Michael Locher

Michael Locher
Vorph at the Fall of Summer Festival 2016
Vorph at the Fall of Summer Festival 2016
Background information
Also known asVorphalack, Vorph
Born (1969-01-07) 7 January 1969 (age 57)
Sion, Switzerland
GenresIndustrial metal, black metal
OccupationMusician
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years active1987–present
LabelsOsmose, Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Galactical

Michael Locher (born 7 January 1969), also known as Vorphalack or simply Vorph, is a Swiss musician who provides vocals and is a guitarist for the industrial/black metal band Samael.

Biography

Locher was born in Sion. He co-founded Samael in 1987 with his brother Alexandre (also known as "Xytras" or "Xy") on drums. Locher's musical influences include Celtic Frost, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Venom, Bathory and early Possessed. He particularly points to Bathory as a source of inspiration for vocals:

Quorthon from Bathory for the vocals I think was a big influence. To me, at that time, he was probably the guy who pushed the boundaries the furthest in terms of that style of music.

— Michael Locher a.k.a. Vorph

His guitar is a customized ESP Viper with Ernie Ball guitar strings, Boss GT pro, Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier. During Samael's black metal period, Vorph (then called Vorphalack) played a Jackson King V guitar too. During the Passage era Vorph played a black Jackson Kelly.

Vorph stated in an interview with Dutch webzine Lords of Metal that he does not eat junk food and that he is a vegetarian.

References

  1. ↑ "SAMAEL Official Website ++ - Offline". Samael.info. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Morgan, Anthony (21 February 2009). "SAMAEL Frontman: 'We Wanted To Do A More Stripped Down Metal Album'". Blabbermouth.net, Retrieved on 5 August 2009
  3. ↑ "SAMAEL Frontman: 'For Almost The Last Two Years Now, I've Just Listened To Classical Music'". Blabbermouth.net. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  4. ↑ Official Website Vorph's Page
  5. ↑ Ramon (April 2011). "Samael". Lords of Metal. Retrieved 21 May 2016.