"What I miss the most is real music record stores...real radio too. The whole industry today is pretty awful...everything is too overexposed and there is no myth or legend about bands anymore. Back in the day, the only way you could see the band was if they had a picture on the record or if you went to a show or saw them in a fan magazine or on a tv show like Ed Sullivan."

Mike Onesko: Musical Dreams and Visions

Cleveland’s own Mike Onesko and his blind Blindside Blues Band bring the heat again with the sweltering “Live At Satyrblues 2” (2025) out now via Jib Machine Records. Recorded September 16, 2023, at the  Satyrblues Festival in Tarnobrzeg, Poland, this 12-track collection is a follow-up to 2023’s studio album, “XVI”. Onesko leads a band comprised of Martin Jepsen Andersen (Blindstone, Meridian, Crossroad Overdrive) on lead guitar, Eric Kennedy (TRUSS) on bass and Holden Szalek (TRUSS) on drums. The album is available on all streaming platforms as well as online retailers. From the bright opener “Shine On Through” to the chasing “Better Days” and closer, “Broken Man”, BBB offers diehard fans a heavy taste of the core sound that has carried the band since its 1993 self-titled debut. At the ripe old age of 17, Mike Onesko left his native home, Fairview Park, Ohio, for the greener pastures of San Francisco, California. With just $60 and his guitar he hitchhiked his way across the midwest, great plains, and rocky mountains, until he arrived in the bay area. Once settled into his new home he formed a power trio called Sundog. This is where Mike started his musical journey playing long jams and heavy sabbath type riffs.                        (Mike Onesko / Photo by Angelica Onesko)

Next was Steelwind, a five piece outfit with keyboards, which featured John Warmouth on drums and Walker Kaeck on vocals. They Headlined at Kezar Stadium just three years after Led Zeppelin played there! The Kwik and Three Man Army were next and they opened for many acts such as Robin Trower, Montrose, Nazareth, Great White, Mitch Ryder and Clarence Clemons. Mike was discovered in the clubs of Marin County California by Shrapnel Records President Mike Varney! They formed the Blindside Blues Band with Scott Johnson on guitar, Jeff Martin on drums, and Gregg Chaisson on bass guitar. The BBB put out three records with this lineup, although Gregg played on the records, he never did any live shows with the band! That duty was filled admirably by Kier Staeheli. The last Shrapnel lineup for the Blindside Blues Band was Mike Onesko, Mike Varney, Aysnley Dunbar, and James Lomenzo. Mike produced and played on Cream of The Crop a tribute to Cream where he produced and performed with Pat Travers, Leslie West, Tim Bogert, Rick Derrigner, Glenn Hughes, Neal Schon, and many more!

Interview by Michael Limnios      Special Thanks: Melissa Kucirek / Moxie Publicity

How has the Blues/Rock music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your life the most?

Don't know if Blues Rock has changed my views on the world but I sure do enjoy playing it... The birth of my daughter changed my life the most.

How do you describe your music philosophy and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique and soul?

My music philosophy is one of honoring my roots while fulfilling my own musical dreams and visions...well, I don't have a lot of technique, so my music relies heavily on soul.

How do you think that you have grown as an artist since you first started making music? What has remained the same about your music-making process?

Grown quite a bit. I'm hardened to the BS that goes along with the biz or what's left of it. I have learned to just be myself and stay true to my mission to put out good Hard Blues Rock till the day I die.

Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the (new) live album “Live At Satyrblues 2” in Tarnobrzeg, Poland (2023)?

Yes! The best story of the record was Bartek Belcarz, a Polish BBB fan who had all the records and just had brain surgery prior to the show. He travelled all the way across Poland with his BBB CDs and showed up at the concert so we had him backstage, signed his cds and asked him to sit on the side of the stage for the show. It's a moment I will never forget so we dedicated the show and cd to him. Sadly, Bartek has since passed away.

“Grown quite a bit. I'm hardened to the BS that goes along with the biz or what's left of it. I have learned to just be myself and stay true to my mission to put out good Hard Blues Rock till the day I die.” (Photo: Mike Onesko and Blindside Blues Band)

How do you prepare for your recordings and performances to help you maintain both spiritual and musical stamina?

Stay in shape and keep a positive, open mind. For recordings, you go in prepared and have your vision of what you want the disc and songs to sound like...and don't be afraid to improvise and listen to ideas from others. Also, to be a positive yet firm producer, to keep the ball rolling and to get the best performance you can out of your musicians by making them feel at ease with minimum pressure on them. As far as touring or live shows...I must rehearse for months to get in shape to go out on the road, fly and travel and perform at a high level every night.

You’ve worked in many different settings, from clubs and studios to open air festivals. How do you navigate between these different worlds?

I play every show and venue the same...love all venues whether outdoors, indoors, large or small. I always try to give the audience my best!

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

The internet...it has ruined the music industry. End of statement.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

Nothing really, but we seem to have a decent following of younger fans covering our music… an example is a cover of “Climb The Sky” (Blindside Blues Band) by Czech based group, Stand Up with Matyáš Fous on guitar.

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

I don't know about all that stuff. I just want my music to affect people in a positive and wonderful way!

With such an illustrious career, what has given you the most satisfaction musically?

Performing and having my daughter Angelica on my records. Also, doing my BLU-K Tribute and all the appreciation of BBB fans all over Europe, especially to the people of Poland.

"Blues Rock will never die! Even the younger people are into it because a lot of the new music that is out there today is phony and junk." (Blindside Blues Band right across from the Guest House at Prairie Sun Recording for the third album, 1995 / Photo by by Ross Pelton)

Why do you think that Blindside Blues Band continues to generate such a devoted following?

We play a kind of music that still has a large audience with my age group and even younger. Plus, we are real...no phony junk.

What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far? What was the best advice anyone ever gave you?  

The highlights of my life are the birth of my daughter and raising her by myself. The best advice anyone ever gave to me was to be myself and stay true to my dreams and convictions.

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

Playing Rockpalast in Bonn, Germany was a career changing show. Another highlight was playing Poland 9 yrs. ago and now again this upcoming September.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

What I miss the most is real music record stores...real radio too. The whole industry today is pretty awful...everything is too overexposed and there is no myth or legend about bands anymore. Back in the day, the only way you could see the band was if they had a picture on the record or if you went to a show or saw them in a fan magazine or on a tv show like Ed Sullivan.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

The best lesson I have learned is to trust yourself and your gut...don't follow the crowd, be your own man, be yourself!

Do you think there is an audience for Blues/Rock music in its current state? or at least a potential for young people to become future audiences and fans?

Blues Rock will never die! Even the younger people are into it because a lot of the new music that is out there today is phony and junk.

Mike Onesko - Home

(Mike Onesko on stage / Photo by Krysztof Szafraniec)