An in-demand drummer and award-winning, critically acclaimed songwriter, Portland (OR)-based artist Michael Collins fuses his love for original songwriting and eclectic collaboration with his project Rooftop Screamers. Collins' percussive talents have led to sharing the bill with acts like Little Richard, Cheap Trick, Joan Jett, Cake, Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow, George Clinton, Sara Mclachlan, Jason
Falkner, Gin Blossoms, Sebastian Bach, Veruca Salt, Soul Asylum, and many others. Collins was also the featured drummer on Portland’s American Idol knock-off "Gimme The Mic.”
A graduate of the Musicians Institute of Technology, Collins has studied independently with drummers Michael Shrieve (Santana, George Harrison), Zoro (Lenny Kravitz, Sean Lennon), Graham Lear (Santana, REO Speedwagon), and world renowned instructor Chuck Silverman. Collins’ songwriting shows a hooky, melodic pull alongside his percussive talents. He was a runner-up in 2000’s ‘John Lennon Songwriting Contest,’ also taking 2nd place for ‘Song of the Year’ at 2000’s ‘Portland Songwriting Awards.’
A penchant for replay-inducing tracks and nostalgic harmonies was apparent since Collins' emerged as the drummer and founding member of acclaimed Portland band Throwback Suburbia, who released two albums, a self-titled release and Shot Glass Souvenir, in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Rooftop Screamers is Collins’ studio project, showcasing his original songwriting and collaborations with local and world-renowned musicians, singers, and producers. Fans of The Beatles, Queen, David Bowie, Cheap Trick, ELO, and Crowded House are likely to enjoy the project’s blend of power-pop and alternative rock. Rooftop Screamers debuted with 2018 album Vol. 1, featuring collaborations with Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, R.E.M.), Kyle Vincent, and others. Collins used his time in lockdown, as shows and rehearsals were on hold, to record the album. Several of the tracks have already garnered substantial airplay, including from legendary DJ Rodney Bingenheimer on "Little Stevens Underground Garage" on Sirius XM. Showcasing a variety of sounds, from shimmering power-pop to moody rock soundscapes, Next Level touts melodic songwriting and engrossing collaborations throughout, headlined by a variety of impressive artists: Cy Curnin (The Fixx), Tim Smith (Jellyfish, Sheryl Crow), Mark Plati (David Bowie, Prince, The Cure), David Paton (Pilot, Alan Parsons Project), Danny Peyronel (UFO, Heavy Metal Kids), Keith Slettedahl (The 88, Ray Davies), Dan Reed (The Dan Reed Network), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, R.E.M.) Dilana (Rockstar Supernova, The Voice), Kelly LeMieux (Buckcherry) and Gil Assayas (Todd Rundgren).
Among the artists Collins has recorded and/or performed with:
Earl Slick (David Bowie, John Lennon), Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X), Cy Curnin (The Fixx), Tim Smith (Sheryl Crow, Jellyfish), Freedy Johnston (Rolling Stone "Songwriter of the Year”), David Paton (Pilot, Alan Parsons Project ), Lisa Germano (John Mellencamp, Jewel), Danny Peyronel (UFO, Heavy Metal Kids), Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network), Dilana (The Voice, Rockstar Supernova), Gil Assayas (Todd Rundgren, T-Pain), Keith Slettedahl (The 88, Ray Davies) and a who’s who of local artists including Jon Koonce, Norman Sylvester, Terry Robb, Todd Jensen, LaRhonda Steele, Stephanie Schneiderman, The Nowhere Band, Throwback Suburbia, Ants In The Kitchen and many more. Collins has also recorded with acclaimed producers Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, John Lennon, Cheap Trick), Mark Plati (David Bowie, Prince, The Cure), Jonathan Plum (Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains), Marc Desisto (U2, Pink Floyd), Jeff Stuart Saltzman (Death Cab for Cutie), Gregg Williams (Dandy Warhols, Sheryl Crow), Duane Scott (ELO, Heart), Brian David Willis (Brad Paisley, John Fogerty), Chris Manning (Jellyfish, Santana), Kelly Gray (Candlebox, Queensryche), Kevin Hahn (Scorpions, Paul Gilbert) and Rob Daiker (Katy Perry, Dan Reed Network) to name a few.
