Michael Houser (January 6 1962 - August 10, 2002) was the lead guitarist of the band Widespread Panic. Houser was born in Boone, North Carolina and became a founding member of Widespread Panic in 1982 while attending the University of Georgia with John Bell. His distinctive playing style was featured on the band's first seven studio albums and is responsible for the band's moniker: "an honest tune with a lingering lead". Panic's large lineup released Houser from rhythm guitar duties, and allowed him to play lead melodies that lingered behind the dominant vocal melodies. Houser's nickname of "Panic" (earned due to his once-frequent panic attacks) became the basis for the band's name. Houser returned playing all shows seated in 1997. Due to circulation and his extensive use of the Ernie Ball volume pedal and the crybaby wah pedal caused his pedal leg to go numb. During an acoustic tour, mostly in Colorado, Houser remembered how much more comfortable

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