Mick Thomson

Mick Thomson

Mickael "Mick Thomson" Gordon Thomson, sometimes known as #7, is an American musician, best known as being the rhythm guitarist and lead guitarist for the Grammy award winning heavy metal band Slipknot.

Biography

Thomson joined Slipknot in 1996, replacing the band's guitarist, Craig Jones, who then became the band's sampler.

Thomson expresses his pseudonym, "#7", more than most members of Slipknot. For example, as well as being credited with the number in the liner notes of albums he has recorded, he also has the word "seven" tattooed on his left arm, and features the word "seven" on the designs all of his custom Ibanez guitars, and on all of his Ibanez MTM1's, as well as his signature acoustic by Ovation. Outside Slipknot, Thomson has taught guitar lessons at Ye Olde Guitar Shoppe, a local music shop in Des Moines, up until 1999. And has appeared on Malevolent Creation's album Doomsday X. He also made a guest appearance in the music video for Lupara's "No Pity on the Ants".

Thomson is an avid writer of poetry, loves cats, and has a fascination with serial killers. On the topic of the latter, Thomson himself has stated, "If I were a famous killer, I'd take some of the finer points of quite a few of them- Albert Fish and Ed Gein spring to mind. But I'm not a violent person by nature. Don't fuck with me, and you'll be fine."

Thompson has a number of tattoos on his body: he has the word "嫌惡" on his right arm (which means "detest" and "disgust" in Mandarin and "HATE" in Japanese), the word "Seven" on his left forearm, a "demon attempting to rape an angel" on his shoulder, on his other shoulder a tattoo by Paul Booth, an inverted cross on his upper back, "Slipknot" going down his right calf, and the Zodiac sign for Scorpio on his left calf.

Technique

Thomson commonly employs an extremely fast and accurate alternate picking technique, also implementing pinch harmonics into his work. He also utilizes sweep picking on occasion. He has admitted he found influence in bands such as Racer X, stating that it gave him something to strive for when he was young. He also cites Randy Rhoads as an influence.

Other characteristics in his playing includes tremolo picking passages, and dropped tunings.

Equipment

Guitars

Thomson was a long time player and endorsee of B.C. Rich Guitars until late 2004, and he had previously designed a signature model with this company based on their Warlock model.

In 2004, Thomson moved to Ibanez, with whom he designed his own Ibanez MTM1 and MTM2 Signature Models. The MTM1 is a higher priced model, which features a mahogany body with a fixed Edge bridge, jumbo frets, custom "seven" inlay, black hardware, reversed headstock, and active Seymour Duncan Blackout humbuckers. It is available in black or blood red finishes, while the MTM2 is a more affordable version. It features Seymour Duncan Active HB105 MT pickups, and has no inlays.

Thomson also has a signature Ovation acoustic/electric guitar, labeled the MT37. It features a textured black finish, Thomson's signature seven inlay, a custom ultra-thin neck, a deep contour body with spruce top and rounded bowl back, OP Pro preamp, and Ovation's High Output pickup.

Mick Thomson's current tour guitars include:

• Ovation MT37-5 Signature Acoustic
• Ibanez MTM1 - Black with white binding
• Ibanez MTM1 - Red with black binding
• Ibanez MTM1 - White with black binding
• Ibanez MTM Prototype - Black with white binding (features a standard headstock, instead of the reversed headstock of the MTM1)
• Ibanez MTM Custom - Green with black pickguard & black binding; features and EMG single coil between the Blackout humbuckers
• Ibanez Tele Custom - Telecaster-style body; vintage sunburst with passive Seymour Duncan pickups (JB in bridge and Classic Stack in neck)
• Custom Shop BC Rich Warlock - Mahogany body, maple neck through with binding all around the body, neck and headstock, and HATE inlays 2nd-5th fret and MICK inlay on 12th fret.
• Custom Shop BC Rich Bich - Arch top, maple neck through mahogany body construction with white binding with HATE inlays 2nd-5th fret and MICK inlay on 12th fret.

• Unofficial Markmax Signature - Mahogany body, maple neck, neck-through construction, Seymour Duncan Blackout pickups, and black hardware. Manufactured in White and Black. Only 5 manufactured.

Pickups

• Seymour Duncan

• ABH-3 Blackouts EMTY Mick Thomson Signature models
• ABH-1 Blackouts Neck and Bridge set
• JB
• Classic Stack

• EMG

• 81
• 60
• 89

Picks

• Black Dunlop Nylon Jazz lll picks
• Black Dunlop Carbon Fiber MAX Grip Jazz III picks

Amplification

Thomson currently uses his signature Rivera KR-7 amp model and its matching speaker cabinet.

Effects

To avoid problems with pedals being damaged during live performances, Thomson keeps his effect pedals in a rack along with his amplifiers and his tech controls them through a pedalboard sidestage. The pedal controller allows him to change between different effect pedals and amplifiers. He also uses a FURMAN voltage regulator to power, protect and stabilize his system.

• Boss GT-Pro Effects Processor
• Boss NS-2 noise suppressor
• Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner
• Electro-Harmonix Bass Balls
• Foppstar custom overdrive 'customized Ibanez ts808 tubescreamer'
• GCX Audio Switcher

• Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Octave Fuzz
• Dunlop Carbon Copy Delay/Reverb
• Dunlop Custom Shop Rack Wah
• Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro floorboard
• Voodoo Lab Pedal Power II Plus
• Audio-Technica Wireless System (x2)

(used in Iowa only)

• DigiTech Synth Wah
• DigiTech Whammy
• Boss MD-2 mega distortion
• DigiTech Tone Driver

Discography

Main article: Slipknot discography

With Slipknot 1999: Slipknot 2001: Iowa 2004: Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses) 2005: 9.0: Live 2008: All Hope Is Gone

Other appearances 2007: Doomsday X (Malevolent Creation)

Filmography

• 1999: Welcome to Our Neighborhood
• 2002: Disasterpieces
• 2002: Rollerball
• 2006: Voliminal: Inside the Nine
• 2008: Nine: The Making of "All Hope Is Gone"
• 2009: Of the (sic): Your Nightmares, Our Dreams
• 2010: (sic)nesses