Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Morrone
Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Michael Morrone and I am a Drummer, Actor & Model from Welland, Ontario Canada. I am currently located in Los Angeles, California. I have been a lifelong Drummer. I began drumming at the age of 7. I am self-taught, my father was a drummer, so it was easy to just go down to the basement and bang on his drums (which then became mine lol). I initially wanted to be a guitarist, but I quickly learned that I had much more natural ability with the drums than I did with the guitar. aside from a being in a few bands growing up, my first real push in the music industry was with my Canadian band “American Hell”, yes, a Canadian band called “American Hell” ill blame that one on the guitarist lol.
I was 20 years old when I joined American Hell. We had a bunch of successful tours in Canada, playing alongside some world-renowned acts that influenced me as a player like; Death by Stereo, Misery Signals, Devin Townsend, Cancer Bats, Baptized in Blood, Protest the Hero and Sworn Enemy. We wrote an EP as well as a full-length album that was distributed throughout North America. We were also scouted by the heavy-hitting record label, Victory Records based out of Chicago. We were invited to showcase for their owner and reps. it was my first real taste of being in a band and living the lifestyle of writing, recording & touring. It was a pivotal point in my life where I knew I wanted to chase my dreams. I have had the vision since I was a kid but when things start to pan out, you start to really believe it. In my opinion, your vision and belief in yourself is just as important as the talent.
While I was still performing with American Hell across Canada, I was pursuing a career in Law-Enforcement. I always thought it was important to be educated and have a backup plan in case you decided to pivot from your initial goals. During this time, I recorded, wrote & played shows with numerous bands across Canada. I was still extremely motivated in the music business, but I realized that maybe the “big break” wasn’t going to come to fruition, so I shifted my focus entirely on Law-Enforcement. Fast forward to October 2016, I was in my friend’s wedding party in Jamaica. While there I had an entirely coincidental encounter with 3 people (Jodi, Nicole & Joe). We all hit it off and shared our life’s stories with each other. It came out that I was a drummer and the one woman I had met told me she “Knew some people” in the business in LA. to me, this Smalltown Canadian brushed it off like, “yeah, sure… everyone says that”. Well, turned out she DID. a few weeks later a very reputable musician in Los Angeles reached out and wanted me to come down to LA to meet some fellow musicians. That moment right there I knew, this was the break. From that moment forward “The Career” was put in the backseat and my dreams came right back behind the wheel. A few weeks later I flew to LA. That trip changed everything for me, and I began a new path.
I met with world-renowned mixer/composure/producer Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails, No Doubt, System of a Down, Pantera, Guns N’ Roses) and two other musicians David Crocco & Cela Scott. We all quickly became friends and would soon be working together in the music industry. being in LA in March of 2017 showed me a new path I could go down in the arts. the new goal was simply “GET TO LA AND MAKE IT HAPPEN”. However, being a Canadian, it isn’t as easy as just flying to LA and chasing my dreams. There is a LOT of legality behind it all. So, after my trip to LA I spoke with some lawyers, and they told me about the artist visas that can get me here working. They told me to “go make a name for myself”. To which I laughed and said, But how…?
Well, I went back home to Canada and did what every artist before me had done, moved to the closest big city, mine being Toronto. I emailed some modelling agencies and started landing some interviews. I quickly landed an agent and then started going into the gauntlet of auditions. Oh boy can that be a disaster for someone whose literally NEVER done anything in the acting realm, I literally didn’t even take drama class in high school lol. I enrolled into a Canada-wide model competition called Supermodel Canada 2018. It was a pilot for a television show. What do you know? this former chubby kid who was bullied quite often, won the nationwide competition. He was now a Supermodel! wild. I was featured in Vogue Italia and a few other magazines. It was a surreal experience. I felt very blessed.
Shortly after I booked a commercial which then led me to an Acting Agent. Once I landed that Agent (Amy Hines) I started auditioning for some big shows and films. To me, I never thought this was possible, but here I was in those rooms. A few months later I booked a leading-man role in the harlequin Christmas Film “Baby in a Manger”. That entire experience was incredible, and I am very blessed to have worked with such an incredible cast & crew. 2018 was very formative for me, I began expanding what my dreams were. It was always music, but now it had shifted to include acting & modelling.
While auditioning through 2017-2019 I was still working with music, this time I was working with Toronto/Nashville based artist, Luke Austin, we wrote and recorded a bunch of songs together and completed some tours in Canada. Now that I have been getting auditions and roles acting, I needed to LEARN the craft. lol, I know, it’s crazy, I booked a lead role before I had taken an acting class. looks and personality only gets you so far, to continue in the business it’s quite important to learn the craft as well as respect it. I have been training with Howard Fine here in LA since 2021. one of the few blessings COVID-19 afforded me was the ability to train in LA with Howard from Toronto.
Since beginning this journey in 2017, I booked a lot of work in the arts and was able to get status in the USA which gives me the ability to live and work here in LA. Work was very consistent in Toronto, which is a huge blessing but I know to really hit the next step I had to get out of my comfort zone and make the move to LA! I had to risk the good for the potential GREAT. Time flies, if we don’t take the opportunities when they come, one day were 80 years old (if we’re lucky) and are looking back at a life gone by with plenty of wasted opportunities because of fear and uncertainty. I have gotten this far by taking risks and betting on myself. So, I figured this was just the next step in my story and things will pan out as they usually do.
In the middle of the historic 2023 SAG Actors & Writers strike, I drove my car to Los Angeles in October and moved into my new apartment to be an Actor. It was wild. As I write this, I have representation down here; I am auditioning for great projects here in LA as well as back in Toronto. I am also still working with artists in Canada as well on the music side of things. My goal is to continue taking the road less travelled, chasing my dreams, working hard, learning, being a good person, sticking to my moral compass and living by my golden rule ‘INTEGRITY OVER EVERYTHING”. No dream is worth your integrity and that will always be the case for me. I am very excited with my future here in LA and very thankful for all the people I have met along the way and those I’m meeting here in LA. LA is a WILD place, we all know that, but if you keep focussed and keep your circle filled with inspired and good people, only good can happen. I’ve been here for 7 months and have had such amazing opportunities that only LA can offer. I can’t imagine what life would have been if I let the strike and fears of what could go wrong take over and I stayed in my comfort zone. The path only begins to show itself when you take the steps and take action.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think anyone has a “smooth road” in anything we pursue in this life. we all have circumstances we live with personally and professionally. I will however say I don’t regret anything on my road so far. The good, the bad and the ugly has paved my way, and I wouldn’t be who I am or have done what I’ve done without the trials and tribulations. For instance, when I was in Jamaica at a friend’s wedding when I met the people who literally changed my life and introduced me to LA, I was supposed to go there with my girlfriend at the time. Well, turned out she was cheating on me for a while, so I went on that trip solo. It wasn’t a great feeling BUT I NEVER would have had the courage to talk to strangers at a bar if I wasn’t a single dude in Jamaica. Everything happens for a reason…. we must remember blessings are always disguised, there is a plan, and all roads will lead you to your Rome.
As for recent struggles I’d say that the Pandemic was a massive struggle that we all faced. I was doing well in the arts from 2017-2020 and then it was a complete standstill and things just completely stopped. Canada had quite a few full lockdowns through 2021, so it was very difficult to stay on the path I was on for 2 years while there was literally no end in sight. People had it much worse, and I just tried to remind myself that I was blessed, and my family was healthy and okay so I shifted my focus on being the best I can and taking this down time to better myself in the crafts I’ve chosen. I could have given up and gotten a career but something inside me told me to keep going… so I did! in 2021 I joined Canadas equivalent of sag (ACTRA) and shortly after became a full member of SAG in the USA.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think the only thing that separates me from others is the fact that I am ME. I’m not special, I’m me, Michael Morrone. I’m a big believer in being yourself. Always. No matter what. If people don’t like it, who cares? You’re not here to please the world, it would be nice, but it’s not realistic. Stay in your lane and let people be who they are.
As for more about myself, I enjoy living an active lifestyle, I enjoy time with my girlfriend Victoria, my family & quality friends. I also really love cats, and more recently, squirrels lol It’s a long story 😉
As for the professional side of things, I’m a lifelong musician. I have been a Drummer since the age of 7. Specializing in hard-rock and metal. I’ve toured with many acts in Canada and worked with many American musicians as well. I’ve recorded albums as well as toured in support of those albums with a few Canadian bands.
I’ve been the leading man in a Christmas film and have had other supporting roles in television series and films. I am a member of SAG in the USA and ACTRA (CANADA). I train with the excellent acting coach Howard Fine here in Los Angeles. I am also an internationally published model that has worked for many companies, brands & magazines. most notably vogue. As a formal chubby kid growing up, I’m smiling writing this because none of what I just said ever seemed like a possibility. Well, maybe the drumming… but none of the other stuff lol.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is whatever you want it to be! coming from a smalltown I know that 90% of the people living there define success as having a stable career, owning a house & starting a family (to them I’m crazy! which is fine lol, its none of my business what people think of me, I love my life) Those are amazing things, I want those all one day as well, And I will have all those things, but I don’t think that’s what makes you successful by any means. There are millions of examples of people who have all those yet don’t feel fulfilled. To me, success or having lived a successful life, is living life the way YOU wanted to! Whatever your truth is, whatever your aspirations in this life were, you followed them the way that you wanted to. You chased what your heart desired, not what society and those around you told you to do. People love to judge others, but they find it hard to understand different perspectives and respect everyone for what they chose to do, regardless of if they agree with it.
One of my all-time favourite songs is “The Unforgiven” by Metallica. It’s a song about a boy who had big dreams but never chased them. he was told to follow their rules and live by their standards, never living a life that was true to himself. The boy is now an old man, living with immense regret with all the things he didn’t do in his life or what he could have been. He did what he thought he had to do because everyone around him did it. He is now near the end of his life and regrets it all. He is “never free, never me so I dub thee unforgiven”. He wanted to do so much more but was told to follow the societal “norms”. The structures that are instilled in us at an early age.
That’s so powerful, one of my biggest driving forces with all the risks I have taken in my adult life is the FEAR OF REGRET. I am terrified to grow old looking back at all the times I played it safe and didn’t go for gold. So, for the time I have been given, I’m taking the road less travelled and going to give it my all. I have already won, I never imagined I would do any of the stuff I have the last 7 years of my life. Everything that comes my way now is all bonus, but me being who I am, I’m constantly looking to level-up and reach my next goal. So, I’m sure there will be more to come.
I think success means living the life you wanted to live and being good to all those we encounter in this short life. Forgiving, forgetting, living life with heart and not hate. Superficial things will not follow us after this life, what will, is our legacy of what we did in this life and how we treated others. So, if the house and the car is what you define success to be, cool… I’d say my perception of a successful life is being in your eleventh hour smiling with not an ounce of regret with how you chose to spend your life on earth. life is short, enjoy it. live life your way and try not to take everything so seriously. In the grand scheme of the universe’s history, we are here for such a short time, relax, enjoy, live and let live.
I want to extend a huge thank you to my incredible family who has supported me since day one. My mother Gerarda, my father Sergio (DJ Morrone) my sister Marisa and Silvia. My girlfriend Victoria who has helped me push my limits and continue down this path during the pandemic. My extended family, I have the best cousins. My manager / life coach Peter Bachetti lol. My close friends & everyone who has supported me and given me a push along the way. I wouldn’t be here without all the incredible support I have gotten.
#MYWILLBEDONE
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9680288/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morronedrums/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/eED3NyokXC4
- Other: https://www.astonmodels.com/men/all/2431934/michael-morrone
