Louiche Mayorga
Encyclopedia
Louiche Mayorga is best known for his bass playing in the Venice punk band "Suicidal Tendencies
."He co-wrote many of their earlier songs including the punk classic "Institutionalized" from their 1983 debut album on Frontier
, as well as" "War Inside My Head," "Possessed To Skate." and the title track "Join The Army" from their second release on Caroline
. He has also played for Venice bands; "Los Cycos
," "Uncle Slam
," "Horny Toad," "AgainST
" and most recently joined forces with his long time friends "Beowülf
" playing bass on their new album, entitled Jesus Freak.
, California
. However the Mayorga's lived in Venice until Louiche was about 6 years old. His Father felt that the streets there were too dangerous and soon packed up the family and moved to Santa Monica. There he met future band mate Mike Muir
while standing in line to register for classes at Santa Monica College
. "I've actually known Mike since the 9th grade, we both grew up and lived in Santa Monica and Venice Beach." "Mike told me he was looking for a bass player, and asked me if I could play using my fourth finger." Louiche said "yes" and got an audition for the band. "I knew I had the job as soon as I started playing."
from 1981 to 1988 and Los Cycos
from 1984 to 1985. In 1983 he played on the self titled " Suicidal Tendencies
album" on Lisa Fancher's
, Frontier Records
and co-wrote four of the songs, "Two Sided Politics," "Won't Fall In Love Today," "Memories Of Tomorrow" (which was covered by Slayer
for its album Undisputed Attitude
, but was not added to the final release) and the punk classic "Institutionalized" (which was covered by Senses Fail
for the soundtrack to the video game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
). You can also hear his voice on the answer call vocal in the opening track "Suicides an Alternative/ You'll Be Sorry." His second recording was on Suicidal Records (a label he co-founded with vocalist Mike Muir) for the "Welcome To Venice
" compilation. Mayorga played on two cuts "Look Up...(The Boys Are Back) with Suicidal Tendencies, and the song "It's Not Easy" with "Los Cycos
." His third in 1987 being the highly anticipated "Join the Army
" on Caroline Records
where he co-wrote the title track "Join the Army," and six others "The Prisoner," "War Inside My Head," (which is also is featured in the game Guitar Hero: Metallica
.) "Possessed To Skate" (Which is featured in the game Skate 2
, "No Name,No Words," "Looking In Your Eyes" and "Born To Be Cyco" which he shares credit with Rocky George
and Mike Muir. From 1981 through 1988 his fellow band members included; Mike Muir (Vocals), Ralph J. (R.J.) Herrera
(drums), Amery Smith
(drums), Sal Troy (drums), Grant Estes
(lead guitar), Jon Nelson
(lead guitar), Anthony"Bob"Gallo
(rhythm guitar) and Rocky George
(lead guitar). At the end of 1988, Louiche was asked to leave Suicidal and told that "his playing had gotten worse" and that "he wasn't good anymore." S.T. fans knows this to be an untruth, especially due to his great live performance and songwriting abilities. Louiche later figured out the real reason Mike Muir fired him, was that Muir allegedly withheld Mayorga's part of the royalty payments in hopes that he wouldn't find out. In an interview Louiche stated "It was around $100.000 dollars and I had to sue him (Mike Muir) to get my money back."Louiche Mayorga is probably one of the most under rated musician ever to be involved with Suicidal Tendencies. Aside from Mike Muir, he is the second most important member responsible for their success and continued success to this day. His contribution to their debut album (which is considered by most to be their best work to date) is unmistakeable. He basically played on and wrote half of the second album "Join The Army" and when Mike Muir
switched Suicidal's musical style from punk to metal, he was replaced by ex-No Mercy
bassist Ric "Rancid" Clayton (the artist who designed the Suicidal Tendencies logo as well as the shirts on S.T.'s first album), but he was quickly replaced by Bob Heathcote
.
" drummer Sal Troy and formed "Horny Toad." Horny Toad put out their debut album (CD) "Thirteen" on Domo Records, it featured the song "Shiver" which appeared in the "Real World" and "Road Rules," with the video debut on "MTV2." The record also featured a cover of the Commodores
classic hit "Brick House." Their second release was entitled "Cheese." Past members include; Brian Behling (guitar), Anthony Brewster (Keys), drummers Doug Sanbourn, Jerry Angel and Suicidal Tendencies (R.J). Herrera. Mayorga briefly played in the Colombian Death Metal band "Agony
" After Suicidal he remained active in the local Venice music scene, working with Uncle Slam
among others. He most recently joined up with fellow ex-Suicidal members Grant Estes
and Amery Smith
, as well as Excel
vocalist Dan Clements
and former No Mercy
singer Kevin "The Jerk" Guercio, to form a new band called AgainST
. He has recently produced "Welcome 2 Venice" a punk compilation featuring 14 bands and 16 tracks on his label Built On An Ounce Records. Artists featured include current and former members of Suicidal Tendencies, Los Cycos, Beowülf, Fear Factory, Creeper, Neighborhood Watch, Excel, and No Mercy. After recording the bass tracks on Beowülf's sixth studio release "Jesus Freak" Mayorga left the band and has been replaced by former Fear Factory
bassist Christian Olde Wolbers
who also co-produced the album with the bands vocalist Dale Henderson.
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
."He co-wrote many of their earlier songs including the punk classic "Institutionalized" from their 1983 debut album on Frontier
Frontier Records
Frontier Records is an independent record label, started in 1980 in Los Angeles by Lisa Fancher, a former employee of Bomp! Records and writer of the liner notes for the first album by The Runaways....
, as well as" "War Inside My Head," "Possessed To Skate." and the title track "Join The Army" from their second release on Caroline
Caroline Records
Caroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s. The label originally specialized in putting out budget price LPs by mainly progressive rock and jazz artists generally not considered to have a great deal of 'mainstream' or...
. He has also played for Venice bands; "Los Cycos
Los Cycos
Los Cycos is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1984 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. The only recording of the band appears on the rare 1985 release "Welcome to Venice," the debut album and first release from Suicidal Records.-Band biography and...
," "Uncle Slam
Uncle Slam
Uncle Slam was an American crossover thrash band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1984 under the name The Brood. They were influenced by punk rock bands of the '80s like Suicidal Tendencies , D.R.I., Corrosion of Conformity, Black Flag and the Circle Jerks, as well as heavy metal bands like...
," "Horny Toad," "AgainST
Against (American band)
Against is a Crossover thrash band formed in 2006 by singer-songwriter Dan Clements, original Suicidal Tendencies members Grant Estes, Louiche Mayorga and Amery Smith and former No Mercy vocalist Kevin Guercio.-History:...
" and most recently joined forces with his long time friends "Beowülf
Beowülf
This article is about the American heavy metal band. For the epic poem, see Beowulf; for other uses see Beowulf .Beowülf is a crossover thrash metal band formed Venice Beach, California in 1981 by Michael Alvarado, Dale Henderson, Mike Jensen and Paul Yamada...
" playing bass on their new album, entitled Jesus Freak.
Early Life
Louiche Mayorga was born on June 21,1963 in Santa MonicaSanta Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. However the Mayorga's lived in Venice until Louiche was about 6 years old. His Father felt that the streets there were too dangerous and soon packed up the family and moved to Santa Monica. There he met future band mate Mike Muir
Mike Muir
Mike Muir is the lead vocalist of the Venice skate punk bands Suicidal Tendencies Los Cycos and the funk rock band Infectious Grooves...
while standing in line to register for classes at Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College is a two-year, public, junior college located in Santa Monica, California.Santa Monica College was first opened in 1929 as Santa Monica Junior College. Current enrollment is over 30,000 students in more than 90 fields of study...
. "I've actually known Mike since the 9th grade, we both grew up and lived in Santa Monica and Venice Beach." "Mike told me he was looking for a bass player, and asked me if I could play using my fourth finger." Louiche said "yes" and got an audition for the band. "I knew I had the job as soon as I started playing."
Suicidal Tendencies/Los Cycos
Louiche Mayorga played with Suicidal TendenciesSuicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
from 1981 to 1988 and Los Cycos
Los Cycos
Los Cycos is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1984 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. The only recording of the band appears on the rare 1985 release "Welcome to Venice," the debut album and first release from Suicidal Records.-Band biography and...
from 1984 to 1985. In 1983 he played on the self titled " Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies (album)
-Personnel:* Mike Muir – lead vocals* Grant Estes – guitar[A]* Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals* Amery Smith – drums-Production:* Glen E...
album" on Lisa Fancher's
Frontier Records
Frontier Records is an independent record label, started in 1980 in Los Angeles by Lisa Fancher, a former employee of Bomp! Records and writer of the liner notes for the first album by The Runaways....
, Frontier Records
Frontier Records
Frontier Records is an independent record label, started in 1980 in Los Angeles by Lisa Fancher, a former employee of Bomp! Records and writer of the liner notes for the first album by The Runaways....
and co-wrote four of the songs, "Two Sided Politics," "Won't Fall In Love Today," "Memories Of Tomorrow" (which was covered by Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
for its album Undisputed Attitude
Undisputed Attitude
Undisputed Attitude is the seventh studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. The album is a collection of punk covers of bands like Minor Threat, T.S.O.L., D.R.I and The Stooges...
, but was not added to the final release) and the punk classic "Institutionalized" (which was covered by Senses Fail
Senses Fail
Senses Fail is an American post-hardcore band from Ridgewood, New Jersey. Formed in 2002, the line up initially consisted of vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Dave Miller and Garrett Zablocki and being completed by bassist Mike Glita. The band quickly issued their debut EP, From...
for the soundtrack to the video game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, abbreviated to THAW, is a video game that was released for the PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube and PC on October 18, 2005. Part of the Tony Hawk series, the game was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision.The PC version of the game was ported and...
). You can also hear his voice on the answer call vocal in the opening track "Suicides an Alternative/ You'll Be Sorry." His second recording was on Suicidal Records (a label he co-founded with vocalist Mike Muir) for the "Welcome To Venice
Welcome to Venice
Welcome to Venice is a crossover thrash album that features local Venice Beach, California punk and metal bands. It was released in 1985 on Suicidal Records.-Album History:...
" compilation. Mayorga played on two cuts "Look Up...(The Boys Are Back) with Suicidal Tendencies, and the song "It's Not Easy" with "Los Cycos
Los Cycos
Los Cycos is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1984 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. The only recording of the band appears on the rare 1985 release "Welcome to Venice," the debut album and first release from Suicidal Records.-Band biography and...
." His third in 1987 being the highly anticipated "Join the Army
Join the Army
* "War Inside My Head", "Human Guinea Pig", and "You Got, I Want" were originally written by previous guitarist Jon Nelson. He traded the rights for "War Inside My Head" for a Flying V guitar after he left the band....
" on Caroline Records
Caroline Records
Caroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s. The label originally specialized in putting out budget price LPs by mainly progressive rock and jazz artists generally not considered to have a great deal of 'mainstream' or...
where he co-wrote the title track "Join the Army," and six others "The Prisoner," "War Inside My Head," (which is also is featured in the game Guitar Hero: Metallica
Guitar Hero: Metallica
Guitar Hero: Metallica is a music video game developed by Neversoft and distributed by Activision. The game was released in North America on the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 on March 29, 2009 and on PlayStation 2 on April 14, 2009, with a European release in May 2009...
.) "Possessed To Skate" (Which is featured in the game Skate 2
Skate 2
Skate 2 is a sandbox skateboarding video game developed by EA Black Box and distributed by Electronic Arts as a sequel to the 2007 game, Skate. Skate 2 was released in January 2009 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.-Plot:...
, "No Name,No Words," "Looking In Your Eyes" and "Born To Be Cyco" which he shares credit with Rocky George
Rocky George
Rocky George is an American heavy metal guitarist who has been a member of several notable musical acts. George's guitar playing career began in 1982 when he joined a local punk rock band called Pap Smear. He became lead guitarist of Suicidal Tendencies in 1984 and stayed with the band until their...
and Mike Muir. From 1981 through 1988 his fellow band members included; Mike Muir (Vocals), Ralph J. (R.J.) Herrera
R. J. Herrera
Ralph J. Herrera is a heavy metal drummer. He is best known for being the drummer of Suicidal Tendencies between the years of 1984 and 1991. After Suicidal Tendencies, he joined Uncle Slam, a crossover thrash band featuring ex-Suicidal members...
(drums), Amery Smith
Amery Smith
Amery "AWOL" Smith is a drummer from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for playing drums in the Venice punk band "Suicidal Tendencies."-Early Life:...
(drums), Sal Troy (drums), Grant Estes
Grant Estes
Grant Estes is an American guitarist from Santa Monica, California. He was one of the guitarists for the highly influential band Suicidal Tendencies, during the band's hardcore punk era.-Suicidal Tendencies/Los Cycos:...
(lead guitar), Jon Nelson
Jon Nelson (guitarist)
Jonathan D. "Jon" Nelson is best known for playing lead guitar in the controversial punk band Suicidal Tendencies.-Early life:...
(lead guitar), Anthony"Bob"Gallo
Anthony Gallo
Anthony "Bob" Gallo is an American lead and rhythm guitarist. He started out at age 16 in the early eighties punk scene and progressed into heavy metal and rock. His career has spanned over 30 years, playing and recording with Megadeth drummer Nick Menza, L.A...
(rhythm guitar) and Rocky George
Rocky George
Rocky George is an American heavy metal guitarist who has been a member of several notable musical acts. George's guitar playing career began in 1982 when he joined a local punk rock band called Pap Smear. He became lead guitarist of Suicidal Tendencies in 1984 and stayed with the band until their...
(lead guitar). At the end of 1988, Louiche was asked to leave Suicidal and told that "his playing had gotten worse" and that "he wasn't good anymore." S.T. fans knows this to be an untruth, especially due to his great live performance and songwriting abilities. Louiche later figured out the real reason Mike Muir fired him, was that Muir allegedly withheld Mayorga's part of the royalty payments in hopes that he wouldn't find out. In an interview Louiche stated "It was around $100.000 dollars and I had to sue him (Mike Muir) to get my money back."Louiche Mayorga is probably one of the most under rated musician ever to be involved with Suicidal Tendencies. Aside from Mike Muir, he is the second most important member responsible for their success and continued success to this day. His contribution to their debut album (which is considered by most to be their best work to date) is unmistakeable. He basically played on and wrote half of the second album "Join The Army" and when Mike Muir
Mike Muir
Mike Muir is the lead vocalist of the Venice skate punk bands Suicidal Tendencies Los Cycos and the funk rock band Infectious Grooves...
switched Suicidal's musical style from punk to metal, he was replaced by ex-No Mercy
No Mercy (American band)
No Mercy are a thrash metal band from Venice, California, the brainchild of guitar player Mike Clark, who later played in Suicidal Tendencies.-History:...
bassist Ric "Rancid" Clayton (the artist who designed the Suicidal Tendencies logo as well as the shirts on S.T.'s first album), but he was quickly replaced by Bob Heathcote
Bob Heathcote
Bob Heathcote is best known for his bass playing in the crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies.-Early Life:Robert ”Bob” Heathcote was born May 27th, 1964. He grew up in Westchester, California. His main bass guitar influences were Geddy Lee of Rush and Chris Squire of Yes. One of his first bands...
.
Other Bands
Disappointed with having to leave Suicidal but determined to remain active in the Venice music scene, Louiche joined guitarist Moises Casillas, singer Caviar and former "Los CycosLos Cycos
Los Cycos is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1984 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. The only recording of the band appears on the rare 1985 release "Welcome to Venice," the debut album and first release from Suicidal Records.-Band biography and...
" drummer Sal Troy and formed "Horny Toad." Horny Toad put out their debut album (CD) "Thirteen" on Domo Records, it featured the song "Shiver" which appeared in the "Real World" and "Road Rules," with the video debut on "MTV2." The record also featured a cover of the Commodores
Commodores
The Commodores are an American funk/soul band of the 1970s and 1980s. The members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute in 1968, and signed with Motown in November 1972, having first caught the public eye opening for The Jackson 5 while on tour...
classic hit "Brick House." Their second release was entitled "Cheese." Past members include; Brian Behling (guitar), Anthony Brewster (Keys), drummers Doug Sanbourn, Jerry Angel and Suicidal Tendencies (R.J). Herrera. Mayorga briefly played in the Colombian Death Metal band "Agony
Agony (band)
Agony is a Colombian metal band, formed in Bogotá, Colombia in 1992. The band was founded by Alfonso Pinzón and Andrés Jaramillo, two college friends that shared a common interest in metal. A demo tape of the band's first songs, was quickly spread through Bogotá's metal fans in 1994...
" After Suicidal he remained active in the local Venice music scene, working with Uncle Slam
Uncle Slam
Uncle Slam was an American crossover thrash band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1984 under the name The Brood. They were influenced by punk rock bands of the '80s like Suicidal Tendencies , D.R.I., Corrosion of Conformity, Black Flag and the Circle Jerks, as well as heavy metal bands like...
among others. He most recently joined up with fellow ex-Suicidal members Grant Estes
Grant Estes
Grant Estes is an American guitarist from Santa Monica, California. He was one of the guitarists for the highly influential band Suicidal Tendencies, during the band's hardcore punk era.-Suicidal Tendencies/Los Cycos:...
and Amery Smith
Amery Smith
Amery "AWOL" Smith is a drummer from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for playing drums in the Venice punk band "Suicidal Tendencies."-Early Life:...
, as well as Excel
Excel (band)
Excel was a punk/metal fusion band from Venice, California founded in 1983 by singer Dan Clements and guitarist Adam Siegel. They were influenced by famous 70's punk rock musicians like The Police and The Sex Pistols, and heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, Trouble, Slayer, Corrosion of...
vocalist Dan Clements
Dan Clements
Daniel Clements is a singer-songwriter from Venice, California, best known as the lead vocalist of Crossover thrash band Excel and the only member that remained in the group since its formation until its dissolution...
and former No Mercy
No Mercy (American band)
No Mercy are a thrash metal band from Venice, California, the brainchild of guitar player Mike Clark, who later played in Suicidal Tendencies.-History:...
singer Kevin "The Jerk" Guercio, to form a new band called AgainST
Against (American band)
Against is a Crossover thrash band formed in 2006 by singer-songwriter Dan Clements, original Suicidal Tendencies members Grant Estes, Louiche Mayorga and Amery Smith and former No Mercy vocalist Kevin Guercio.-History:...
. He has recently produced "Welcome 2 Venice" a punk compilation featuring 14 bands and 16 tracks on his label Built On An Ounce Records. Artists featured include current and former members of Suicidal Tendencies, Los Cycos, Beowülf, Fear Factory, Creeper, Neighborhood Watch, Excel, and No Mercy. After recording the bass tracks on Beowülf's sixth studio release "Jesus Freak" Mayorga left the band and has been replaced by former Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
bassist Christian Olde Wolbers
Christian Olde Wolbers
Christian Olde Wolbers , is the guitarist of the metal band Arkaea. He is the former bassist and guitarist of the industrial metal band Fear Factory, and is now in Beowülf.-Biography:...
who also co-produced the album with the bands vocalist Dale Henderson.
Work in Film
- Sound Track "Repo Man" starring Emilio Estevez song "Institutionalized" (Muir, Mayorga)
- The Film "5150" with Danny Trejo
Discography
| Title | Release | Label | Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suicidal Tendencies | 1983 | Frontier Records Frontier Records Frontier Records is an independent record label, started in 1980 in Los Angeles by Lisa Fancher, a former employee of Bomp! Records and writer of the liner notes for the first album by The Runaways.... |
Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"... |
| Welcome to Venice | 1985 | Suicidal Records | Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"... /Los Cycos Los Cycos Los Cycos is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1984 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. The only recording of the band appears on the rare 1985 release "Welcome to Venice," the debut album and first release from Suicidal Records.-Band biography and... |
| Join the Army | 1987 | Caroline Records Caroline Records Caroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s. The label originally specialized in putting out budget price LPs by mainly progressive rock and jazz artists generally not considered to have a great deal of 'mainstream' or... |
Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"... |
| Thirteen | 1999 | Domo Records | Horny Toad |
| Cheese | 2001 | Domo Records | Horny Toad |
| Welcome 2 Venice | 2006 | Built On An Ounce Records | AgainST Against (American band) Against is a Crossover thrash band formed in 2006 by singer-songwriter Dan Clements, original Suicidal Tendencies members Grant Estes, Louiche Mayorga and Amery Smith and former No Mercy vocalist Kevin Guercio.-History:... |
External links
- http://www.suicidaltendencies.com/suicidal/