{{short description|American musician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = Michael LePond | image = Symphony X-22 (53990059745) (cropped).jpg | landscape = yes | caption = LePond performing with Symphony X in 2024 | image_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels.--> | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = Michael Anthony LePond III | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1966}} | instrument = Bass, backing vocals | genre = Progressive metal | occupation = Musician, songwriter | years_active = 1995–present | label = | associated_acts = Symphony X, Distant Thunder, Dead on Arrival, Rattlebone, Cheap N Nasty, Metal Mike Chlasciak, Sleepy Hollow, Seven Witches, Holy Force, Affector, Mindmaze, Rivera/Bomma, Operatika, Helstar, Epysode, Waken Eyes, The Mike Bino Project, Exxiles | website = | current_members = | past_members = }} '''Michael Anthony LePond III''' (born 1966), is an American musician from Newark, New Jersey.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Hill |first=Gary |title=Biography: Michael Lepond |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p253362|pure_url=yes}} |accessdate=March 20, 2010 |website=Allmusic |publisher=}}</ref> LePond has recorded over 40 albums with various bands and has appeared on over 20 other albums in a guest capacity.
Best known as the current bassist of the progressive metal band Symphony X, LePond joined the band in 1999<ref name=":0" /> and can be heard on all albums since the release of ''V: The New Mythology Suite'' in 2000. He has also worked with a number of bands within the European metal scene, and has released 4 solo albums with Mike LePond's Silent Assassins.
== Biography == In 1979, at the age of 13, LePond attended a Kiss concert in Madison Square Garden, New York.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2011-07-16 |title=-=Symphony X-Official Website=- |url=http://www.symphonyx.com/michael_lepond.html |access-date=2023-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716180932/http://www.symphonyx.com/michael_lepond.html | archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> Upon seeing the performances of Gene Simmons, LePond decided "that's what I wanna do!"<ref name=":1">{{Citation |title=Mike LePond (Symphony X) - Bass Clinic - Live at Wacken World Wide 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQdfycN2G9E |access-date=2023-01-02 |language=en}}</ref> LePond's father soon bought him a Univox bass guitar and a 150 watt amplifier.<ref name=":2" /> LePond took lessons from a jazz musician for approximately one year, learning music theory and sight reading, but did not feel strongly for the genre and instead oped to self-teach.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> LePond was introduced to Rush, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden through friends, and has since cited bassists Geddy Lee, Geezer Butler and Steve Harris as influences to his style of playing.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
In 1999, LePond was introduced to Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo through a mutual friend.<ref name=":1" /> Romeo invited LePond to audition for Symphony X, as the band were in need of a bassist following the departures of Thomas Miller and touring musician Andy DeLuca.<ref name=":1" /> LePond was sent a copy of ''The Divine Wings of Tragedy,'' and was required to learn 3 songs for the audition, later recalling how challenging the material was to learn.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> A second audition was arranged, this time with 2 songs from ''Twilight in Olympus''.<ref name=":2" /> He has gone on to record 5 albums with the band.
In May 2006, LePond was diagnosed with Crohn's disease following hospitalisation for abdominal pain.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2011-07-16 |title=-=Symphony X-Official Website=- |url=http://www.symphonyx.com/news_archives.html |access-date=2023-03-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716175822/http://www.symphonyx.com/news_archives.html | archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> LePond required surgery, causing Symphony X to cancel festival appearances in Spain and Sweden.<ref name=":3" /> On May 31, LePond announced his recovery on Symphony X's website.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{cite web |date=July 20, 2006 |title=Symphony X Bassist Is 'Fully Recovered' After Undergoing Crohn's Disease-Related Surgery |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=55340 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606075557/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=55340 |archivedate=June 6, 2011 |accessdate=March 20, 2010 |website=Blabbermouth |publisher= |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
In 2012, LePond formed progressive metal supergroup Affector with drummer Collin Leijenaar, vocalist Ted Leonard and guitarist Daniel Fries. The band's first album, ''Harmagedon'', was released on May 21. The album includes guest keyboard players Jordan Rudess, Derek Sherinian, Neal Morse and Alex Argento.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/affector-harmagedon-album-samples-artwork-available/|title=Affector: 'Harmagedon' Album Samples |work=Blabbermouth |date=April 19, 2012 }}</ref>
On August 21, 2014, it was announced that LePond would be releasing his first solo album, ''Mike LePond's Silent Assassins''.<ref name=blabber>{{cite web|title=Symphony X Bassist MIKE LEPOND To Release 'Silent Assassins' Solo Album in September|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/symphony-x-bassist-mike-lepond-to-release-silent-assassins-solo-album-in-september/|website=Blabbermouth|accessdate=August 25, 2014|date=August 21, 2014}}</ref> The album was released on September 26, featuring LePond on bass and rhythm guitar.<ref name="blabber" /> Symphony X bandmate Michael Romeo provided drum programming and some guitar work on the album, with vocals provided by Alan Tecchio (Hades, Watchtower) and additional guitar work from Mike Chlasciak (Halford, Testament).
==Equipment== Upon joining Symphony X, LePond was playing a red 1987 Hamer Scarab 4-string bass guitar, which was featured on the releases ''V: The New Mythology Suite'' and ''Live on the Edge of Forever.''<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=-=Symphony X-Official Website=- |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716175828mp_/http://www.symphonyx.com/news.html |access-date=2023-03-12 }}</ref> The instrument was used on tour with Symphony X up to 2002 and was later auctioned off by the band.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-02-03 |title=eBay: Hamer Scarab Bass used by Mike LePond of Symphony X (item 170069444493 end time Jan-21-07 12:00:00 PST) |url=http://cgi.ebay.com/Hamer-Scarab-Bass-used-by-Mike-LePond-of-Symphony-X_W0QQitemZ170069444493QQihZ007QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |access-date=2023-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203111835/http://cgi.ebay.com/Hamer-Scarab-Bass-used-by-Mike-LePond-of-Symphony-X_W0QQitemZ170069444493QQihZ007QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem |archive-date=February 3, 2007 }}</ref> Since 2007, LePond's primary bass has been a Caparison Dellinger 4-string.<ref name=":1" /> He also plays Fender Jazz Bass and an 8-string John Galagher Oktober bass.<ref name=":1" />
== Discography ==<!-- Credits for complete albums in chronological order, grouped by artist -->
=== With Symphony X ===
* ''V: The New Mythology Suite'' (2000) * ''The Odyssey'' (2002) * ''Paradise Lost'' (2007) * ''Iconoclast'' (2011) * ''Underworld'' (2015)
=== With Mike LePond's Silent Assassins ===
* ''Mike LePond's Silent Assassins'' (2014) * ''Pawn And Prophecy'' (2018) * ''Whore of Babylon'' (2020)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://indianmusicmug.com/features/interview-with-symphony-x-bassist-michael-lepond/ Interview with Michael Lepond] at [http://www.indianmusicmug.com/ IndianMusicMug]
{{Symphony X}} {{Seven Witches}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lepond, Michael}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Newark, New Jersey Category:American heavy metal bass guitarists Category:American male bass guitarists Category:Progressive metal bass guitarists Category:Symphony X members Category:Guitarists from New Jersey Category:Seven Witches members Category:20th-century American bass guitarists Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:American people of Italian descent