Everybody in the punk (and metal) scene knows who Mike Muir is. Whether you love or hate his band Suicidal Tendencies, who released a new album earlier this week, you might know a good amount of trivial information about the guy who “wanted a Pepsi” back in 1983 and is famous for wearing a bandana. To test your knowledge, we thought it would be fun to put together a list of 10 things most people probably don’t know about this iconic skate punk singer.
Go here to test your knowledge.
1. He is the only original member still in Suicidal Tendencies, and the only member to appear on all their recordings.
2. His brother Jim is a professional skateboarder, and was a member of the Z-Boys skate team based in Santa Monica, California. Jim is also the founder of Dogtown Skates.
3. He has released solo albums under his nickname “Cyco Miko”.
4. After the 1983 release of their iconic self-titled debut album, Suicidal got banned from playing shows in their Los Angeles hometown because of “gang relations and violence”. However, around 1989, after the band had risen in popularity, the ban was lifted and Suicidal have continued playing live in L.A. since then.
5. His former bandmate Robert Trujillo (who played bass in Suicidal Tendencies from 1989 to 1995, and is now in Metallica) is credited for introducing him to funk music, which resulted in the birth of Infectious Grooves and Suicidal changing their style from thrash metal to funk metal on later albums.
6. He had feuds with Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) and the members of Rage Against the Machine, who were criticized in Infectious Grooves’ “Do What I Tell Ya!”.
7. He was kicked out of school in the 10th grade before he attended Santa Monica High School.
8. He lived in Australia for a short time before moving back to the U.S. in 2011.
9. He had a house that was made over into a “horror house” on the Discovery Channel show “Monster House“.
10. He was influenced and inspired by bands from a variety of genres, including The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Black Sabbath, Kiss and Funkadelic.
How many of these did you already know? If you’ve got your own juicy piece of trivia, enlighten your fellow readers and leave it in the comments.
Whitton
Listening since 12 born in 76 so 84-85 raised in sub-rural Ontario Canada but had family in the Toronto area and discovered the music in a local gta skate scene
russ
I dont know all I know is his music has helped me fight my cancer thats what I know fuck the 20% of living for 5 years im 2 years in and I aint gonna die any time soon
Cindy
I knew about half of those. I grew up and still listen to suicidal (I’m 56) The one I didn’t know was the beef with Dave, which I also love so hopefully that’s in the past. I love Mike’s style and cyco for life
Big D
I became a die-hard fan immediately after buying their debut album way back in the Summer of 1984 along w/ Welcome to Venice both on vinyl. I’m 54 now and still listen Mike & the boys. Saw ST open for Queensrhyche back in the day here in Omaha, NE. And during the break in-between I ran into Mike Muir walking around and got him to sign my Suicidal Hat!!
Mike
Been listening to them seems like forever I’m 58 now going to see them play at pioneertown this weekend the 30th of September can’t wait I heard there’s a half pipe there
Kyle
Good job regurgitating of the Wikipedia page.