Background
Pinnella was born in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey and was encouraged since childhood to follow music
Pinnella was born in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey and was encouraged since childhood to follow music
Michael is one of two Symphony X members to appear on all nine of the band"s albums (the other being Michael Romeo). When he was four years old, he started taking piano lessons. He was heavily influenced by classic composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Bach.
When he was about 11 years old, he started to practice more seriously.
When he got into college, he studied piano performance, theory and composition, and other musical courses. Other influences came from progressive/metal bands from the 1970s (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) and from the 1980s (DIO, Ozzy Osbourne).
When Pinnella finished college, he started teaching piano in a music store. He is currently working at the in East Brunswick, New Jersey when not touring or recording.
He is a Christian and also plays piano in his church.
Pinnella uses the following equipment:
Roland V-synth XT
Yamaha Motif ES7.