Michael Gira (pronounced jeer-AH) (born 1954) is an American musician, author, and artist. He is the main force behind the New York City musical group Swans, active from 1982 to 1997, reformed in 2010. He also fronts The Angels of Light and is founder of Young God Records (YGR website). Gira lived with his parents in a relatively affluent suburb of Los Angeles, California, though they divorced when he was a young teenager. After staying with his alcoholic mother for much of his youth