According to Idioteq.com, an “anonymous source” is reporting that Suicidal Tendencies have parted ways with their longtime guitarist Mike Clark, who has been a member of the band for 25 years.
Mike had to miss the remainder of the band’s California shows with Strife, Stepchild and Kill the Precedent following a head injury during an incident at their May 31st concert in Santa Cruz, resulting in a concussion that also required nine staples to a gash on hishead. Filling in for Mike on tour is currently Nico Santora.
Prior to joining Suicidal Tendencies in 1987 as their rhythm guitarist, Mike was a member of the short-lived crossover band No Mercy, which also featured Suicidal’s lead singer Mike Muir. He played on many of Suicidal’s hit albums, including How Will I Laugh Tomorrow…When I Can’t Even Smile Today (1988), Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit…Deja Vu (1989), Lights…Camera…Revolution! (1990), The Art of Rebellion (1992) and Suicidal for Life (1994). Those albums helped the band gain popularity and featured seminal members Rocky George (who is now in Fishbone) and Robert Trujillo (who is now in Metallica) on lead guitar and bass respectively, while How Will I Laugh Tomorrow featured Bob Heathcote on bass.
Suicidal Tendencies’ last studio album was released back in 2000, though they reportedly have three albums in the can and ready for release. There’s no word whether the releases of the new albums will affect Mike’s departure.