Daily Inspiration: Meet “Monster” Mike Cobb

Today we’d like to introduce you to “Monster” Mike Cobb.

Hi “Monster” Mike , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
“Monster” Mike Cobb

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, I remember it like it was yesterday.

At seven years old, the needle dropped onto a record, and a powerful four-bar bass line grabbed me by the ears. The music filled me with a feeling I’d never experienced before. The song was “Ah… The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!” by Cincinnati’s own Funk legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Bootsy Collins.

The moment I saw those iconic star-shaped glasses on the album cover, I knew exactly who I wanted to become.
From that day forward, I pledged my allegiance to the FUNK—the whole FUNK and nothing BUT the FUNK!
My cousin Kevin played bass, and whenever he wasn’t around, I’d sneak into his room and fool around on his prized Rickenbacker. One day he caught me. Instead of getting mad, he handed me an old Fender Precision Bass with only two strings, figuring it would keep me away from his favorite instrument.

Those two strings changed my life.

I taught myself to play by ear, learning songs like “One Nation Under a Groove” by Funkadelic. Before long, I broke one string…then somehow broke the other. Determined not to stop, I pulled the laces out of my sneakers and used them as bass strings.

When my Pops walked in and saw me playing a shoelace-strung bass, he laughed—but he also knew I was serious.
My parents made me a deal: if I agreed to learn music formally, they’d buy me a bass of my own. They enrolled me in the Wyoming (Ohio) Middle School orchestra. Classical music wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned, but legendary conductor Alberta Schneider recognized something special and encouraged my parents to keep me in the program. After my first year, they kept their promise and bought me my very first bass guitar. From there, I immersed myself in every style of music imaginable, playing along with the incredible records my mother—a passionate lover of all genres—filled our home with, especially during Saturday cleaning days.
Those records became my classroom.

As the years passed, I built my reputation performing throughout Cincinnati and the Tri-State area while spending countless hours in recording studios. Although I enjoyed success with local bands, I never let go of one dream—to travel the world spreading the FUNK to people of every age, race, religion, and nationality. Even while juggling nine different bands, I never stopped believing that one day my opportunity would come.

It finally did.

A local bassist became unavailable for a show, and I was asked to fill in. I was always ready. That night I met guitarist Keith Cheatham, formerly of SUN and Bootsy’s FuNK Unity Band. After the show, he mentioned his friendship with Bootsy Collins, and we exchanged contact information. Not long afterward, Keith called with an opportunity that would change my life
forever.

Bootsy was performing at a fundraiser benefiting the tornado victims of New Richmond, Ohio—the hometown of his wife, Mrs. “Peppermint” Patty Collins. Keith was assembling the band for a James Brown tribute and asked if I knew the music.
Did I know James Brown? Absolutely. More importantly, this was my chance to perform in front of the very man who inspired me to pick up a bass. I treated that performance like the audition of a lifetime. As I laid down Bootsy’s signature grooves, I looked over and saw him standing backstage, smiling and soaking it all in. I could tell he was feeling the FUNK.
Soon afterward, the auditions for his touring band were canceled. I didn’t need one anymore. I got the call.

For more than eight years, I toured internationally with the King of P-FUNK himself as his backup bassist before earning the roles of Band Leader and Musical Director. Along the way, I performed on some of the world’s most legendary stages, including the Hollywood Bowl—a lifelong dream. Years earlier, I had made a promise to the Universe that if I were ever blessed with that opportunity, I would spend the rest of my life paying those blessings forward.

I have kept that promise ever since.

Following Bootsy’s retirement, I chose a different path. Rather than simply trying to carry the torch, I dedicated myself to inspiring the next generation of dreamers, musicians, leaders, and difference-makers to pursue their passions with courage, discipline, and purpose. After a brief hiatus from the musical spotlight, I returned to the stage with my own powerhouse band, “Monster” Mike Cobb & His FUNKin’ All Stars—a collective of world-class FUNKers and FUNKettes dedicated to bringing people together through high-energy music, unforgettable performances, and a message that has always been at the heart of FUNK:

Peace. Love. Unity in the community… and keeping the FUNK alive.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to achieving my musical goals was not a “smooth” road… Late nights, juggling bands, learning all genres of music, “crabs in the bucket critics,” working full time and family obligations presented challenges; however, for each obstacle met, I persistently found a solution, adapted to all adversity, overcame and pushed on.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As mentioned prior, I had a dream at childhood and was blessed with the opportunity to live it real time. Why is my story so “special?” Well, simple. When I was a child I wanted to BE my childhood musical idol. Not only did I have the opportunity to be his right hand man FUNKin on the 4 strings (which NO single bass player has EVER been long term), I worked my way up to leading AND musically directing his band. Playing bass for Bootsy was not easy-his approach to the iisn’t something you can just pick up, read the notes and “play.” It is all about the “feel” of the groove and FUNKy rhythms. Add to that, I had to master his use of effect pedals (which was VERY challenging). My nickname-“Monster” Mike-Ha! Yep, that was from Bootsy himself… One day during a rehearsal break, he looked at me and said “Uh, Mike, you come in here all business, takin’ notes and all serious, then you hit that stage and it’s like Jekyll & Hyde when the MONSTER comes out on the downbeat-“THAT’S IT!!! ‘MONTSTER’ MIKE!!!” I have a reputation for, let’s just say, I can’t stand still when I’m feeling the FUNK!!!!. Picture AC/DC’s Angus Young with a bass. That’s me. (-; What makes me the most proud of my accomplishments is that I NEVER stopped believing in myself. I KNEW it was my destiny to be on the big stage (although I never dreamed it would be BESIDE Bootsy Collins)!. What also may set me apart from others is that once I reached the top of my mountain, I was able to come back down, keep my promise to the universe to use my musical gifts, talents & experiences altruistically, as a way to bring people of all races, genders, religions, nationalities and backgrounds together

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
For finding a mentor or networking the best advice I can give you is to buy into YOUR dreams. Once you do that, find others who have successfully accomplished what it is for which you are striving. Use the internet to your advantage-social media (LinkedIn, FaceBook, X, Instagram, etc.)-randomly reach out to as many people in the industry/field as possible SOMEone will share their story and give you advice on how to bring your visions and dreams to life. I’d show up to venues, autograph sessions, send messages online and always introduce myself to industry pros, JUST in case!

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.cobb.18488/