live dvds, sold over 2 million records worldwide and toured to over 20 countries, including performing at most of the worlds major music festivals, including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Reading, Download, Rock Am Ring, Pukkelpop, Lowlands and Austin City Limits.  The band is finishing up it’s fifth album and showing no signs of slowing down. 

Despite his busy schedule with Coheed, Michael still finds time to compose songs for his solo project, doing studio work and sitting in whenever he can with funk, rock, and the occasional jazz bands made up of his friends at bars and coffee shops to hone his abilities and broaden his musical horizons.