Omaha born Michael Lee Firkins, previously with STACKS, was voted joint winner of Guitar Player magazines best newcomer with Eric Johnson in 1991. The debut Roadrunner album benefits from the inclusion of DOKKEN bassist Jeff Pilson along with KINGDOM COME and SCORPIONS drummer James Kottak. A sophomore outing would find Firkins in the studio with drummer Mike Vanderhule and bassists Dennis Murphy and Terry Miller.

Firkins 1996 release, Cactuz Cruz- an eclectic brew of slide guitar driven Swing, Blues and Jazz released by guitar hero specialists Shrapnel Records, saw drumming contributions from Vanderhule once again and bass courtesy of John Purtle. Vanderhule would later figure as a member of SOULMOTOR.

The 1999 effort 'Decomposition' would find Firkins originals alongside some inspired covers from the catalogues of JIMI HENDRIX- 'Little Wing' and 'Manic Depression', LYNYRD SKYNYRD's 'I Know A Little' and 'I Need You', the AVERAGE WHITE BAND's 'Pick Up The Pieces', DUKE ELLINGTON's 'Caravan' and the opening gambit of RICK DERRINGER's 'Alive And Well'. The sole original composition, 'The Window', was a re-recording of an earlier track intended as a demo for ROBERT PLANT. The guitarist would even lighten the mood with a take on the irrepresible 'Pink Panther' theme. Aiding in the studio would be vocalist Sonny Reece and ASIA drummer Trevor Thornton.

Firkins would guest on NEIL ZAZA's 2002 album 'Staring At The Sun'.