Michael Guy Chislett

Michael Guy Chislett
Chislett in 2024
Chislett in 2024
Background information
Born (1982-04-06) 6 April 1982 (age 42)
Skipton, Victoria, Australia
GenresContemporary Christian, rock, alternative rock, indie rock
Occupations
  • Musician
  • record producer
  • songwriter
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1996–present
Labels
Websitehillsong.com/united/

Michael Guy Chislett (born 6 April 1982) is an Australian musician and producer. He is the lead guitarist and founding member of the Christian worship band Hillsong United and was the lead guitarist of the rock band the Academy Is...[1]

Career

Hillsong United

Chislett has played guitar on all Hillsong United albums excluding Look to You (2005) and Aftermath: Live in Miami (2012). These albums include 2019's People and 2015's Empires, for which he was also the album's producer.

In the United States, People sold 107,000 equivalent album units in its opening week, debuting at No. 2 on the mainstream Billboard 200 chart (dated 2 May).[2] Being their third top ten appearance on Billboard 200, the album is the highest ranking appearance for Hillsong United on the chart, beating out the No. 5 debuts by 2015's Empires and 2013's Zion, while breaking their best sales week record, formerly held by Empires. People registered at No. 1 on Billboard's Christian albums chart,[3] and won the Dove Award for 2019 Worship Album of year.[4]

In 2013, Chislett came back to Hillsong United full-time to produce the 2013 album Zion. He then became current full-time touring member and producer for Hillsong United.

The Academy Is... (2007–2011)

Chislett was the lead guitarist of Chicago rock band the Academy Is..., replacing Tom Conrad in late 2006.[5] He played and co-wrote music for the albums Santi and Fast Times at Barrington High.

Butch Walker

Prior to joining the Academy Is..., Chislett played in Butch Walker's band. He toured with Walker in 2005 and 2006. He appeared on the studio album The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and the Let's-Go-Out-Tonites and the live DVD Live at Budokan.

Other projects

Chislett wrote music and played guitar in the band 1969, whose line-up is completed by Butch Walker and drummer Darren Dodd (The Let's-Go-Out-Tonites, Electric South). The band's debut album, Maya, was released on 1 April 2008.[6]

Chislett also played guitar in Pistol Youth with Brad Carter from Steriogram. Pistol Youth's Smiling can backfire EP was released digitally in early 2008.[7]

Chislett played guitar for Brooke Fraser's Flags tour and is featured on her music video "Coachella".

Chislett has his own production company, Skipton Productions, Inc., which was established in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2008.[citation needed]

Personal life

Chislett was born on 6 April 1982 in Skipton, Victoria, a small country town in Australia. Most of his family later moved to Sydney, where he attended Cherrybrook Technology High School. He dropped out in Year 10 to spend more time on music. In 2003, he moved to London with Newcastle band Paperadio. A few months later he moved to Los Angeles.[8]

He is married to Naomi and they have two children, Elliott (born 2014) and Ruby (born 2016).[9][10][11]

Music gear

Discography

As a producer

As a guitarist

Videography

References

  1. ^ "Meet the Band - Hillsong Movie". Hillsong: Let Hope Rise Official Website. Where Feet May Fail, LLC. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard Music. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  3. ^ "United's 'People' Breaks Records". The Christian Beat. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Dove Award Winners 2019". Dove Awards. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  5. ^ "The New Academy Is Guitarist". Jason Tate, absolutepunk.net. 5 January 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  6. ^ "Album MAYA by 1969 is coming out on April Fools Day". 1969 Myspace. 27 March 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  7. ^ "Smiling can backfire ep... now on iTunes". Brad Carter. 24 February 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  8. ^ "About Me - Michael Guy". Myspace. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  9. ^ "Michael Guy Chislett on Instagram: "I haven't spent many Valentines Days at home since being married! Happy Valentines Day @naomichislett"". Instagram. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Michael Guy Chislett on Instagram: "I would like to introduce my son Elliott Guy Chislett"". Instagram. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Michael Guy Chislett on Instagram: "It's nice to see my kids getting along already! Ruby Coco Chislett was born a few hours ago, 9lbs!"". Instagram. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  12. ^ "Cusack Music Artist Page". Cusack Music. Retrieved 23 March 2020.