The Michael Messer Band was formed in 1985 and they cut their first album, Diving Duck,in 1987 which received some fantastic reviews.
In 1999, Messer went to Alberta to record with Canadian guitarist Doug Cox. One of Cox’s songs from the sessions, Cold When I’m Dead, which features Messer playing electric slide guitar, can be heard in the soundtrack of the Terry Gilliam movie, Tideland.
In 2001 Messer released King Guitar, a compilation album comprising of sixteen tracks from his back catalog. The album received critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, it reached number one in the US Living Blues chart and in May 2001 was the most played album on US college radio. One prominent American reviewer described Messer as “an unavoidable force in modern blues” and commented that “King Guitar has met a new century with style, grace and a new colourful direction for the music”.
Second Mind, recorded and released in 2002 followed the widespread success of King Guitar.This highly anticipated and critically acclaimed album featured Messer’s regular band, plus the great Ruby Turner on backing vocals. DJ Louie Genis came back into the fold and this time instead of working on one or two tracks, he cut loose and played on the whole album, creating a sound that was both totally contemporary and very traditional. The albumwon the Best Blues Guitar Album at the 2003 International Guitar Federation awards, beating other nominees including Chris Rea, Sonny Landreth and Eric Bibb.
On ‘Second Mind’, Michael delivered a set of recordings that stretch across the musical landscape. Deeply rooted in and inflected with the blues, the album incorporates a rich and diverse texture of different styles that appeal to an array of musical tastes.
Messer signed to Cooking Vinyl in 2005 and released his eighth album, Lucky Charms, in February 2006. Recorded and mixed the old way with no digital trickery or computers,just reels of tape, live performances, an old mixing desk and a lot of patience. The album features ten original songs. Louie Genis, by this time very much a part of the Messer sound, was scratching and texturing with loops, old vinyl and homemade samples, and the music had a more acoustic feel to it than Second Mind. Ed Genis played rhythm guitar, Richard Causon on keyboards, Jerry Soffe on bass, Simon Price played drums, and of course Michael Messer sang and played slide guitar. Lucky Charms sold worldwide and garnered some fantastic reviews. With tour dates, festival appearances and live sessions for many radio stations during the following years, Michael Messer has become known worldwide for his unique sounding band, Michael Messer & the Second Mind Band.
2007 also saw the release of the National Debt album, 'From the Horse's Mouth'. The album was featured on Mark Lamarr's BBC Radio 2 show and received great reviews from the British music press. In July of 2007, along with the Campbell Brothers and Debashish Bhattacharya, Michael Messer was one of three featured slide guitarists at the Cognac Blues Passions Festival. Also in 2007 Michael Messer & BJ Cole debuted their steel & slide guitar show 'That Sliding Sound' at the International Guitar Festival of Great Britain.
2008 marked 25 years of Michael Messer & Ed Genis playing together as a duo. The year featured an amazing run of sell-out UK & European tour dates.
2008 was also the year that Michael Messer stepped into another area of the industry and launched his own brand of resonator guitars. True to form and always breaking the mould, Michael's venture into the guitar industry is very unusual among recording artists. The Michael Messer 'MM' range of resonator guitars have become brand leaders in the acoustic resonator guitar market around the world.
In 2009 Michael Messer and blues legend, Louisiana Red, toured the UK. The tour was a sell-out and was highly praised by the music press. The concerts were just the two musicians playing as a duo and showed Messer in a whole different setting. Instead of leading the music, Michael was the accompanist and 'glue' that held the whole thing together. Many compliments were paid to the duo's incredible performances, but especially to Messer's masterful understanding of the music and his superb accompaniment skills.
2010 featured another Michael Messer & Ed Genis tour around the UK and Europe. They played a string of very successful shows at some of the UK's leading venues.
For the past couple of years Michael Messer has toured the UK and Europe and has been involved in various recording projects, including playing on BJ Cole's album, 'Transparent Music 2'. This year, 2012, has seen the re-release of National Avenue and the inclusion of eight of Messer's tracks on Cooking Vinyl compilation albums.Michael is currently producing a debut album for singer/songwriter, Lucy Zirins. The Second Mind Band and the acoustic duo continue to sell out venues and play at festivals worldwide. Michael Messer is firmly established as one of the world's leading slide guitarists and blues innovators.
Michael Messer’s significance as a blues artist is further confirmed by his inclusion in "The Virgin Encyclopaedia of the Blues.” Messer’s name appears alongside many of the blues ‘greats’ who influenced his playing.