{"id":2494,"date":"2020-10-07T13:10:06","date_gmt":"2020-10-07T13:10:06","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2020-11-18T03:36:06","modified_gmt":"2020-11-18T03:36:06","slug":"mike-botello-is-this-the-last-hurrah-d52","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/07\/mike-botello-is-this-the-last-hurrah-d52\/","title":{"rendered":"MIKE BOTELLO: Is This The Last Hurrah?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that Mike Botello (frontman for the ’80s prog metal band Awake) has been working on what could possibly be his last metal album. The album, Indigenous<\/span>, is finally finished and should release in January. We caught up with Mike to get the skinny on what’s been going on with him the last couple of years as he put this masterpiece together.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

What first got you into music?\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

I have always had an interest in music from as far back as I can remember. By the time I was able to hold something, I was making beats and rhythms. My father was a professional musician; very active in my early years. I remember being very young, standing with my mother, or her holding me, while I watched my father perform from back stage looking off from the side of the stage. At that time, my father was heavily affiliated with the Austin music scene, playing large events, opening up for artists like Sonny and Cher, Willie Nelson and many Latin artists. My father is a sax player and during the 50’s through the 70’s, horns were a big deal, and my father was primed for the job. He was very much in demand as he played with many groups and artists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

As time went on, I became very intrigued with the entire scene \u2013 the lights, the stage, the crowds, all the attention. It was great, being so young and exposed to behind-the-scenes and everything that made a gig, or show, I immediately took to the drums because, drumming was so very natural for me from as early as I can remember. I didn’t wake up one day and decided that I wanted to play the drums, I already knew I could play. So, as early as 5 years of age, I was playing with the drummers my father played with and sitting in for segments at a time during rehearsals. This eventually led to me playing live and in front of an audience. I don’t remember where I played live for the first time, but I do remember being extremely nervous and my mother was coaching and consoling me. So, around age 5, or so, I experienced what it was like to be the center of attention; and because I was so young, everyone marveled at me. I’m not so sure if that was a good thing, or not…\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Give us a brief history of your musical career.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

I would say my career started, professionally, around age 10. Some of the groups my father was affiliated with began asking if I could play with them. Now, to my amazement, my parents actually agreed and I began playing a couple of gigs here and there. I would get paid anything from $40 to $100 bucks a gig. Not bad for a tween (laughs). This went on for a few summers. I was young, so, I couldn’t be full-time. By the time I was around 11 or 13, I was asked to play at the Silver Bird Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Now, this was, totally, a “right place at the right time” moment (laughs).<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

During this time, garage bands were huge and not all of them were good. (laughs) This is when I met my older brothers’ childhood acquaintance Robert Moreno, a.k.a. Rob Battalion, drummer for Awake. I was an 11-year-old kid riding my bike around the neighborhood when I heard off to the distance, a band playing ‘The Spirit of Radio’ off Permanent Waves<\/span> by Rush. You see, by this time, Moving Pictures<\/span> was released and the whole Neil Peart saga had begun for me; so, to hear this coming from a garage caught my attention. This led to me forming my first group by age 14. We called ourselves Revelation. Eventually, this led me into the Austin metal scene, which, landed me my first \u201cshowcase\u201d experience with a local band called Assalant, fronted by lead vocalist Mike Soliz. Assalant – it\u2019s misspelled intentionally \u2013 recorded a demo with Jason McMaster \u2013 (of Watch Tower and Dangerous Toys \u2013 which eventually led us to Mike Soliz \u2013 lead vocalist for Austin-based prog metal band Militia. From there, this led me to forming a band where my heart truly was; this band was called Awake. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

How did you come to Jesus?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

When I was in Jr. High School, I had an English teacher who took an interest in me, and she began to mentor me. This English teacher led me to Christ. I was so lost and confused, as most adolescent children are. From not knowing; to, all of a sudden, I was on fire for the Lord! Thus, the reason I named my first band Revelation. Of course, growing up in a non-Christian environment led me back into the world after Jr. High, but, the Lord definitely had His hand on me because, I truly went to the extreme after my first experience with the Lord. After all this, coming to the Lord at age 14, getting involved in the local heavy metal scene \u2013 a polarity \u2013 you could say there was some \u201cSpiritual Warfare\u201d occurring\u2026 (laughs)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Long story short, I lost everything. My parents had divorced, we lost my childhood home. I was, literally, living in a storage shed and lo and behold, Jesus came to visit me… It wasn\u2019t long after this I formed Awake, my first \u201ctrue\u201d Christian band. Awake also proved to be the most productive band I had been in; releasing my first album titled Spiritual Warfare<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Tell me more about your conversion experience. How did Jesus visit you? One-on-one? How physical or mystical was it? What did you think? How hesitant were\u00a0 you to \u201cthrow in\u201d and join the King?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Well, after losing everything, my friends, my parents divorcing, my home, I found myself alone one Saturday night, in a small apartment my father had provided for me temporarily, trying to figure out what I was going to do. I really was clueless. I had graduated from high school a few months back and I was trying to figure how I was going to overcome everything that had just happened to me. Not too long after this moment is when I wrote the song “Only the Strong Survive.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The only person I was acquainted with at the time, was an older guy by the name of Jesse Villegas. Jesse had been playing with one of my childhood friends; in a band that never really made it out of the garage. At first, we had become friends and, due to the fact that my childhood buddy decided to join the Navy, that left Jesse without anyone to jam with. I know this sounds rather depressing. Despite everything that had happened to me, I was determined to make it no matter what!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

As time went on, Jesse began to witness to me. This was the guy who played with the mighty Militia, the local heavy metal band that grew to be very popular \u2013 them, along with another local group called Watch Tower. I never expected Jesse, of all people, to be a Christian, but he was and thank the Lord for that. This leads us back to being alone in my apartment one Saturday night.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

I was sitting alone on the floor. I was, let\u2019s just say, broken. I couldn\u2019t bare it any longer. The witnessing Jesse was doing brought me back to when I was 14 years old getting baptized at Allendale Baptist church in North Austin, reminiscing and pondering of that time and everything my English teacher, Ms. Martinez, had told me. I really believed and gave my heart to Jesus then, and my childhood buddy that I referred to earlier, was with me at the time. We both received the Lord together.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The TV was on flickering in the background with no channel tuned in, just white static. Then, out of nowhere, a preacher by the name of R.W. Schambach came on the screen! He just popped on after nothing but white fuzz was on the screen; and this so happened to be the preacher Jesse had told me about \u2013 This \u2018old school\u2019 preacher came on the screen and was shouting, \u201cAre you alone? Have all your friends abandoned you? Does your bank account show double zero? JESUS IS YOUR ANSWER!!!” At that moment I collapsed and Jesus touched me! There was no physical appearance of the sort, but I knew He was there and, my tears of sorrow, was like taking an \u2018Alka-Seltzer\u2019 after having really bad indigestion. Relief. Ahhh! (laughs). Yes, in all seriousness, the Lord had come to comfort me and to let me know that everything was going to be alright\u2026\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

How did you grow in Christ? What were your next several steps? How did that go?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After this experience, I knew the Lord had called Jesse and I together. I shared this with Jesse, his mother prayed over us and we were off to the races. Jesse began working with me and we were on our way to recording my first \u2018solo\u2019 demo project. I no longer had a band that I was playing with, so I decided to become a solo artist. As we began working together, my relationship with Jesse grew strong. We grew together and for the first time in my life, I truly began walking with the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Ruby was your girlfriend in high school, right? She was your girlfriend BC (before Christ). How did you lead her to Christ? How did that go?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Ruby and I went to school together since the 6th grade, but we never knew each other. We shared a lot of the same friends, but we never crossed paths. It wasn\u2019t until I was coming to the end of my demo project that this occurred. I was temporarily, staying with a friend whose girlfriend was friends with a friend of Ruby \u2013 as I was moving from place to place because I literally was homeless. I remember waking up and stumbling into the kitchen one Saturday morning, when I saw my friend\u2019s girlfriend with two of her friends. This is when we met for the first time. You could say I wasn\u2019t at my best, but we connected. After this, Ruby had asked my friend\u2019s girlfriend about me and she said, \u201cYou don\u2019t want to have anything to do with that guy,\u201d and her other friend agreed! (laughs) Needless to say, neither of us reached out to each other after that incident; until about, a few months later, we crossed paths again. This time it was through a mutual friend. Long story short, we hooked up and we started dating. As we were dating, I began to witness to Ruby and the rest was history. Thirty years later, we have 3 children and 1 grandchild together\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

You formed Awake shortly after your conversion. How did you recruit the other guys? Tell me about Jesse and Rob.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The previous question explains how Jesse and I met. I knew Rob growing up. Rob was close to my older brother\u2019s age; they were in marching band together and I would always hear Rob, down the street, practicing. I knew he was good just by hearing him. When Jesse and I recorded my demo, I was doing everything except for lead guitar. I knew I couldn\u2019t just find any drummer to do what we were doing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

I was hanging out one night, at the Back Room, a rock club in Austin, and it was there that I ran into Rob. When we recognized each other, we began to talk and he was telling me about a band he was playing with that had a female vocalist. I knew Rob would be perfect for what we were doing, but selling Rob \u2026 I knew would be a challenge. Rob had a lot of pride, and rightfully so, the dude was good! After a few back and fourths, I finally got Rob to agree to, \u2018just\u2019 come jam with us. When the band he was playing with found out he was doing this, they got upset with him and Rob decided to play with us, something along those lines anyway (laughs). \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

What were the early days of Awake like? Tell me about your career with Awake (list highlights, challenges, etc.)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Once Rob came into the scene, we needed a bass player, and so the saga continues. We went through bass player after bass player after bass player after bass player. You get the picture. During all this, we managed to get accepted into the 2nd SXSW showcase in 1989. We found a bass player just in time and we were ready for the debut of \u201cBotello.” Well, the showcase was a disaster. The bass player we had was a guy from New York with a serious \u2018New York\u2019 attitude. He and the sound guy had it out and, let\u2019s just say, we didn\u2019t have any record label interest afterwards. After all this, it was back to the drawing board.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The three of us realized that it was \u2018us\u2019 and it was going to be just \u2018us,\u2019 but we still needed a bass player. Hmmm… After trying to figure out ways to play without a bassist, I woke up one day and decided that I was going to take on the role of the bass. Since I wasn\u2019t going to be \u2018a front man who just sings,\u2019 we decided to \u2018band’ together and become a group; Thus, Awake was formed. During all this, my demo was seriously being considered by a South Texas independent label in the \u2018Latin\u2019 genre, wanting to expand to the \u2018English\u2019 speaking market. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

What happened next? How\/why did Awake dissolve? Where did music take you next?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

In the fall of ’89 we began the process of recording our first album. We were playing shows at the local rock club, The Back Room and managed to open up for a few road acts. In 1990, we released our first and only album as a group, Spiritual Warfare<\/span>. Prior to the release when we became a \u2018band,\u2019 things began to change. I seemed to have lost the original vision I had and felt like I was losing control of what I was called to do. I found myself in the role of \u2018compromise\u2019 and it seemed I was going one direction and Jesse and Rob were going another; Actually, we were each going in our own direction. The fact that we were a \u201cChristian Band\u201d and the pressures that came with it, seemed to divide us and allowed us to lose sight of what we were trying to accomplish. When I got engaged to my wife, this is when it really began to shift.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

During the mastering phase of the album, the Lord spoke to me and began to challenge me. \u201cYou cannot serve two masters,\u201d the Lord would tell me. It came down to a very serious choice between the Lord and the \u2018idol\u2019 known as \u2018music\u2019. So, I decided to take a \u2018sabbatical\u2019 \u2013 a \u2018recharge\u2019 if you will. I never intended for \u2018Awake\u2019 to permanently dissolve, but when I decided to do this, Rob Battalion, evidently, saw this as permanent and had no plans of ever reuniting. It\u2019s sad in a way because, the album had gained much momentum. We were getting letters from people all over the world, and even to this day, Spiritual Warfare<\/span> remains my biggest selling album to date; and, to think we never toured, or promoted this album with a live act. I can only imagine what it would have been like had we kept it going; probably for the worse, because we definitely would have been out of the Lord\u2019s will, had I not listened to Him. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Let\u2019s deviate for a minute. What are your musical influences? How influential was the band Rush? Why? What about them intrigued you? What other bands were big in influencing you artistically?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oh my, yes. Rush! This band touched me at a very young age. In the beginning, when I started to play drums along to my records in my room at my parents\u2019 home, I was playing along to bands like Kiss, Queen, Heart, Chicago, AC-DC, The Scorpions and then came Phil Collins and Genesis. Then, came Rush! This changed my perspective completely! Nobody was doing what Rush was doing! After hearing and learning Rush, I realized there was no other band like them. They were so high on the scale of awesome, that I wanted to be like them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

There is no other rock band that has influenced me like Rush. To be honest, most \u201cRock\u201d bands were not really that good. Of course, there was Iron Maiden, but not even them, as great as they are, enters the sole realm of greatness known as RUSH! I knew and believed, that if you wanted to be respected as a musician, you needed to go above and beyond the mainstream \u2013 coming from a musician\u2019s perspective that is and not from the average music lover. Gene Simmons of Kiss, said it best, \u201cWhat kind of a band is Rush? It\u2019s RUSH!\u201d You just cannot compare them to anyone else. I don\u2019t go to concerts, but I have been to at least 1 to 12 shows of every tour they\u2019ve had since Signals <\/span>in 1982, up to their last tour, R-40<\/span>, in 2015; totaling to at least, 75 plus shows since 1982. I haven\u2019t counted, but I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if I have been to 100 shows. No other band is worthy\u2026 \ud83d\ude0a<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

My other musical influences would have to fall in the category of Jazz\/Fusion. I\u2019m really into Chic Corea, Bela Fleck and The Flecktones. Victor Wooten, Steve Smith and Vital Information, and Michael Brecker, just to name a few. I find myself listening to this more than anything these days. I am truly into the \u2018art\u2019 and \u2018craftiness\u2019 of music; total skill and creativity\u2026\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

If you haven\u2019t done so already in previous questions, tell us about moving to Nashville, attempting to make something bigger with your music. How\u2019d that go? Tell us about your friendships there and your ongoing friendships.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Yes. I moved to Nashville in 1999. Since the end of Awake in ’92, I had decided to focus on being a husband and raising a family. I hadn\u2019t really done much musically during this time. I was doing some studio work and was a \u2018hired gun\u2019 for the group my father was working with, along with several others. This, after all, was what the Lord had told me to do\u2026 My oldest son was born in \u201993, then came my second son in ’97.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

By this time, I had developed a fairly successful lawn care business; and, as the years went by, I felt like I was losing time. My good friend and, semi business partner, Philip Owens, had done some things with a band known as One Bad Pig. We worked together regularly and he would tell me about the things happening with him. I was really happy for him and their success. I began to wonder if I was ever going to do anything. It was at this point I remembered, that a mutual friend of ours had moved to Nashville around the time my oldest son was born. Most of my \u2018circle of musical acquaintances\u2019 were connected to \u201cthe music city\u201d in one way, shape, or form; and I knew, that if I was going to become something \u2018somewhat\u2019 significant, it wasn\u2019t going to happen in Austin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

After deciding to move to Nashville in ’99, I met the most important musician in my career. He was a young lad fresh out of high school (sound familiar?) who was clueless and trying to find himself. He was a young guitarist by the name of Jason Barrett. Since we\u2019ve met, Jason has been a very pivotal and an extremely important part of my music career and musical direction\/influence. We now have a total of 7 albums combined together; along with a few demo projects and several live gigs. We were busy boys from 1999 \u2013 2006! This was definitely a positive shift ‘musically’ for me. I was away from the \u2018dreaded\u2019 Texas heat of never-ending summers, arid dry landscapes and I actually got to experience what it was like to live in an environment that actually had a \u2018real\u2019 winter! I have never been fond of the hot weather in Texas (laughs). To this day, Jason and I still work together, as he is in more of a ‘management\/executive’ role and promotion for me. I really couldn’t have done it without him, not at this level, at least…\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Tell us about all your albums. Describe each one, where it fits in your canon of music. How you feel about each one, stories while making it, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

My first was Awake \u2013 Spiritual Warfare<\/i>. the second was my first debut \u2018solo\u2019 release, A Timeless State<\/span>. This album, I would say, is the one album that is closest to \u2018left field\u2019 in genre, compared to the others. This one is more acoustic-based borderline folk, and, you can definitely hear the \u201cNashville\u201d influence on this one; a good album nonetheless, just not what you would necessarily, expect from me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

My third album is The Rule of Law<\/span>. This one leans more towards my heavier influence, as I wanted to return to my \u2018foundation\u2019 of hard rock. This was a fun one; you can hear how both Jason and I had developed and grew together as musicians and in production. I seemed to be getting back to who I was as an artist. Jason and I both have fond memories doing this one; and the many winter days and nights with snow falling looking out the window as we were recording. Kind of reminiscent of RUSH Moving Pictures<\/span> in \u2018Le Studio\u2019 with the snow in the back ground. (“Tom Sawyer” and “Red Barchetta” music videos)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

My fourth album is A Botello Christmas<\/span>. This one includes my father and my brother, both on the saxophone. (This one is not a \u2018ROCK\u2019 album by any means. My father and my brother are \u2018Jazz\/Latin and Contemporary players) I wanted them to experience what I had in Nashville, and I was able to have them come to Nashville and record an album together. All my albums, except Spiritual Warfare<\/span> were recorded in Nashville. This would had never of happened had I remained in Austin. Nor would I have met Jason Barrett. Definitely a true highlight in my musical career. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Tell us about this new one. How are you making it? What is influencing it (musically \u2013 and lyrically)?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Yes. The new album will be called Indigenous<\/span>. I would say, that this is the most powerful album I have ever done. When I say \u2018powerful,\u2019 I mean not just in musical style, this includes the subject matter, \u2018spiritually\u2019 and, this has been the most difficult and the most amount of time it took in making it. This album was very \u2018pain staking\u2019 in the process. Yes, we had our \u2018fun\u2019 moments, but for the most part, it was a very \u2018lonely\u2019 album. Personally, many trials and \u2018tribulations\u2019 took place when I moved back to Texas in ’06. I had allowed myself to \u2018fall off track,\u2019 if you will. Thus, the \u2018heaviness\u2019 in nature. It truly took an \u2018intervention\u2019 of the Lord to get me to where I am today. I wasn\u2019t sure if I was ever going to record again after moving back to Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

I began writing this album shortly before moving back to Texas. The preliminary stages were done in Nashville, but the rest was done in my home studio in Texas. At the time of its inception, I was dealing with some heavy personal issues. My close childhood friend, which I referred to back when I was talking about how I met Jesse Villegas, had committed suicide, my mother was dealing with an illness that took her life in 2013 and I lost Jesse Villegas in 2016. This led me to question many of the things I was doing and why I should continue doing them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

I received a vision, along with several dreams, revealing the current state of affairs\u00a0\u2013 both personally and at a national and global level. Let\u2019s just say, I was given a deeper sense of what is to come, which came with a warning. \u201cNow is the time to prepare and get right with the Lord. It is time for the church to wake up, repent and stop being lukewarm.\u201d The Laodicean Church age from Revelation, Chapter 3:19. I created a story, a parable of sorts, piecing everything together as it was revealed to me, only not in a direct manner, but fictional in character. I have always been intrigued with \u2018end time\u2019 ministry and the book of Revelation, along with the prophets of the bible and now, the book of Enoch. Let\u2019s just say I have been \u2018enlightened.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

With this came what is now quoted at the end of this album; a \u2018completion\u2019 if you will, of a chapter, linking all the album titles together that has been created through me. (This quote was divinely given to me. This is not something I made up.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Here it is: \u201cTime is but a measure, the beginning and the end, a context of life; A \u201cSpiritual Warfare\u201d that is bound to \u201cA Timeless State,\u201d never governed by \u201cThe Rule of Law,\u201d ever focused on the \u201cIndigenous\u201d inhabitants of the earth, the spiritual battle ground; Time is for Mankind\u2026\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

You mentioned that this might be it for you. This is your last hoorah. Why? What are your thoughts on that?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Well, it is definitely the end of a chapter. The style, or genre of music that is to come? I don\u2019t know. I just know that what started 30 years ago has now come to an end. I do plan to make another album with my father and my brother; It\u2019ll be a jazz\/fusion album and after that, a possible \u2018worship\u2019 album with hints of the hard rocker in me. I just know that I will not make another album in the style of the previous, at least, not in that direct style \u2018end of the age\u2019 subject matter. Indigenous <\/span>was a difficult album; it took a lot out of me. I just know I\u2019m ready to take it easy for a while. Whatever the Lord has in store is what I will do; Not my will, but Thy will be done…<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Anything else you want to share?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Thank you for being you and a big thank you to Heaven\u2019s Metal Magazine<\/span>! HM <\/span>was pivotal in launching my career 30 years ago; and, for that I am grateful\u2026\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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