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{{Short description|American guitarist}}
{{Redirect|Jaws of Death|the 2005 film|Jaws of Death (film)|the 1999 Primal Fear album|Jaws of Death (album)}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Mike Derks
| image = GWAR-Mike Derks.jpg
| caption = Mike Derks, out of costume, holding the Balsac head in 2002
| alias = Balsac the Jaws of Death
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|06|28}}<ref name="birth">{{Cite web |last=Tortorici |first=Frank |date=June 26, 1998 |title=GWAR's Balsac The Jaws of Death |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/7r4rpz/gwars-balsac-the-jaws-of-death |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817221527/https://www.mtv.com/news/7r4rpz/gwars-balsac-the-jaws-of-death |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 17, 2022 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=MTV |language=en}}</ref>
| origin =
| genre = {{hlist|[[Crossover thrash]]|[[hardcore punk]]|[[shock rock]]}}
| occupation = Guitarist
| years_active = 1985–present
| label = {{hlist|[[Metal Blade Records]]|[[DRT Entertainment]]|[[Slave Pit Inc.]]}}
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[[Gwar]]|[[X-Cops (band)|X-Cops]]}}
| past_member_of = [[Dave Brockie Experience]]
| associated_acts =
| website = [http://www.gwar.net Gwar official site]
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
'''Mike Derks''' (born June 28, 1968;<ref name="birth"/> also known by his stage name '''Balsac the Jaws of Death,''' stylized BälSäc the Jaws ‘o Death) is an American guitarist, best known as the rhythm guitarist in the American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Gwar]] since 1988. On stage he appears as a [[humanoid]] creature with a face resembling a bear-trap, usually portrayed wielding an enormous battleaxe.
==History==
At GWAR's genesis, BalSac played bass. However, early in the band's history, BalSac became the guitar player. He has occaisonally been featured as a vocalist. BalSac's vocals can be heard on the song "Mary Anne" off the album ''We Kill Everything''. His first GWAR song was "Black and Huge," and the first song featuring him on vocals was "The Needle." "The Needle" was never released on a Metal Blade album, but it was a Slave Pit Single, and was re-recorded as "Escape From The Mooselodge" on ''[[We Kill Everything]]'', featuring [[Oderus Urungus]] on vocals. "Black and Huge" was originally recorded after ''[[Hell-O]]'' was released in the United States.▼
[[File:Balsac-jaws-of-death-02.jpg|thumb|Balsac the Jaws of Death live on Stage in [[Edmonton]] in 2004.]]
Before Derks joined the group in 1988,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Punknews.org |title=Mike Derks of GWAR diagnosed with Myelofibrosis |url=https://www.punknews.org/article/65067/mike-derks-of-gwar-diagnosed-with-myelofibrosis |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=www.punknews.org |language=en}}</ref> the original 1985 [[Gwar]] lineup featured two separate characters Jaws of Death and BalSac. Jaws of Death played by guitarist Steve Douglas (of [[Death Piggy]]), who wore a crude version of the familiar animal trap face, and BalSac (1985-1987) played by bassist Chris Bopst, who wore a simple open-face piece of spiked headgear.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} Douglas returned to the band as Balsac the Jaws of Death for the recording of Gwar's first album ''[[Hell-O]]''. He was replaced by Derks shortly after.
▲
Except for a few gigs in Europe in 1991 where Balsac was played by Barry "D'live" Ward of [[Rich Kids on LSD|RKL]], Derks has played the character ever since. Derks also runs the Gwar mailing list and has performed in Gwar spin-off bands [[X-Cops (band)|X-Cops]], [[Rawg]], and the [[Dave Brockie Experience]].
According to the timeline of Slave Pit, Inc., Michael Derks joined the band in 1988, making him the longest (after Dave Brockie) serving member of GWAR.▼
A large portion of Gwar's catalog was written (or co-written) by Derks, who has also contributed to the production of several songs.
▲
When asked how exactly he walks in his awkwardly shaped boots, Derks replied, "It's hard, man." The boots in question are actually an optical illusion, with Balsac's legs and feet going straight down, but the way the boots are made make it look as if his legs are bent backwards like a horse's leg.
In 2012, he, alongside his Gwar bandmates, joined the 11th Annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=11th Annual IMA Judges |url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/judges/11th-annual-ima-judges/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826125846/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/judges/11th-annual-ima-judges/ |archive-date=August 26, 2013 |access-date=4 September 2013 |website=Independent Music Awards}}</ref>
In 2017, Derks was diagnosed with [[myelofibrosis]].<ref name=":0" />
==Guitars used==
[[Image:Balsac-jaws-of-death-01.jpg|right|thumb|Mike Derks as Balsac the Jaws of Death live on stage in 2004]]
Derks currently plays [[Schecter Guitar Research|Schecter Guitars]] and Krank amplifiers. For a time, he played guitars that were similar in shape to the Gibson Explorer (for a brief time, he actually played one) - most photographs are seen of him playing ESP's equivalent. Before his Schecter endorsement, he played a custom signature variant of the [[ESP EX|ESP EX series]], which features a single [[EMG 81]] bridge pickup and a custom Balsac graphic.
In the video to "Immortal Corrupter", he is seen playing a yellow-to-black [[Washburn Guitars|Washburn]] [[Dimebag Darrell]] 333 guitar with red lightning bolts. Only two people had this paint job - Derks and Dimebag Darrell himself. Derks's guitar was stolen after the August 16, 2002 [[Dave Brockie Experience|Dave Brockie eXperience]] concert which was recovered and given back to him by a fan in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I just got this guitar back that I lost in 2001! |url=http://twitpic.com/1t41du |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=twitpic.com}}</ref> He owned a Steinberger P-series guitar, an instrument he seemed to like, though few of his fans thought it wasn't a real guitar. It was sold on eBay in 2005. He played Fernandes guitars for a time in 1997–1999.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}
In 2012, Schecter announced two signature models to be released in the year. It is based on a design made by ex-[[Nevermore]] guitarist [[Jeff Loomis]]. One model will feature a single [[Seymour Duncan]] Blackout Phase 2 pickup with a Tune-O-Matic bridge, along with a custom Balsac graphic where the neck pickup would be, and the 2nd model will feature 2 EMG 81 pickups and a [[Floyd Rose]] tremolo system, while being devoid of the Balsac graphic. Both guitars will have a single Balsac inlay on the 3rd fret.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.schecterforum.com/showthread.php/6538-Balsac-GWAR-Signature |title=Balsac - GWAR Signature |access-date=2012-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210517/http://www.schecterforum.com/showthread.php/6538-Balsac-GWAR-Signature |archive-date=2013-10-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
He has played through Fatboy, Crate, Marshall, and Mesa Boogie amplifiers in the past. He claims he has been using Mesa/Boogie gear for over 20 years, using a Simulclass 295 Stereo power amp since 1989 and a TriAxis preamp since they were first released.{{citation needed |date=April 2024}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.gwar.net GWAR Official Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180630183443/http://www.gwarjapan.net/ Japanese Official Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071107031255/http://www.albertastars.com/galleries/gwar/ Balsac the Jaws of Death with GWAR - Picture Gallery]
{{Alter Natives}}
{{GWAR}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:GWAR]]▼
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balsac The Jaws Of Death}}
[[Category:Alter Natives members]]
[[Category:Gwar members]]
[[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]]
[[Category:American punk rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
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