Suicidal Tendencies
Encyclopedia
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". To date, Suicidal Tendencies have released eight studio albums, one EP
, four split albums including the rare "Welcome to Venice
", six compilation albums (one of which is a "double-EP
", while the other is a re-recording
of their debut album), and two long-form videos. Other than a small selection of new and previously unreleased songs on the split/compilation albums Friends & Family, Vol. 2
(2001), Year of the Cycos
(2008), No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family
(2010) and The Mad Mad Muir Musical Tour (2011), Suicidal Tendencies have released no new material in the way of albums or singles since their last album, Free Your Soul and Save My Mind
, came out in 2000.
Suicidal Tendencies rose to fame with their 1983 self-titled debut album
, which spawned the single "Institutionalized
". That single was one of the first hardcore punk
videos to receive substantial airplay on MTV and was the most requested single on KROQ for 6 months. Suicidal Tendencies next release was on their own label "Suicidal Records" where they contributed one song "Look Up...(The Boys Are Back) on the 1985 split "Welcome to Venice." However they did not release a follow-up full length record until 1987, with Join the Army
. The album attracted the attention of Epic Records
, who signed the band in 1988 and issued their third album, How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today
, later that year. This was followed by their next two albums, Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu
and Lights...Camera...Revolution!
, which were also highly successful and both certified Gold
by the RIAA
. After releasing two more studio albums (The Art of Rebellion and Suicidal for Life
), the band broke up and severed ties from Sony and Epic in 1995. However, they reunited in 1997 and have continued to perform and record since then. After over a decade of work and many lineup changes, the band intends to release their first album with all-new material in 12 years in 2012.
, originally only intended Suicidal Tendencies as a "party band" for fun, but as the band grew in notoriety he soon found the band at the center of his life. Suicidal Tendencies had a rough start including being voted "Worst Band/Biggest Assholes" in Flipside
in 1982 but the following year were voted "Best New Band". There were many rumors of the band members as well as their friends and followers being involved with gang
s (especially the Venice White Boyz), with Muir's trademark blue bandanna
and violence at the bands performances as evidence. In their original line-up photo, which can be seen inside their self-titled debut album, drummer Amery Smith is wearing a flipped up hat and under the bill are the markings "V13", which are initials for the gang Venice 13. Though there were probably a handful of V13 members who also became Suicidals, Amery was not a member of V13 but bassist Louiche Mayorga's brother was (and that's whose hat he's wearing just for the photo). Eventually an entire gang sprung up around the group, the Suicidal Cycos (also known as the Suicidals, Suis or Suicidal Boyz), with chapters in Venice, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Oceanside and even a chapter in San Antonio, Texas. The band name is an obvious source of controversy, relying on a strong taboo that implies discussion around suicide might promote it[needs ref]. Using the opposition to fuel creativity, they quickly gained a following and began performing at larger gigs. They recorded a demo in 1982 and were featured on the Slamulation compilation LP on Mystic Records
. The song featured was "I Saw Your Mommy", which was later featured on their self-titled debut album. The Dunnigan brothers quit after these recordings, with Mike Dunnigan later joining Tony Alva
's band The Skoundrelz to be back with Mike Ball on guitar and Bela Horvath on drums. Ball stayed in the band for 2 years before joining The Skoundrelz and was replaced by Dunnigan. Guitarist Rick Battson recorded the Demo before the first album and Grant Estes
learned that demo replacing him on guitar and Playing on Suicidal's first record.
All this controversy helped the band gain label attention, and in 1983 Suicidal signed with the independent label Frontier Records
and released their self-titled debut
. It was described by critic Steve Huey as "Fast, furious, and funny... Mike Muir proves himself an articulate lyricist and commentator, delving into subjects like alienation
, depression, and nonconformist politics with intelligence and humor." It contained the song "Institutionalized
", which featured a music video that became one of the first hardcore punk
videos to receive substantial MTV airplay, and greatly expanded the band's fan base. The song was featured on the 1984 film Repo Man, as well as in a 1986 episode of the TV show Miami Vice
("Free Verse", which also featured a cameo appearance of the group performing in a new wave/punk club) and in the 2008 film Iron Man, where the song plays in the background as Tony Stark works on his car. Soon after the release of the debut album in 1983, Estes left the band and was replaced by Jon Nelson
, former manager of Venice-based band Neighborhood Watch
. Nelson played many shows with the band and also contributed to music for future songs like: "War Inside My Head", "Human Guinea Pig", and "Look Up...(The Boy's Are Back)", “You Got, I Want”, Nelson never recorded anything with them (except a live recording of the song "War Inside My Head." All the music written by Nelson is credited on the albums as written by (Suicidal Tendencies) and not Jon Nelson, for he foolishly traded his publishing rights and writers credit to Mike Muir for a Flying V guitar. That same year was the first year of Suicidal’s four year recording hiatus and Mike Muir and bassist Louiche Mayorga
formed the Label “Suicidal Records” as well as the band Los Cycos
Jon Nelson
left the group and Suicidal Tendencies were banned from playing L.A. shows from an Incident at Perkins Palace (their fans tore out ten rows of seats and promoters couldn’t get the proper Insurance to hire them) Muir was also about to try his hand at producing as well as starting the new label. Los Cycos was originally Mike Muir (Vocals), Bob Heathcote
(bass), Anthony Gallo
(Guitars) and Amery Smith
(drums). After a few rehearsals Amery Smith left the line up to join Jon Nelson in starting their own band (The Brood
) Los Cycos eventually included; Grant Estes
on lead guitar and original choices Bob Heathcote and Amery Smith were replaced by Louiche Mayorga (bass) and Sal Troy for (drums).They recorded the song "It's Not Easy" written by Muir. "Welcome to Venice" was the first record to be released on Suicidal Records, unfortunately the original masters were destroyed in a fire. In 1989 Suicidal Tendencies re-recorded "It's Not Easy" for their 1989 release "Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit... DejaVu" album. The other Los Cycos track "A Little Each Day" which never made it to the album, was re-recorded for the 1987 Suicidal Tendencies release "Join the Army
" and again on "Still Cyco After All These Years
" released in 93. In 2000 it resurfaced on the FNG compilation and a fourth time on 2008s (split) album Lights...Camera...Revolution!/Still Cyco After All These Years. Suicidal Tendencies played on the track "Look Up...(The Boys are Back) which was the introduction of guitarist Rocky George
and drummer RJ Herrera." The band finally found a new label in Caroline Records in 1986.
, George, and Herrera, the band released their second album, Join the Army
, in 1987 (see 1987 in music
). The album was met with a mixed reaction from long-time fans due to its considerably more metal-oriented sound (an element brought to the table by Rocky George), as they were expecting another punk album. Nonetheless, Join the Army featured classic tracks such as "War Inside My Head" and "Possessed To Skate" (which featured a video, originally intended for an unsuccessful Skateboard Movie, which featured Timothy Leary
).
Shortly afterwards, the band made some major changes. Rocky George
's metal influences (reflected in his Motörhead-esque songwriting contributions to Join the Army) began in turn influencing Muir, who replaced Keven Guercio as singer for Mike Clark
's speed metal
band No Mercy
prior to this. Muir hired No Mercy's guitarist Mike Clark
as a rhythm guitarist for Suicidal. Clark helped handle much of the band's songwriting, which progressed into a more thrash
oriented musical direction. Then he fired Mayorga, who had been trying to keep the band in punk territory, and was replaced briefly by No Mercy bassist Ric Clayton, who was replaced by Bob Heathcote
. Shortly after the band was picked up by Anthrax
producer Mark Dodson
and signed to the Columbia
subsidiary Epic Records
. The stylistic changes and signing to a major label outraged a few long-time fans, but Suicidal began to pick up more fans from the heavy metal
community as well.
The band's first release with Epic was How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today
, released in 1988 (see 1988 in music
). The album was almost completely stripped of the band's punk and hardcore roots, instead featuring a thrash-oriented sound with more complex song structures and a greater emphasis on instrumental skill than the band had ever shown previously. However, the album was considerably more melodic than most thrash metal albums, perhaps a lasting influence of the bands punk past. Singles and music videos were released for "Trip At The Brain" and the title track, which were successful and helped expand the bands audience. That same year the band was thanked by country musician Hank Williams Jr. at the 1988 CMA Awards. Williams' son
was apparently a big fan of Suicidal.
, Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu
in 1989. With yet another new member (future Metallica
bassist Robert Trujillo
, credited as Stymee), the album featured two versions of "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow": the video version (the original song cut down for radio/video airplay) and the "heavy emotion" version (a semi-unplugged, more mellow version of the song). All the rest of the songs on the album came from previously released EPs except "Just Another Love Song" and "Feel Like Shit...Deja Vu," with the remaining songs being No Mercy and Los Cycos
covers. The album featured the hit "Waking The Dead," which at 7 minutes was one of the most progressive
tracks the band had released to date.
Controlled By Hatred... eventually went gold, the first of three Suicidal albums to do so.
In 1990 Suicidal Tendencies released the album that many fans consider to be their masterpiece, and the album that almost broke them into the rock mainstream, Lights...Camera...Revolution!
This album featured the same line-up as Controlled By Hatred... (with Trujillo now using his real name) and continued to grow musically. The songs were much more complex than on any other Suicidal album, some songs bordering on progressive metal
, but also showed a new influence courtesy of Trujillo, funk
. This made the band's sound increasingly unique and difficult to categorize.
The album was a smash hit. It featured the major Headbangers Ball
and rock radio hit "You Can't Bring Me Down
", a thrash epic which challenged the PMRC, as well as the televangelist bashing funk-metal track "Send Me Your Money
", and the melodic thrash song "Alone" – all released as singles and music videos. All three singles were successful (especially "You Can't Bring Me Down"), and helped Lights...Camera...Revolution! also reach gold status, and the band gained a heavy audience in the thrash metal community despite being commonly accused of "selling out" in the hardcore circle. Today Lights... is widely considered to be a thrash classic. The band's 1991 tour with Queensrÿche
, their first show in Los Angeles in years, and their appearance on the Clash of the Titans tour (and, to a lesser extent, Mike Muir's brawl with Dave Mustaine
on the aforementioned tour) only helped expand their popularity. They also released the Lights...Camera...Suicidal! home video
in 1991.
Muir eventually became very interested in the funk music that Trujillo had brought to the table of Suicidal's influences. As a result, the two formed a funk metal
side project in the vein of early Red Hot Chili Peppers
and Primus
called Infectious Grooves
. Also recruiting ex-Jane's Addiction
drummer Stephen Perkins
and Excel
guitarist Adam Siegel
, Infectious Grooves released their debut, The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious Grooves
, which featured Ozzy Osbourne singing the line "therapy" in the song "Therapy" in 1991. This helped expand Suicidal's fan base into an even wider audience that including members of the alternative rock
community (funk-metal was a popular alt-metal style at the time).
Herrera left Suicidal Tendencies in 1991 due to personal differences. The rest of the band continued as an incomplete 4-piece for about a year, drafting now-famous drummer Josh Freese
to record their new album which would become Art of Rebellion
, released in 1992 (see 1992 in music
). The album was very different than anything Suicidal Tendencies had done before, but it was actually their most melodic, accessible album to date. It lessened the bands thrash influences, instead focusing on a unique, almost alternative metal
sound, with more emphasis on funk
and progressive rock
, as well as traditional metal
guitars. Although different, the album was greeted warmly by most fans and many critics.
The album was also the band's most commercially successful album. The first single, "Asleep At The Wheel", did moderately well, but was followed by two smash hits. The metal ballad "Nobody Hears" and the crossover hit "I'll Hate You Better", both of which managed to chart on the modern rock radio Billboards. The album debuted on number 52 on the Billboard Top 100 charts (ST's highest charting album ever) has since gone gold. The band began performing large stadium shows, touring with some mainstream rock staples as Metallica
, Queensrÿche
, and Danzig
, where they earned a wide reputation as an excellent live act. By the end of the year Suicidal had finally found a permanent replacement for Herrera, former White Lion
and Y&T
drummer Jimmy DeGrasso
.
Now at their commercial peak, Suicidal Tendencies released Still Cyco After All These Years
in 1993 (see 1993 in music
). The album was a re-recording of Suicidal's then out-of-print self-titled debut album with 3 additional songs (two re-recordings of Join the Army
tracks, and the B-side to the 1990 "Send Me Your Money" single). It featured singles for the new versions of "Institutionalized" and "I Saw Your Mommy", which managed to do well, as did the album. That same year also saw the release of another Infectious Grooves
album, Sarsippius' Ark
, which included new tracks as well as demo recordings of old songs, and live tracks.
However, disturbed by their recent commercial success and fame, and fear that the band was no longer relevant in the underground, Suicidal Tendencies released Suicidal for Life
in 1994 (see 1994 in music
). The album was intended by the band to be the least accessible album they had ever released, starting out by having 4 consecutive songs with the word "fuck
" in the title, and switching to a more aggressive style than on their previous studio album. Suicidal for Life was widely considered to be a disappointing album by critics, many of which claimed Muir had "dumbed down" his lyrical approach from previous albums. Fans also had a generally mixed reaction, although their reaction was more favorable than critics.
Muir's strategy worked, however. The album did not sell nearly as well as the past four Suicidal records (although it did sell decently on the band's reputation alone) and the only major single, "Love Vs. Loneliness", featured a gloomy music video that hurt the song's airplay.
Unfortunately it was also around this time the band, whose contract with Epic Records had expired, began to fall apart, and folded after a tour in 1995. Muir and Trujillo continued Infectious Grooves, releasing Groove Family Cyco
later that year (this album was released before Suicidal Tendencies split), but they eventually folded as well, with Trujillo joining Ozzy Osbourne
's band (and later Metallica
) and Muir performing as Cyco Miko, releasing Lost My Brain! (Once Again)
. Rocky George formed the group Samsara and played in 40 Cycle Hum and Cro-Mags
after Suicidal's breakup, eventually joining Fishbone
. Mike Clark joined a band called Creeper, while Jimmy DeGrasso joined Dave Mustaine
's side project MD.45
, and eventually replaced Nick Menza
in Megadeth
who recruited guitarist Anthony Gallo
(Suicidal Tendencies, Los Cycos) for his solo record entitled "Life After Deth".
A greatest hits compilation, Prime Cuts, was released in 1997, apparently against the band's will.
(formerly of Infectious Grooves
), new bassist Josh Paul and new drummer Brooks Wackerman
(formerly of Bad4Good
and Infectious Grooves
, now with Bad Religion
) to replace them.
The band released their first new material in almost half a decade, the Six the Hard Way
EP in 1998, which also included two live tracks. Released on Suicidal Records, this EP saw the band switching back to their original hardcore punk
and skatepunk style (with songs originally recorded by Cyco Miko covered). This, along with the absence of George and Trujillo, upset many of the bands metal-era fans, but fans of the older punk Suicidal warmly welcomed the new style.
The band stuck to a similar formula for Freedumb
, released in 1999 (see 1999 in music
). Despite generally bad reviews from critics (who claimed that the band had "dumbed themselves down" not only lyrically, but musically as well) it was considered by fans of the band as their "comeback album", with the title track, "Cyco Vision" and "We Are A Family" becoming fan favorites (although no singles from the album were released).
The following year Suicidal Tendencies released Free Your Soul and Save My Mind
. Unlike its predecessor, which was more straightforward hardcore, this album saw the band covering most of the styles they had dabbled with in the past. Some songs were punk, but many of them were also thrash
-oriented, and this was by far Suicidal's funkiest album yet. Fans and even critics greeted the album warmly, and a new single, "Pop Song", was released.
Muir's secondary band Infectious Grooves
released their fourth and comeback album Mas Borracho
in 2000, followed by Muir's second solo album as Cyco Miko, Schizophrenic Born Again Problem Child, in 2001.
Suicidal Tendencies featured a new song on the Friends & Family, Vol. 2
compilation in 2001, but after then the band fell silent again.
) had left Suicidal Tendencies by 2002, while the band was on a temporary hiatus, and were replaced by brothers Steve and Ron Bruner on bass and drums, respectively. The band toured during 2003, but were forced take another hiatus in 2004 due to Mike Muir requiring surgery for a back injury.
While the band failed to release an album with material, independently or otherwise, Suicidal Tendencies have continued to tour consistently since 2005. On October 29 of that year their live performance at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
in Los Angeles was filmed. Suicidal Tendencies secured a spot in the metal/punk-rock Soundwave Festival
in Australia in February and March 2007, taking in Brisbane
, Sydney and Perth
. They performed at the Artefact Festival in France on April 29, 2007, and performed in Istanbul, Turkey on May 29. They also headlined the Tuborg Stage at the Download Festival
, held at Donington Park
, UK on Friday June 8, 2007, and closed select shows for the Sounds of the Underground
tour in San Jose, California on August 3, Irvine, California on August 4, and Mesa, Arizona on August 5. On August 1, 2008, Suicidal Tendencies headlined the Porão do Rock Festival in Brasília
in front of 15,000 people. By this stage Eric Moore had replaced Dave Hidalgo on drums. During the fall of 2008, the band toured with Whole Wheat Bread
, Madball
, Terror
, and Death by Stereo
, opening select dates. During this tour Year of the Cycos
– a compilation album featuring Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Cyco Miko and No Mercy – was available for the first time for purchase exclusively at the concerts or from their official website. From the album, the original track "Come Alive" was released as a video clip
, and is still their latest video clip to date. The band replaced As I Lay Dying
on the first five shows of the No Fear Energy Music Tour with Lamb of God
. Suicidal Tendencies toured Europe from June through July 2009.
The first-ever Suicidal Tendencies DVD Live at the Olympic Auditorium
, featuring the full show recorded in Los Angeles back in 2005, was finally released on January 26, 2010 by Fontana Distribution
via the band's own imprint, Suicidal Records. On the same day, a best of compilation
was released as part of the Playlist music album series issued by Sony BMG.
In September 2010, Suicidal Tendencies released the album No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family
which consists of re-recordings of tracks from the Join the Army
album and of old No Mercy songs, plus the previously-released "Come Alive". In support of the album the band toured the US in October and November, including performing at Tucson AZ radio station's Fall Ball 2010 on October 24 at Pima County Fairgrounds. The band has recently been confirmed to perform at Wacken Open Air
2011, the 22nd edition of the annual German festival.
, known for his work with progressive rock
bands like Dream Theater
, Queensrÿche
and Rush
. On September 11, 2002, Muir posted a message on the band's official website, stating that they would be in the studio "working on new ST songs", although he said the band was already in the studio before their European tour and were "really happy with the results". He also mentioned that the band would "record some new songs" before he would "go leave town on a business trip" and was hoping for an early 2003 release. In January 2003, it was reported that Suicidal Tendencies were set to enter the studio later in the month to begin work on the album. The band explained, "We've got a number of meetings and people coming from all over. We'll leave it at that for now. However, by the end of the month we should have a good idea as to how we plan on proceeding, and what we hope to accomplish musically and individually in the coming year. When decisions are made, we'll let you know." On October 10, 2003, Suicidal Tendencies mentioned on their official website that the band would be release "at least one, and possible two ST CDs" in 2004.
On October 21, 2004, Suicidal Tendencies announced on their official website that they were still working on the new album and stated that this had "been a major highlight, proud spot and focal point for the band in terms of creativity and ability to move forward with its various musical and visual projects." The band also stated that they were working producer Paul Northfield
on both the Suicidal album and new Infectious Grooves
album. Later that month, the band issued the following statement in an effort to clear up possible misunderstandings with regards to their new project Return to Venice and the Suicidal Tendencies album. The band explained, "Return to Venice will be released before the real new Suicidal Tendencies album." Because of Mike Muir's back status, the band decided to release the compilation first. Obviously this album will have different artwork than the "new-cover-photo-idea", which has just been sent out to the guy who's gonna finalize the cover concept. Also, Return to Venice will feature a compilation of bands attached to Suicidal Records and/or Venice and will contain no re-recordings of the classic 1985 Welcome to Venice
."
On January 16, 2006, Muir posted an update on the band's official website that Suicidal Tenendencies had returned to the studio again to begin work on the album, stating that Northfield had "flown back into town" and work had "started on the new Suicidal Tendencies CD". He also stated that the band would be "sorting, working on and finishing up all the projects" that the band hoped "to release in the next year...of course starting with the new Suicidal Tendencies CD" and wouldn't "be rushing back to do any shows or making any touring plans 'till after" the album would be completed.
On March 3, 2006, Suicidal Tendencies posted the following update on the new album on their official website:
Asked in February 2008 when the new album was expected to be released, Muir replied:
In February 2010, Mike Muir had noted that the new Suicidal Tendencies album would be released in late-2010, although this release date had already passed and at the band's performance at the FunFunFun Fest lineup at Waterloo Park in Austin, TX on November 7, 2010, he informed the crowd that a new album would be released in 2011. However, in May 2011, Muir told KillYourStereo.com that the new album will likely be released in 2012 as he will begin working on a Cyco Miko album in October, which will have a "taste of new Suicidal, old unreleased Suicidal, new Infectious Grooves
, old Infectious Grooves and a bunch of other stuff as well."
According to Mike Muir, Suicidal Tendencies have completed three new albums and they are "just putting them together in a time frame."
Compilation albums
Extended plays
Split albums
Videos & DVDs
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
crossover thrash
Crossover thrash
__FORCETOC__Crossover thrash, often abbreviated to crossover, is a form of thrash metal that contains more hardcore punk elements than standard thrash. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock...
band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California
Venice, Los Angeles, California
Venice is a beachfront district on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is known for its canals, beaches and circus-like Ocean Front Walk, a two-and-a-half mile pedestrian-only promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, artists, and vendors...
by 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...
, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash". To date, Suicidal Tendencies have released eight studio albums, one EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, four split albums including the rare "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:...
", six compilation albums (one of which is a "double-EP
Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu
- Song notes :* "Master of No Mercy", "Waking the Dead", "Controlled by Hatred" and "Choosing My Own Way of Life" were compositions by guitarist Mike Clark's previous band No Mercy....
", while the other is a re-recording
Still Cyco After All These Years
Still Cyco After All These Years is a 1993 compilation album by Suicidal Tendencies. It is a re-recording of the band's 1983 debut album, Suicidal Tendencies and also contains 3 additional tracks...
of their debut album), and two long-form videos. Other than a small selection of new and previously unreleased songs on the split/compilation albums Friends & Family, Vol. 2
Friends & Family, Vol. 2
Friends & Family, Vol. 2 is a compilation CD of bands who are friends or associated with the hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies.-Track listing:...
(2001), Year of the Cycos
Year of the Cycos
Year of the Cycos is a compilation album of bands featuring vocalist Mike Muir, released in 2008. It features new and previously released songs by Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Cyco Miko, and No Mercy....
(2008), No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family
No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family
-External links:*...
(2010) and The Mad Mad Muir Musical Tour (2011), Suicidal Tendencies have released no new material in the way of albums or singles since their last album, Free Your Soul and Save My Mind
Free Your Soul and Save My Mind
Free Your Soul...and Save My Mind is the eighth studio album by hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies, released in 2000. To date, this is the most recent studio album to contain only original compositions by the band....
, came out in 2000.
Suicidal Tendencies rose to fame with their 1983 self-titled debut album
Suicidal Tendencies (album)
-Personnel:* Mike Muir – lead vocals* Grant Estes – guitar[A]* Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals* Amery Smith – drums-Production:* Glen E...
, which spawned the single "Institutionalized
Institutionalized (song)
"Institutionalized" is a song by the American hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies. It was released in 1983 as the only single from their debut album, Suicidal Tendencies. It is often classified as the band's signature song and would be re-recorded for the album Still Cyco After All These Years...
". That single was one of the first hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
videos to receive substantial airplay on MTV and was the most requested single on KROQ for 6 months. Suicidal Tendencies next release was on their own label "Suicidal Records" where they contributed one song "Look Up...(The Boys Are Back) on the 1985 split "Welcome to Venice." However they did not release a follow-up full length record until 1987, with 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....
. The album attracted the attention of Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, who signed the band in 1988 and issued their third album, How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today is the third album by the American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, released on Epic Records on September 13, 1988....
, later that year. This was followed by their next two albums, Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu
Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu
- Song notes :* "Master of No Mercy", "Waking the Dead", "Controlled by Hatred" and "Choosing My Own Way of Life" were compositions by guitarist Mike Clark's previous band No Mercy....
and Lights...Camera...Revolution!
Lights...Camera...Revolution!
Lights...Camera...Revolution! is an album by Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1990. It is their fourth proper studio album as their previous release, Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu, is considered a double-EP of stop-gap material rather than a full-length album.This was the...
, which were also highly successful and both certified Gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
. After releasing two more studio albums (The Art of Rebellion and Suicidal for Life
Suicidal for Life
Suicidal for Life is an album by Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1994. It is their sixth proper studio release as Still Cyco After All These Years is a re-recording of the band's early material...
), the band broke up and severed ties from Sony and Epic in 1995. However, they reunited in 1997 and have continued to perform and record since then. After over a decade of work and many lineup changes, the band intends to release their first album with all-new material in 12 years in 2012.
Early career, controversy, and first hiatus (1981–1986)
Suicidal Tendencies formed in 1981 as a punk band in Venice, California. The original line-up of the band consisted of Mike Muir on vocals, Mike Ball on guitar, Carlos "Egie" Egert on drums, and Mike Dunnigan on bass. After the recording of its first demo, Carlos Egert left the band and was replaced by Dunnigan's brother Sean. Muir, at the time a student at Santa Monica CollegeSanta 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...
, originally only intended Suicidal Tendencies as a "party band" for fun, but as the band grew in notoriety he soon found the band at the center of his life. Suicidal Tendencies had a rough start including being voted "Worst Band/Biggest Assholes" in Flipside
Flipside (fanzine)
Flipside was a punk rock fanzine published in Los Angeles, California from 1977 to 2000.As one of the first and longest running US punk rock fanzines, this publication extensively chronicled the world of independent and underground music during this era. Known for its highly opinionated cast of...
in 1982 but the following year were voted "Best New Band". There were many rumors of the band members as well as their friends and followers being involved with gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
s (especially the Venice White Boyz), with Muir's trademark blue bandanna
Kerchief
A kerchief is a triangular or square piece of cloth tied around the head or around the neck for protective or decorative purposes...
and violence at the bands performances as evidence. In their original line-up photo, which can be seen inside their self-titled debut album, drummer Amery Smith is wearing a flipped up hat and under the bill are the markings "V13", which are initials for the gang Venice 13. Though there were probably a handful of V13 members who also became Suicidals, Amery was not a member of V13 but bassist Louiche Mayorga's brother was (and that's whose hat he's wearing just for the photo). Eventually an entire gang sprung up around the group, the Suicidal Cycos (also known as the Suicidals, Suis or Suicidal Boyz), with chapters in Venice, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Oceanside and even a chapter in San Antonio, Texas. The band name is an obvious source of controversy, relying on a strong taboo that implies discussion around suicide might promote it[needs ref]. Using the opposition to fuel creativity, they quickly gained a following and began performing at larger gigs. They recorded a demo in 1982 and were featured on the Slamulation compilation LP on Mystic Records
Mystic Records
Mystic Records is a record label and music production company that was based in Hollywood CA one block south of Hollywood and Vine and later moved to Oceanside, California...
. The song featured was "I Saw Your Mommy", which was later featured on their self-titled debut album. The Dunnigan brothers quit after these recordings, with Mike Dunnigan later joining Tony Alva
Tony Alva
Tony Alva , is one of the original Z-Boys and is considered to be one of the most influential skateboarders of all time. He was professional skateboarding's first world champion in history, a title he won in 1977.-Career:...
's band The Skoundrelz to be back with Mike Ball on guitar and Bela Horvath on drums. Ball stayed in the band for 2 years before joining The Skoundrelz and was replaced by Dunnigan. Guitarist Rick Battson recorded the Demo before the first album and 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:...
learned that demo replacing him on guitar and Playing on Suicidal's first record.
All this controversy helped the band gain label attention, and in 1983 Suicidal signed with the independent label 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 released their self-titled debut
Suicidal Tendencies (album)
-Personnel:* Mike Muir – lead vocals* Grant Estes – guitar[A]* Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals* Amery Smith – drums-Production:* Glen E...
. It was described by critic Steve Huey as "Fast, furious, and funny... Mike Muir proves himself an articulate lyricist and commentator, delving into subjects like alienation
Social alienation
The term social alienation has many discipline-specific uses; Roberts notes how even within the social sciences, it “is used to refer both to a personal psychological state and to a type of social relationship”...
, depression, and nonconformist politics with intelligence and humor." It contained the song "Institutionalized
Institutionalized (song)
"Institutionalized" is a song by the American hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies. It was released in 1983 as the only single from their debut album, Suicidal Tendencies. It is often classified as the band's signature song and would be re-recorded for the album Still Cyco After All These Years...
", which featured a music video that became one of the first hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
videos to receive substantial MTV airplay, and greatly expanded the band's fan base. The song was featured on the 1984 film Repo Man, as well as in a 1986 episode of the TV show Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
("Free Verse", which also featured a cameo appearance of the group performing in a new wave/punk club) and in the 2008 film Iron Man, where the song plays in the background as Tony Stark works on his car. Soon after the release of the debut album in 1983, Estes left the band and was replaced by 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:...
, former manager of Venice-based band Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch (band)
Neighborhood Watch is a crossover thrash metal and punk band from Palms, Los Angeles, California who defined the "Venice Scene" in the '80's with bands like Suicidal Tendencies, Beowülf, No Mercy and Excel, who all played a mix of skate punk, hardcore, heavy metal and thrash...
. Nelson played many shows with the band and also contributed to music for future songs like: "War Inside My Head", "Human Guinea Pig", and "Look Up...(The Boy's Are Back)", “You Got, I Want”, Nelson never recorded anything with them (except a live recording of the song "War Inside My Head." All the music written by Nelson is credited on the albums as written by (Suicidal Tendencies) and not Jon Nelson, for he foolishly traded his publishing rights and writers credit to Mike Muir for a Flying V guitar. That same year was the first year of Suicidal’s four year recording hiatus and Mike Muir and bassist Louiche Mayorga
Louiche Mayorga
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...
formed the Label “Suicidal Records” as well as the band 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...
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:...
left the group and Suicidal Tendencies were banned from playing L.A. shows from an Incident at Perkins Palace (their fans tore out ten rows of seats and promoters couldn’t get the proper Insurance to hire them) Muir was also about to try his hand at producing as well as starting the new label. Los Cycos was originally Mike Muir (Vocals), 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...
(bass), Anthony 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...
(Guitars) 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:...
(drums). After a few rehearsals Amery Smith left the line up to join Jon Nelson in starting their own band (The Brood
The Brood (band)
The Brood was a crossover thrash band from Venice, California featuring former members of Suicidal Tendencies and Neighborhood Watch.-Biography:...
) Los Cycos eventually included; 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:...
on lead guitar and original choices Bob Heathcote and Amery Smith were replaced by Louiche Mayorga (bass) and Sal Troy for (drums).They recorded the song "It's Not Easy" written by Muir. "Welcome to Venice" was the first record to be released on Suicidal Records, unfortunately the original masters were destroyed in a fire. In 1989 Suicidal Tendencies re-recorded "It's Not Easy" for their 1989 release "Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit... DejaVu" album. The other Los Cycos track "A Little Each Day" which never made it to the album, was re-recorded for the 1987 Suicidal Tendencies release "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....
" and again on "Still Cyco After All These Years
Still Cyco After All These Years
Still Cyco After All These Years is a 1993 compilation album by Suicidal Tendencies. It is a re-recording of the band's 1983 debut album, Suicidal Tendencies and also contains 3 additional tracks...
" released in 93. In 2000 it resurfaced on the FNG compilation and a fourth time on 2008s (split) album Lights...Camera...Revolution!/Still Cyco After All These Years. Suicidal Tendencies played on the track "Look Up...(The Boys are Back) which was the introduction of guitarist 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 drummer RJ Herrera." The band finally found a new label in Caroline Records in 1986.
First comeback (1987–1988)
With the line-up of Muir, Louiche MayorgaLouiche Mayorga
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...
, George, and Herrera, the band released their second album, 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....
, in 1987 (see 1987 in music
1987 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
). The album was met with a mixed reaction from long-time fans due to its considerably more metal-oriented sound (an element brought to the table by Rocky George), as they were expecting another punk album. Nonetheless, Join the Army featured classic tracks such as "War Inside My Head" and "Possessed To Skate" (which featured a video, originally intended for an unsuccessful Skateboard Movie, which featured Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
).
Shortly afterwards, the band made some major changes. 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...
's metal influences (reflected in his Motörhead-esque songwriting contributions to Join the Army) began in turn influencing Muir, who replaced Keven Guercio as singer for Mike Clark
Mike Clark (guitarist)
Mike Clark is an American heavy metal and punk rock guitarist. He is best known for being the rhythm guitarist with Suicidal Tendencies. He has been playing with the band since 1987, and was the only member besides Mike Muir to return to the band when they reunited. He originally played in the...
's speed metal
Speed metal
Speed metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from NWOBHM and hardcore punk roots. It is described by Allmusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music....
band 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:...
prior to this. Muir hired No Mercy's guitarist Mike Clark
Mike Clark (guitarist)
Mike Clark is an American heavy metal and punk rock guitarist. He is best known for being the rhythm guitarist with Suicidal Tendencies. He has been playing with the band since 1987, and was the only member besides Mike Muir to return to the band when they reunited. He originally played in the...
as a rhythm guitarist for Suicidal. Clark helped handle much of the band's songwriting, which progressed into a more thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
oriented musical direction. Then he fired Mayorga, who had been trying to keep the band in punk territory, and was replaced briefly by No Mercy bassist Ric Clayton, who was 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...
. Shortly after the band was picked up by Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
producer Mark Dodson
Mark Dodson
Mark Dodson is a prolific record producer and sound engineer, who mostly works with artists in the heavy metal genre. He is best known for producing albums by Anthrax and Suicidal Tendencies.-Biography:...
and signed to the Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
subsidiary Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. The stylistic changes and signing to a major label outraged a few long-time fans, but Suicidal began to pick up more fans from the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
community as well.
The band's first release with Epic was How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today is the third album by the American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, released on Epic Records on September 13, 1988....
, released in 1988 (see 1988 in music
1988 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert....
). The album was almost completely stripped of the band's punk and hardcore roots, instead featuring a thrash-oriented sound with more complex song structures and a greater emphasis on instrumental skill than the band had ever shown previously. However, the album was considerably more melodic than most thrash metal albums, perhaps a lasting influence of the bands punk past. Singles and music videos were released for "Trip At The Brain" and the title track, which were successful and helped expand the bands audience. That same year the band was thanked by country musician Hank Williams Jr. at the 1988 CMA Awards. Williams' son
Hank Williams III
Shelton Hank Williams, known as Hank 3 , is a neotraditional country and punk metal singer, drummer, bassist, and guitarist. In addition to his honky tonk recordings, Williams' style alternates among country, punk and metal...
was apparently a big fan of Suicidal.
Trujillo-era and second hiatus (1989–1996)
With their popularity and media attention obviously increasing, Suicidal released a compilation of two EPsExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu
Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu
- Song notes :* "Master of No Mercy", "Waking the Dead", "Controlled by Hatred" and "Choosing My Own Way of Life" were compositions by guitarist Mike Clark's previous band No Mercy....
in 1989. With yet another new member (future Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
bassist Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo is an American bassist who currently plays bass in Metallica. He has also played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society, and with Jerry Cantrell and Ozzy Osbourne.-Career:...
, credited as Stymee), the album featured two versions of "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow": the video version (the original song cut down for radio/video airplay) and the "heavy emotion" version (a semi-unplugged, more mellow version of the song). All the rest of the songs on the album came from previously released EPs except "Just Another Love Song" and "Feel Like Shit...Deja Vu," with the remaining songs being No Mercy 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...
covers. The album featured the hit "Waking The Dead," which at 7 minutes was one of the most progressive
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
tracks the band had released to date.
Controlled By Hatred... eventually went gold, the first of three Suicidal albums to do so.
In 1990 Suicidal Tendencies released the album that many fans consider to be their masterpiece, and the album that almost broke them into the rock mainstream, Lights...Camera...Revolution!
Lights...Camera...Revolution!
Lights...Camera...Revolution! is an album by Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1990. It is their fourth proper studio album as their previous release, Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu, is considered a double-EP of stop-gap material rather than a full-length album.This was the...
This album featured the same line-up as Controlled By Hatred... (with Trujillo now using his real name) and continued to grow musically. The songs were much more complex than on any other Suicidal album, some songs bordering on progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
, but also showed a new influence courtesy of Trujillo, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
. This made the band's sound increasingly unique and difficult to categorize.
The album was a smash hit. It featured the major Headbangers Ball
Headbangers Ball
Headbangers Ball is a music television program consisting of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV2, MTV Australia, MTV Two , MTV Adria , MTV Brand New, MTV Portugal, MTV Finland, MTV Arabia, MTV Norway, MTV Sweden, MTV Denmark, MTV Greece, MTV Türkiye, MTV...
and rock radio hit "You Can't Bring Me Down
You Can't Bring Me Down
"You Can't Bring Me Down" is a song by Suicidal Tendencies, released in 1990 on the Lights...Camera...Revolution! album. It went on moderate commercial success and aided in Suicidal's transition from a hardcore punk band to a thrash metal one...
", a thrash epic which challenged the PMRC, as well as the televangelist bashing funk-metal track "Send Me Your Money
Send Me Your Money
"Send Me Your Money" is a song by Suicidal Tendencies, released as a single in 1990 from their successful album Lights...Camera...Revolution!...
", and the melodic thrash song "Alone" – all released as singles and music videos. All three singles were successful (especially "You Can't Bring Me Down"), and helped Lights...Camera...Revolution! also reach gold status, and the band gained a heavy audience in the thrash metal community despite being commonly accused of "selling out" in the hardcore circle. Today Lights... is widely considered to be a thrash classic. The band's 1991 tour with Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
, their first show in Los Angeles in years, and their appearance on the Clash of the Titans tour (and, to a lesser extent, Mike Muir's brawl with Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
on the aforementioned tour) only helped expand their popularity. They also released the Lights...Camera...Suicidal! home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
in 1991.
Muir eventually became very interested in the funk music that Trujillo had brought to the table of Suicidal's influences. As a result, the two formed a funk metal
Funk metal
Funk metal is a subgenre of funk rock that fuses elements of heavy metal and funk. Allmusic has claimed that "funk metal evolved in the mid-'80s when alternative bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Infectious Grooves, Mordred and Fishbone began playing the hybrid with a stronger...
side project in the vein of early Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
and Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
called Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves is a funk metal band led by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. It also features former Excel guitarist Adam Siegel, ex-Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo , and ex-Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins...
. Also recruiting ex-Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
drummer Stephen Perkins
Stephen Perkins
Stephen Andrew Perkins is an American musician and songwriter. A drummer and percussionist, he currently plays with Jane's Addiction and Hellflower....
and 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...
guitarist Adam Siegel
Adam Siegel
Adam Siegel is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and graphic designer from Venice, California, United States...
, Infectious Grooves released their debut, The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious Grooves
The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious Grooves
The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious Grooves is the debut album by Infectious Grooves, released in 1991. The second song "Therapy" featured Ozzy Osbourne. The album introduces the character Sarsippius. As of 2011, the album is out of print and problems with the rights...
, which featured Ozzy Osbourne singing the line "therapy" in the song "Therapy" in 1991. This helped expand Suicidal's fan base into an even wider audience that including members of the alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
community (funk-metal was a popular alt-metal style at the time).
Herrera left Suicidal Tendencies in 1991 due to personal differences. The rest of the band continued as an incomplete 4-piece for about a year, drafting now-famous drummer Josh Freese
Josh Freese
Josh Freese is an American session drummer and songwriter. He is a permanent member of A Perfect Circle, The Vandals, and Devo, having formerly played drums for Nine Inch Nails from late 2005 until late 2008, and for Guns N' Roses from mid-1998 to 2001. Freese has appeared on close to 300 records....
to record their new album which would become Art of Rebellion
Art of Rebellion
"Monopoly on Sorrow " from promo 1993 CDS:The Art of Rebellion is the fifth full-length album by Suicidal Tendencies. It was released in 1992 on the Sony Music label.It is widely considered to be Suicidal's "experimental" album...
, released in 1992 (see 1992 in music
1992 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s....
). The album was very different than anything Suicidal Tendencies had done before, but it was actually their most melodic, accessible album to date. It lessened the bands thrash influences, instead focusing on a unique, almost alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
sound, with more emphasis on funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, as well as traditional metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
guitars. Although different, the album was greeted warmly by most fans and many critics.
The album was also the band's most commercially successful album. The first single, "Asleep At The Wheel", did moderately well, but was followed by two smash hits. The metal ballad "Nobody Hears" and the crossover hit "I'll Hate You Better", both of which managed to chart on the modern rock radio Billboards. The album debuted on number 52 on the Billboard Top 100 charts (ST's highest charting album ever) has since gone gold. The band began performing large stadium shows, touring with some mainstream rock staples as Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
, and Danzig
Danzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
, where they earned a wide reputation as an excellent live act. By the end of the year Suicidal had finally found a permanent replacement for Herrera, former White Lion
White Lion
White Lion is an American/Danish hard rock/heavy metal band that was formed in New York City in 1983 by Danish vocalist Mike Tramp and American guitarist Vito Bratta. Mainly active in the 1980s and early 1990s, the band achieved double platinum status with their #8 hit "Wait" and #3 hit "When the...
and Y&T
Y&T
Y&T is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from Oakland, California...
drummer Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso
Jimmy DeGrasso is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for F5.DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981....
.
Now at their commercial peak, Suicidal Tendencies released Still Cyco After All These Years
Still Cyco After All These Years
Still Cyco After All These Years is a 1993 compilation album by Suicidal Tendencies. It is a re-recording of the band's 1983 debut album, Suicidal Tendencies and also contains 3 additional tracks...
in 1993 (see 1993 in music
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
). The album was a re-recording of Suicidal's then out-of-print self-titled debut album with 3 additional songs (two re-recordings of 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....
tracks, and the B-side to the 1990 "Send Me Your Money" single). It featured singles for the new versions of "Institutionalized" and "I Saw Your Mommy", which managed to do well, as did the album. That same year also saw the release of another Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves is a funk metal band led by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. It also features former Excel guitarist Adam Siegel, ex-Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo , and ex-Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins...
album, Sarsippius' Ark
Sarsippius' Ark
Sarsippius' Ark is the second album from Infectious Grooves. It was released in 1993.-Track listing:# "Intro" – 0:41# "Turtle Wax " – 3:30...
, which included new tracks as well as demo recordings of old songs, and live tracks.
However, disturbed by their recent commercial success and fame, and fear that the band was no longer relevant in the underground, Suicidal Tendencies released Suicidal for Life
Suicidal for Life
Suicidal for Life is an album by Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1994. It is their sixth proper studio release as Still Cyco After All These Years is a re-recording of the band's early material...
in 1994 (see 1994 in music
1994 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
). The album was intended by the band to be the least accessible album they had ever released, starting out by having 4 consecutive songs with the word "fuck
Fuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
" in the title, and switching to a more aggressive style than on their previous studio album. Suicidal for Life was widely considered to be a disappointing album by critics, many of which claimed Muir had "dumbed down" his lyrical approach from previous albums. Fans also had a generally mixed reaction, although their reaction was more favorable than critics.
Muir's strategy worked, however. The album did not sell nearly as well as the past four Suicidal records (although it did sell decently on the band's reputation alone) and the only major single, "Love Vs. Loneliness", featured a gloomy music video that hurt the song's airplay.
Unfortunately it was also around this time the band, whose contract with Epic Records had expired, began to fall apart, and folded after a tour in 1995. Muir and Trujillo continued Infectious Grooves, releasing Groove Family Cyco
Groove Family Cyco
Groove Family Cyco is the 3rd album by Infectious Grooves, a 1994 concept record about a family of crazy people . The "Violent & Funky" music video appeared in Beavis and Butthead- Track listing :# "Violent & Funky" – 4:19...
later that year (this album was released before Suicidal Tendencies split), but they eventually folded as well, with Trujillo joining Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
's band (and later Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
) and Muir performing as Cyco Miko, releasing Lost My Brain! (Once Again)
Lost My Brain! (Once Again)
Lost My Brain! is the first of two solo albums from Mike "Cyco Miko" Muir – lead singer of Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves. It was released in January, 1996 on the Epic Records label...
. Rocky George formed the group Samsara and played in 40 Cycle Hum and Cro-Mags
Cro-Mags
Cro-Mags are a hardcore punk turned crossover thrash band from New York City. The band, which had a strong cult following, released many records, their first two considered the most influential...
after Suicidal's breakup, eventually joining Fishbone
Fishbone
Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s...
. Mike Clark joined a band called Creeper, while Jimmy DeGrasso joined Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
's side project MD.45
MD.45
MD.45 was a side project of Megadeth guitarist/frontman Dave Mustaine, Fear guitarist/vocalist Lee Ving on singing duties, Electric Love Hogs and future Goldfinger bassist Kelly LeMieux and former Suicidal Tendencies member Jimmy DeGrasso on drums...
, and eventually replaced Nick Menza
Nick Menza
Nick Menza is an American drummer best known for his work in Megadeth from 1989 to 1998, appearing on four of the band's studio albums.-Early life:...
in Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
who recruited guitarist Anthony 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...
(Suicidal Tendencies, Los Cycos) for his solo record entitled "Life After Deth".
A greatest hits compilation, Prime Cuts, was released in 1997, apparently against the band's will.
Second comeback (1997–2001)
To the excitement of many, Suicidal Tendencies returned in 1997. However, Rocky George, Robert Trujillo, and Jimmy DeGrasso were all unable to rejoin as they were busy with other projects. Muir and Clark brought in new lead guitarist Dean PleasantsDean Pleasants
Dean Pleasants is a heavy metal guitarist. He is currently the lead guitarist for Suicidal Tendencies, replacing Rocky George after the split up in 1997. He is also a member of the Suicidal Tendencies funk metal side project Infectious Grooves. He also played with Ugly Kid Joe on their America's...
(formerly of Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves is a funk metal band led by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. It also features former Excel guitarist Adam Siegel, ex-Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo , and ex-Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins...
), new bassist Josh Paul and new drummer Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman is the current drummer for the American punk band Bad Religion and the younger brother of Chad Wackerman, formerly a member of Frank Zappa's band.-Career:...
(formerly of Bad4Good
Bad4Good
Bad4Good was a heavy metal band formed in 1991 by guitarist Steve Vai. The band was a quartet of teenagers, the oldest of whom was 16. The group was led by guitarist Thomas McRocklin, bassist Zack Young, drummer Brooks Wackerman, and singer Danny Cooksey...
and Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves is a funk metal band led by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. It also features former Excel guitarist Adam Siegel, ex-Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo , and ex-Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins...
, now with Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
) to replace them.
The band released their first new material in almost half a decade, the Six the Hard Way
Six the Hard Way
Six the Hard Way is an EP released by hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies on November 17, 1998.The record features two live recordings and four new tracks...
EP in 1998, which also included two live tracks. Released on Suicidal Records, this EP saw the band switching back to their original hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
and skatepunk style (with songs originally recorded by Cyco Miko covered). This, along with the absence of George and Trujillo, upset many of the bands metal-era fans, but fans of the older punk Suicidal warmly welcomed the new style.
The band stuck to a similar formula for Freedumb
Freedumb
-Credits:*Mike Muir – vocals*Mike Clark – guitar*Dean Pleasants – guitar*Brooks Wackerman – drums*Josh Paul – bass -Tracks 1, 2, 5 – 10, 12, 13:* Recorded at Ocean Studios and Skip Saylor Studios...
, released in 1999 (see 1999 in music
1999 in music
-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
). Despite generally bad reviews from critics (who claimed that the band had "dumbed themselves down" not only lyrically, but musically as well) it was considered by fans of the band as their "comeback album", with the title track, "Cyco Vision" and "We Are A Family" becoming fan favorites (although no singles from the album were released).
The following year Suicidal Tendencies released Free Your Soul and Save My Mind
Free Your Soul and Save My Mind
Free Your Soul...and Save My Mind is the eighth studio album by hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies, released in 2000. To date, this is the most recent studio album to contain only original compositions by the band....
. Unlike its predecessor, which was more straightforward hardcore, this album saw the band covering most of the styles they had dabbled with in the past. Some songs were punk, but many of them were also thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
-oriented, and this was by far Suicidal's funkiest album yet. Fans and even critics greeted the album warmly, and a new single, "Pop Song", was released.
Muir's secondary band Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves is a funk metal band led by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. It also features former Excel guitarist Adam Siegel, ex-Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo , and ex-Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins...
released their fourth and comeback album Mas Borracho
Mas Borracho
Mas Borracho is the 4th album released in 2000 by Infectious Grooves. The title, as written on the album, is "but drunk" in Spanish. However, it most likely is a misspell of "más borracho", meaning "more drunk" or "drunker".-Track listing:...
in 2000, followed by Muir's second solo album as Cyco Miko, Schizophrenic Born Again Problem Child, in 2001.
Suicidal Tendencies featured a new song on the Friends & Family, Vol. 2
Friends & Family, Vol. 2
Friends & Family, Vol. 2 is a compilation CD of bands who are friends or associated with the hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies.-Track listing:...
compilation in 2001, but after then the band fell silent again.
Third hiatus and recent history (2002–present)
Paul and Wackerman (who had just joined Bad ReligionBad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
) had left Suicidal Tendencies by 2002, while the band was on a temporary hiatus, and were replaced by brothers Steve and Ron Bruner on bass and drums, respectively. The band toured during 2003, but were forced take another hiatus in 2004 due to Mike Muir requiring surgery for a back injury.
While the band failed to release an album with material, independently or otherwise, Suicidal Tendencies have continued to tour consistently since 2005. On October 29 of that year their live performance at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
Grand Olympic Auditorium
The Grand Olympic Auditorium is the former name of a sports venue in Los Angeles, California, United States. Located at 1801 S. Grand Avenue, the venue was built in 1924 specifically for the 1932 Summer Olympics, which saw the boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling events held there. At the time it...
in Los Angeles was filmed. Suicidal Tendencies secured a spot in the metal/punk-rock Soundwave Festival
Soundwave Festival
Soundwave Festival, held every year at the Scarborough Spa Ocean Room, Scarborough, UK, is a music and arts festival created by the DIY Collective, a group of young people from around the Scarborough area. It was first held in 1999 on South Bay Beach, Scarborough and was moved to the Spa Complex...
in Australia in February and March 2007, taking in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Sydney and Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. They performed at the Artefact Festival in France on April 29, 2007, and performed in Istanbul, Turkey on May 29. They also headlined the Tuborg Stage at the Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
, held at Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
, UK on Friday June 8, 2007, and closed select shows for the Sounds of the Underground
Sounds of the Underground
The Sounds of the Underground tour was a festival-like tour that rivaled Ozzfest in its first year of existence .The tour features extreme metal and metalcore, and hardcore bands. The existence of this tour, which was held in national arenas, was to attract the rising interest of metal, hardcore,...
tour in San Jose, California on August 3, Irvine, California on August 4, and Mesa, Arizona on August 5. On August 1, 2008, Suicidal Tendencies headlined the Porão do Rock Festival in Brasília
Brasília
Brasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
in front of 15,000 people. By this stage Eric Moore had replaced Dave Hidalgo on drums. During the fall of 2008, the band toured with Whole Wheat Bread
Whole Wheat Bread
Whole Wheat Bread is a punk band from Jacksonville, Florida. They formed in 2003 and have so far released two albums and one EP, under the Orlando based record label Fighting Records.-History:...
, Madball
Madball
Madball is a New York-based hardcore band that originated in the late 1980s, as a side-project of Agnostic Front .- History :Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members...
, Terror
Terror (band)
Terror is a hardcore punk band from Los Angeles, California. Their second album One with the Underdogs sold over 40,000 copies. They have also been on tours throughout Europe , Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Mexico and South America...
, and Death by Stereo
Death by Stereo
Death by Stereo is a hardcore punk band formed in Orange County, California circa 1996 by frontman Efrem Schulz. They are well known for their energetic performances and intricate guitar work...
, opening select dates. During this tour Year of the Cycos
Year of the Cycos
Year of the Cycos is a compilation album of bands featuring vocalist Mike Muir, released in 2008. It features new and previously released songs by Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Cyco Miko, and No Mercy....
– a compilation album featuring Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Cyco Miko and No Mercy – was available for the first time for purchase exclusively at the concerts or from their official website. From the album, the original track "Come Alive" was released as a video clip
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, and is still their latest video clip to date. The band replaced As I Lay Dying
As I Lay Dying (band)
As I Lay Dying is an American metalcore band from San Diego, California. Founded in 2000 by Tim Lambesis and having completed their first Line-up in 2001, the band consists of vocalist Tim Lambesis, drummer Jordan Mancino, lead guitarist Nick Hipa, rhythm guitarist Phil Sgrosso, and bassist Josh...
on the first five shows of the No Fear Energy Music Tour with Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
. Suicidal Tendencies toured Europe from June through July 2009.
The first-ever Suicidal Tendencies DVD Live at the Olympic Auditorium
Live at the Olympic Auditorium
Live at the Olympic Auditorium is a concert film by American rock band Suicidal Tendencies, recorded live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, 2005...
, featuring the full show recorded in Los Angeles back in 2005, was finally released on January 26, 2010 by Fontana Distribution
Fontana Distribution
Fontana Distribution is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group that was launched in 2004, which deals in distribution, as well as in a range of sales, marketing, and back office support services, for a diverse roster of independent record labels and their artists. The company takes its name and logo...
via the band's own imprint, Suicidal Records. On the same day, a best of compilation
Playlist: The Very Best of Suicidal Tendencies
Playlist: The Very Best of Suicidal Tendencies is a best-of compilation album released on Sony Legacy, featuring a collection of Suicidal Tendencies' music with the label...
was released as part of the Playlist music album series issued by Sony BMG.
In September 2010, Suicidal Tendencies released the album No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family
No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family
-External links:*...
which consists of re-recordings of tracks from the 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....
album and of old No Mercy songs, plus the previously-released "Come Alive". In support of the album the band toured the US in October and November, including performing at Tucson AZ radio station's Fall Ball 2010 on October 24 at Pima County Fairgrounds. The band has recently been confirmed to perform at Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
2011, the 22nd edition of the annual German festival.
Status of a new album
Since at least 2002, there has been speculation of a Suicidal Tendencies album featuring all-new original material, with extensive reports that many tracks had been recorded with longtime producer Paul NorthfieldPaul Northfield
Paul Northfield is a prolific record producer and sound engineer, who has worked on albums by bands like Dream Theater, Queensrÿche, Rush and Suicidal Tendencies.-Selected discography:-External links:* * *...
, known for his work with progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
bands like Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
and Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
. On September 11, 2002, Muir posted a message on the band's official website, stating that they would be in the studio "working on new ST songs", although he said the band was already in the studio before their European tour and were "really happy with the results". He also mentioned that the band would "record some new songs" before he would "go leave town on a business trip" and was hoping for an early 2003 release. In January 2003, it was reported that Suicidal Tendencies were set to enter the studio later in the month to begin work on the album. The band explained, "We've got a number of meetings and people coming from all over. We'll leave it at that for now. However, by the end of the month we should have a good idea as to how we plan on proceeding, and what we hope to accomplish musically and individually in the coming year. When decisions are made, we'll let you know." On October 10, 2003, Suicidal Tendencies mentioned on their official website that the band would be release "at least one, and possible two ST CDs" in 2004.
On October 21, 2004, Suicidal Tendencies announced on their official website that they were still working on the new album and stated that this had "been a major highlight, proud spot and focal point for the band in terms of creativity and ability to move forward with its various musical and visual projects." The band also stated that they were working producer Paul Northfield
Paul Northfield
Paul Northfield is a prolific record producer and sound engineer, who has worked on albums by bands like Dream Theater, Queensrÿche, Rush and Suicidal Tendencies.-Selected discography:-External links:* * *...
on both the Suicidal album and new Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves is a funk metal band led by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. It also features former Excel guitarist Adam Siegel, ex-Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo , and ex-Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins...
album. Later that month, the band issued the following statement in an effort to clear up possible misunderstandings with regards to their new project Return to Venice and the Suicidal Tendencies album. The band explained, "Return to Venice will be released before the real new Suicidal Tendencies album." Because of Mike Muir's back status, the band decided to release the compilation first. Obviously this album will have different artwork than the "new-cover-photo-idea", which has just been sent out to the guy who's gonna finalize the cover concept. Also, Return to Venice will feature a compilation of bands attached to Suicidal Records and/or Venice and will contain no re-recordings of the classic 1985 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:...
."
On January 16, 2006, Muir posted an update on the band's official website that Suicidal Tenendencies had returned to the studio again to begin work on the album, stating that Northfield had "flown back into town" and work had "started on the new Suicidal Tendencies CD". He also stated that the band would be "sorting, working on and finishing up all the projects" that the band hoped "to release in the next year...of course starting with the new Suicidal Tendencies CD" and wouldn't "be rushing back to do any shows or making any touring plans 'till after" the album would be completed.
On March 3, 2006, Suicidal Tendencies posted the following update on the new album on their official website:
Asked in February 2008 when the new album was expected to be released, Muir replied:
In February 2010, Mike Muir had noted that the new Suicidal Tendencies album would be released in late-2010, although this release date had already passed and at the band's performance at the FunFunFun Fest lineup at Waterloo Park in Austin, TX on November 7, 2010, he informed the crowd that a new album would be released in 2011. However, in May 2011, Muir told KillYourStereo.com that the new album will likely be released in 2012 as he will begin working on a Cyco Miko album in October, which will have a "taste of new Suicidal, old unreleased Suicidal, new Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves is a funk metal band led by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. It also features former Excel guitarist Adam Siegel, ex-Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo , and ex-Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins...
, old Infectious Grooves and a bunch of other stuff as well."
According to Mike Muir, Suicidal Tendencies have completed three new albums and they are "just putting them together in a time frame."
Band members
- Mike MuirMike MuirMike Muir is the lead vocalist of the Venice skate punk bands Suicidal Tendencies Los Cycos and the funk rock band Infectious Grooves...
– vocals (1981–present) - Mike ClarkMike Clark (guitarist)Mike Clark is an American heavy metal and punk rock guitarist. He is best known for being the rhythm guitarist with Suicidal Tendencies. He has been playing with the band since 1987, and was the only member besides Mike Muir to return to the band when they reunited. He originally played in the...
– rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1987–present) - Dean PleasantsDean PleasantsDean Pleasants is a heavy metal guitarist. He is currently the lead guitarist for Suicidal Tendencies, replacing Rocky George after the split up in 1997. He is also a member of the Suicidal Tendencies funk metal side project Infectious Grooves. He also played with Ugly Kid Joe on their America's...
– lead guitar (1997–present) - Stephen 'Thundercat' Bruner – bass (2002–present)
- Eric Moore – drums (2008–present)
Discography
Studio albums- Suicidal TendenciesSuicidal Tendencies (album)-Personnel:* Mike Muir – lead vocals* Grant Estes – guitar[A]* Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals* Amery Smith – drums-Production:* Glen E...
(1983) - Join the ArmyJoin 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....
(1987) - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile TodayHow Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile TodayHow Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today is the third album by the American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, released on Epic Records on September 13, 1988....
(1988) - Lights...Camera...Revolution!Lights...Camera...Revolution!Lights...Camera...Revolution! is an album by Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1990. It is their fourth proper studio album as their previous release, Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu, is considered a double-EP of stop-gap material rather than a full-length album.This was the...
(1990) - The Art of Rebellion (1992)
- Suicidal for LifeSuicidal for LifeSuicidal for Life is an album by Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1994. It is their sixth proper studio release as Still Cyco After All These Years is a re-recording of the band's early material...
(1994) - FreedumbFreedumb-Credits:*Mike Muir – vocals*Mike Clark – guitar*Dean Pleasants – guitar*Brooks Wackerman – drums*Josh Paul – bass -Tracks 1, 2, 5 – 10, 12, 13:* Recorded at Ocean Studios and Skip Saylor Studios...
(1999) - Free Your Soul and Save My MindFree Your Soul and Save My MindFree Your Soul...and Save My Mind is the eighth studio album by hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies, released in 2000. To date, this is the most recent studio album to contain only original compositions by the band....
(2000) - TBA (2012)
Compilation albums
- Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà VuControlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu- Song notes :* "Master of No Mercy", "Waking the Dead", "Controlled by Hatred" and "Choosing My Own Way of Life" were compositions by guitarist Mike Clark's previous band No Mercy....
(1989) (double EP, half studio-album, includes two unreleased tracks as well as covers of No Mercy and Los CycosLos CycosLos 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...
songs and two versions of "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow") - F.N.G.F.N.G. (album)F.N.G. is a compilation album by hardcore/crossover band Suicidal Tendencies.-Reception:-Track listing:* Although the recording of "Suicyco Mania" is the same one featured on How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today, the mix differs in that all vocals sans the title chant are not...
(1992) - Still Cyco After All These YearsStill Cyco After All These YearsStill Cyco After All These Years is a 1993 compilation album by Suicidal Tendencies. It is a re-recording of the band's 1983 debut album, Suicidal Tendencies and also contains 3 additional tracks...
(1993) (re-recording of the self-titled debut album, also includes one unreleased track and re-recordings of 2 songs from Join the Army) - Prime Cuts (1997) (includes two new tracks as well as two re-recorded tracks from Join the Army)
- Playlist: The Very Best of Suicidal TendenciesPlaylist: The Very Best of Suicidal TendenciesPlaylist: The Very Best of Suicidal Tendencies is a best-of compilation album released on Sony Legacy, featuring a collection of Suicidal Tendencies' music with the label...
(2010) - No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal FamilyNo Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family-External links:*...
(2010) (similar to Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu and Still Cyco After All These Years)
Extended plays
- Six the Hard WaySix the Hard WaySix the Hard Way is an EP released by hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies on November 17, 1998.The record features two live recordings and four new tracks...
(1998)
Split albums
- Welcome to VeniceWelcome to VeniceWelcome 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:...
(1985) - Friends & Family, Vol. 1Friends & Family, Vol. 1* Tracks 1 – 3 performed by Suicidal Tendencies* Tracks 4 – 6 performed by Infectious Grooves* Tracks 7 – 8 performed by Cyco Miko* Tracks 9 – 10 performed by The Funeral Party* Tracks 11 – 12 performed by Creeper* Tracks 13 – 14 performed by Musical Heroin...
(1997) - Friends & Family, Vol. 2Friends & Family, Vol. 2Friends & Family, Vol. 2 is a compilation CD of bands who are friends or associated with the hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies.-Track listing:...
(2001) - Year of the CycosYear of the CycosYear of the Cycos is a compilation album of bands featuring vocalist Mike Muir, released in 2008. It features new and previously released songs by Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Cyco Miko, and No Mercy....
(2008)
Videos & DVDs
- Lights...Camera...Suicidal (1990)
- Live at the Olympic AuditoriumLive at the Olympic AuditoriumLive at the Olympic Auditorium is a concert film by American rock band Suicidal Tendencies, recorded live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, 2005...
(2010)
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Institutionalized Institutionalized (song) "Institutionalized" is a song by the American hardcore punk band Suicidal Tendencies. It was released in 1983 as the only single from their debut album, Suicidal Tendencies. It is often classified as the band's signature song and would be re-recorded for the album Still Cyco After All These Years... " |
Bill Fishman |
| 1987 | "Possessed to Skate" | |
| 1988 | "Trip at the Brain Trip at the Brain "Trip at the Brain" is a song by the American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies. It is the first track on their 1988 third album How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today and was the album's first single... " |
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| 1989 | "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow?" | |
| "Waking the Dead" | ||
| 1990 | "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow?" (Version 2) | |
| "War Inside My Head" | Paul Rachman Paul Rachman Paul Rachman is an American film director who directed the highly praised 2006 documentary on punk music American Hardcore which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released by Sony Pictures Classics. He is also one of the founders of the Slamdance Film Festival... |
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| "You Can't Bring Me Down You Can't Bring Me Down "You Can't Bring Me Down" is a song by Suicidal Tendencies, released in 1990 on the Lights...Camera...Revolution! album. It went on moderate commercial success and aided in Suicidal's transition from a hardcore punk band to a thrash metal one... " |
Simeon Soffer | |
| 1991 | "Alone" | |
| "Send Me Your Money Send Me Your Money "Send Me Your Money" is a song by Suicidal Tendencies, released as a single in 1990 from their successful album Lights...Camera...Revolution!... " |
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| 1992 | "I Wasn't Meant to Feel This/Asleep at the Wheel" | Eric Matthews, Wing Ko |
| "Nobody Hears" | Samuel Bayer Samuel Bayer Samuel David Bayer is an American commercial, music video and film director, and cinematographer.-Early life:Bayer was born in Syracuse, New York... |
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| 1993 | "I'll Hate You Better" | |
| "Institutionalized" (Version 2) | ||
| 1994 | "Love vs. Loneliness" | Sean Alatorre |
| 1998 | "We Are Family" | |
| 2000 | "Pop Songs" | Glen Bennett |
| 2008 | "Come Alive" | |
| 2010 | "I Feel Your Pain... And I Survive!" | Luke Sorensen |