Michael Pfaff

{{Short description|American percussionist}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Michael Pfaff

| image =

| landscape = yes

| caption = Pfaff performing in 2024

| birth_name =

| alias = Tortilla Man{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/slipknot-see-security-mistake-tortilla-man-fan-and-try-eject-him-show|title=Slipknot: See Security Mistake Tortilla Man for Fan and Try to Eject Him From Show|website=Revolvermag.com|date=December 7, 2022|access-date=December 8, 2022}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|5|17}}{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CqnUpKtult7/ | title=Mike Pfaff on Instagram: "Today is my internet wikipedia birthday….not sure how that happened….my actual birthday is May 17, 1980…….but I'm gonna enjoy today as well. Maggots Make Every Day Better #older #wiser #grayhairdownthere @ras_visual 📸" }}

| birth_place =

| instrument = {{flatlist|

  • Percussion
  • keyboards

}}

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 2007–present

| current_member_of = {{flatlist|

}}

| past_member_of = Dirty Little Rabbits

| website =

}}

Michael Pfaff (born May 17, 1980), also known as Tortilla Man, is an American musician, best known as one of the two current percussionists of heavy metal band Slipknot. He was also a member of the alternative rock band Dirty Little Rabbits as their keyboardist with Slipknot bandmate Shawn Crahan.

Career

=Dirty Little Rabbits=

Pfaff has been a lifelong friend of Slipknot bandmate Sid Wilson, who introduced him to Shawn Crahan in 2007. The two quickly hit it off where they formed a band together called Dirty Little Rabbits where he was the band's pianist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/who-michael-pfaff-all-tortilla-man-slipknot-reveals-identity|title=Who is Michael Pfaff? All about Tortilla Man as Slipknot reveals identity|publisher=Sportskeeda Pop|last=Sraban Neog|first=Anupal|date=March 18, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}} The band released two extended play's Breeding (2007) and Simon (2009) before releasing their debut and only eponymous album in 2010, before splitting up in 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/en/band/Dirty_Little_Rabbits|title=Dirty Little Rabbits|publisher=Spirit of Metal|access-date=August 23, 2022}}

=Slipknot=

Following the dismissal of longtime Slipknot percussionist and backup vocalist Chris Fehn in March 2019 due to him filing a lawsuit against the band, Pfaff was quickly contacted by Crahan while working on his day job about potentially replacing Fehn, to which he accepted. He took over percussion duties, joining the band shortly before the filming of the music video for "Unsainted", the lead single off of their sixth studio album We Are Not Your Kind, released on August 9, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/slipknot-finally-reveal-identity-of-newest-member-tortilla-man-3183996|title=Slipknot finally reveal identity of newest member, Tortilla Man|publisher=NME|last=Singh|first=Surej|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}} Due to the appearance of his mask resembling a tortilla, Pfaff was quickly nicknamed "Tortilla Man" by fans and was known primarily by this title until the band finally revealed his identity in March 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/03/17/michael-pfaff/|title=MEET MICHAEL PFAFF AS SLIPKNOT REVEALS TORTILLA MAN'S REAL IDENTITY|publisher=HITC|last=Krishnamurthy|first=Chaitra|date=March 17, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}} Initially brought in as a touring member, Pfaff became an official full-time member of the band when the band and himself returned the studio to record the seventh studio album The End, So Far.{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/slipknot-dying-song-live-first-time-video/|title=Slipknot Play 'The Dying Song (Time to Sing)' Live for First Time|website=Loudwire|last=Fooks|first=Todd|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}} Pfaff sustained an ankle injury while performing on the band's 2022 European Tour.{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/slipknots-michael-pfaff-injures-ankle-vows-to-keep-performing|title=SLIPKNOT's MICHAEL PFAFF Injures Ankle, Vows To Keep Performing|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=July 25, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022}}

Personal life

Pfaff attended New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and received a master's degree in music. He attended Lawrence University, in Appleton, Wisconsin, for his undergraduate degree, also in music. He also has a wife, and they have one child together.

Discography

=Slipknot=

{{Main|Slipknot discography}}

=Dirty Little Rabbits=

{{Main|Dirty Little Rabbits discography}}

References