I want to echo what I've said elsewhere.
The loss of Michael has devastated my wife and I. Its not just because Mike was one of the very first people to start playing my guitars but because he had become an incredible friend to the both of us. Mike and his entire band are some of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. My favorite couple stories:
It was my birthday a few years back and I finally reached that age when your birthday doesn't really matter to anyone else any more. It was hot in the shop, long day of everything I worked on fighting me (when I really just wanted to be out fishing or something fun lol) and the only person who called was my car insurance agents secretary lol... except Mike. Mike called me, just before going on stage for a show to wish me a happy birthday and to tell me about some amp he had just found in town that day. LOL
We talked often and at length about guitars, music ect. My wife joked that Mike's wife would just hand Mike the phone when he started to talk about guitars to her!
Last time we saw them, Mike and the entire band went out of their way to make both my extended family feel like part of their family before and after the show. It was something I'm beyond grateful to too this day.
We are going to miss him immensely. We were so excited to see him in 3 weeks and give him his newest guitar (a V in red metal flake). :*(