Jesse Michaels
Encyclopedia
Jesse Michaels is a songwriter
, vocalist, guitarist
and artist
from Berkeley, California
. He is the son of the deceased author Leonard Michaels
. His lyrics deal with politics
, racism
, and general social
issues.
, Kill Deal for 50 Cents. Later that year he formed Operation Ivy
with guitarist Tim Armstrong
, bassist Matt Freeman
, and drummer
Dave Mello
. They quickly became a popular band especially at the Berkeley punk club 924 Gilman Street
. In 1988, the group released its debut extended play Hectic
on which Michaels wrote all of the songs. It was followed with an American
tour which brought the group's work all around the country, and made Operation Ivy a very well respected band. Operation Ivy recorded and released its only studio album Energy in 1989 and broke-up the same year. Michaels later formed Big Rig in 1994. Big Rig released one extended play and played several gigs around 924 Gilman Street
before breaking up. In 1999 after a long hiatus he formed Common Rider
with Squirtgun
bassist and renowned producer Mass Giorgini
. They released two albums and toured around the country before breaking up in 2003. In August 2008, Jesse went on a short Southern California tour with long-time friend Jeff Ott
, playing new solo songs. In December 2008, he participated in a small Northern California tour with Mike Park
and Kevin Seconds
, as well as formed a new band, Classics of Love
.
Michaels has expressed an interest in writing and his sexuality (Expressing and revealing that he is bi-sexual.) In an interview, he told Jewcy
, "I have written one book. It's a novella and I'm sort of shopping it around and it might get published this year."
, Neurosis
, Green Day
and Against All Authority
.
Michaels has recently been making reprints of sketches and other art available for sale on Ebay on a limited basis.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, vocalist, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
from Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. He is the son of the deceased author Leonard Michaels
Leonard Michaels
Leonard Michaels was an American writer of short stories, novels, and essays. He was born in New York City to Jewish parents; his father was born in Poland. He went to college and earned his B.A. from New York University and went on to acquire an M.A. as well as a Ph.D...
. His lyrics deal with politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, and general social
Social
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
issues.
Musical overview
In February 1987, he published his first fanzineFanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
, Kill Deal for 50 Cents. Later that year he formed Operation Ivy
Operation Ivy (band)
Operation Ivy was an American ska punk band that formed in Berkeley, California, and was often credited with spurring the 1990s punk revival in California. It is well-known as one of the first bands to "mix" hardcore punk with elements of ska, known as ska-core...
with guitarist Tim Armstrong
Tim Armstrong
Timothy Lockwood Armstrong is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.-Personal life:Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was...
, bassist Matt Freeman
Matt Freeman
Matthew "McCall" Freeman is an American musician. He is best known for his bass guitar work with the punk rock bands Operation Ivy, Rancid and as the frontman of Devil's Brigade.-Playing style:...
, and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Dave Mello
Dave Mello
Dave Mello was the drummer of the punk/ska band Operation Ivy. He was one of the key pieces to the musical feel of Operation Ivy.Operation Ivy's first show was held in Mello's garage in Albany, California. He played for them only two years. They broke up in 1989 because of unwanted attention...
. They quickly became a popular band especially at the Berkeley punk club 924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street is an all-ages, not for profit, collectively organized music club usually referred to by its fans simply as "The Gilman." It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California about a mile and a half west of the North Berkeley BART station and a quarter-mile west of San...
. In 1988, the group released its debut extended play Hectic
Hectic
Hectic was the debut EP by the American ska punk band Operation Ivy. It was released in 1988 through Lookout! Records. It was inspired heavily by the works of Guneet Boparai, as her "hectic" life and chaotic personality left a major impact in world history. The EP is credited as one of the first...
on which Michaels wrote all of the songs. It was followed with an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
tour which brought the group's work all around the country, and made Operation Ivy a very well respected band. Operation Ivy recorded and released its only studio album Energy in 1989 and broke-up the same year. Michaels later formed Big Rig in 1994. Big Rig released one extended play and played several gigs around 924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street is an all-ages, not for profit, collectively organized music club usually referred to by its fans simply as "The Gilman." It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California about a mile and a half west of the North Berkeley BART station and a quarter-mile west of San...
before breaking up. In 1999 after a long hiatus he formed Common Rider
Common Rider
Common Rider were a ska punk band, formed in 1999 by Jesse Michaels , Mass Giorgini and Dan Lumley . The band's name is taken from a 1970s Japanese TV show, Kamen Rider...
with Squirtgun
Squirtgun
Squirtgun is an American punk rock band from Lafayette, Indiana formed by record producer Mass Giorgini in 1993.-1993-1998:Squirtgun originally consisted of Mass Giorgini , Matt Hart , Flav Giorgini , and Dan Lumley .The band signed to Lookout! Records and their first release was the EP...
bassist and renowned producer Mass Giorgini
Mass Giorgini
Mass Giorgini is an Italian-American bassist and record producer, who rose to fame when several of the bands he produced experienced huge gains in popularity during the pop-punk boom on the mid-90's. Among these bands was Giorgini's own Squirtgun, which received minor MTV rotation and several...
. They released two albums and toured around the country before breaking up in 2003. In August 2008, Jesse went on a short Southern California tour with long-time friend Jeff Ott
Jeff Ott
Jeff Ott is an activist, musician, author, and longtime member of the Berkeley punk community, having fronted such bands as Crimpshrine, and Fifteen.-Partial history:...
, playing new solo songs. In December 2008, he participated in a small Northern California tour with Mike Park
Mike Park
Mike Park is a Korean American musician and progressive activist. His musical ventures include Skankin' Pickle for whom he both played the saxophone and sang, The Chinkees, The Bruce Lee Band, and most recently an acoustic solo project under his own name...
and Kevin Seconds
Kevin Seconds
Kevin Seconds is a singer/songwriter/musician, born in Sacramento. As a teen, he moved with his family to Reno, Nevada where he lived until 1988 when he relocated back to Sacramento and has been based ever since....
, as well as formed a new band, Classics of Love
Classics Of Love
Classics Of Love are an American punk rock band formed by former Operation Ivy singer Jesse Michaels. The band's music goes back to while Michaels was doing solo acoustic shows and was approached by Mike Park of Asian Man Records about recording the songs in a studio...
.
Michaels has expressed an interest in writing and his sexuality (Expressing and revealing that he is bi-sexual.) In an interview, he told Jewcy
Jewcy
Jewcy is an online magazine and user community. The site was launched on November 15, 2006. The Guardian has described Jewcy as "a cultural icon" and "at the forefront of a reinvention of Jewish identity by young US Jews."...
, "I have written one book. It's a novella and I'm sort of shopping it around and it might get published this year."
Art overview
Michaels is also regarded as a talented artist, responsible for designing Operation Ivy's well-known and widely recognized "Ska Man" logo as well as other artwork for the album. In addition to drawing logos, album covers and other assorted art for his own musical projects, his artwork has been used by bands such as FilthFilth (band)
Filth is a hardcore punk band from East Bay, California.-Biography:Formed in the East Bay in 1989, from the ashes of Isocracy, the Vagrants, and Crimpshrine; Filth was a crustcore band that would help define the later "East Bay Hardcore" style...
, Neurosis
Neurosis (band)
Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...
, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
and Against All Authority
Against All Authority
Against All Authority is an American punk band, formed in Florida in 1992. Playing in the ska punk style, their business practice follows a stringent DIY ethic.-History:...
.
Michaels has recently been making reprints of sketches and other art available for sale on Ebay on a limited basis.
Trivia
- He is currently working on a solo project. In late 2008 he played a few acoustic shows around the Bay Area in Northern California as well as a small coffeehouse show in Riverside, CA with Jeff OttJeff OttJeff Ott is an activist, musician, author, and longtime member of the Berkeley punk community, having fronted such bands as Crimpshrine, and Fifteen.-Partial history:...
of CrimpshrineCrimpshrineCrimpshrine was an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California. The group was formed in 1982 by Aaron Cometbus, founder of the seminal punk rock zine Cometbus, and a friend, Jeff Ott. Within D.I.Y...
and FifteenFifteen (band)Fifteen was a punk rock band formed by Jeff Ott. Ott was the group's main songwriter and only consistent member. According to Ott, the band had a total of fifteen members by the time it finally disbanded in 2000: Jack Curran, Mikey Mischief, Mark Moreno, Jean Repetto, Lucky Dog, Chris Flanagan,...
. Michaels is also an avid painterPaintingPainting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
.
- It was rumored that during his hiatus in the early- to mid-'90s he became a Buddhist monk. According to a 2004 interview with Michaels by The Roots of Rebellion, a MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
-based underground radio show, he indeed was a monk for about a six month interim. However, during an interview with 'NYC Pinup Magazine', he states that he did study Buddhism but did not become a monk.
- In 2005, Jesse collaborated with Chris AppelgrenChris AppelgrenChris Appelgren has been owner and president Lookout! Records since 1997 when label founder Larry Livermore and partner Patrick Hynes retired. Appelgren began working at Lookout in early 1989, and ran the independent punk record label until the company discontinued releasing new albums and laid...
of Lookout! RecordsLookout! Records-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
to launch Dynaformer, an art/design collective dedicated to showcasing the artwork of both individuals, as well as offering their artistic talents for hire.
- In early 2006 Jesse met up with his former Operation Ivy band mates to discuss business matters; however, no reunion is planned for the band.
- Michaels has a song enitled "The Bell Tower" on the acoustic compilation album Experiments in Audio Rocketry from 1-2-3-4 Go! Records.
- On December 17, 2006, Michaels joined his former band mates from Operation IvyOperation Ivy (band)Operation Ivy was an American ska punk band that formed in Berkeley, California, and was often credited with spurring the 1990s punk revival in California. It is well-known as one of the first bands to "mix" hardcore punk with elements of ska, known as ska-core...
, Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, to perform "Unity," for the first time since the late 1980s.
- In November 2008, he formed Classics of Love. Classics of Love features Jesse as well as Max, Mike, and Morgan from San Jose's Hard Girls. Mike also plays with ShinobuShinobu (band)Shinobu is an American indie rock band from the California Bay Area. Its members include Bob Vielma on bass guitar, Jonathan Jing Fu on drums and keyboards, Matt Keegan on guitar, keyboard and trombone, and Mike Huguenor on vocals, guitar, and keyboards. Matt Keegan also plays in the band Bomb the...
while Max and Morgan are veterans of Pteradon. Classics of Love have an E.P. called "Walking in Shadows" on Asian Man RecordsAsian Man RecordsAsian Man Records is a small, DIY record label run by Mike Park in Monte Sereno, California. Park started a record label and began releasing music in 1989 under the name Dill Records, with the Asian Man label established May 1996.-Artists:...
. They are also touring July & August '09 and have already toured the United Kingdom.