Suicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash band from Venice, California. Formed in 1980, the group originally featured vocalist Mike Muir, guitarist Mike Ball, bassist Mike Dunnigan, and drummer Carlos "Egie" Egert. Muir is the band's only constant member, the current lineup of which features guitarists Dean Pleasants (since 1996) and Ben Weinman (since 2018), bassist Tye Trujillo (since 2021), and drummer Jay Weinberg (since 2024).
Mike Muir formed Suicidal Tendencies in 1980 with Mike Ball, Mike Dunnigan and Carlos Egert, the latter of whom left after the band's first demo recording and was replaced by Dunnigan's brother, Sean. [1] By 1982, Mike Dunnigan had switched to guitar and Louiche Mayorga had taken over on bass. [2] This lineup recorded "I Saw Your Mommy" for the 1983 Mystic Records compilation Slamulation, after which the Dunnigan brothers left. [1] They were replaced by drummer Amery "AWOL" Smith and guitarist Rick Battson, briefly, before Grant Estes took over from the latter. [3] After the recording of their self-titled full-length debut, Jon Nelson briefly joined as a second guitarist, before Estes quit just before the start of a tour in the summer and Nelson took over lead guitar. [4]
In the summer of 1984, Leonard "Rocky" George took over on guitar; shortly thereafter, Smith was also replaced by Ralph "R. J." Herrera. [5] The band contributed "Look Up... (The Boys Are Back)" to their own label Suicidal's Welcome to Venice compilation in 1985, and released Join the Army in 1987. [6] After the album's promotional touring cycle, Muir brought in rhythm guitarist Mike Clark from recently disbanded No Mercy (of which he was also a member), [7] while Mayorga was replaced by Bob Heathcote from Los Cycos, another of Muir's side projects. [8] After the release and promotion of How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today , Heathcote left in February 1989 due to musical differences. [9] Bass on Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit... Déjà Vu was performed by George and Clark.
By the time of a European tour supporting Anthrax in the summer of 1989, Robert Trujillo had taken over bass for Suicidal Tendencies. [10] The new lineup released Lights... Camera... Revolution! in 1990, before Herrera left in late 1991 due to tensions with Muir and his wife being pregnant with their first child. [11] For their next album The Art of Rebellion , the group enlisted Vandals drummer Josh Freese on a session basis. [12] After the album was released, Jimmy DeGrasso took over on drums. [13] In 1993, the band released Still Cyco After All These Years , which featured new versions of songs from their self-titled debut recorded in 1990. [14] The first new album with DeGrasso, Suicidal for Life , followed in June 1994. [15] By late 1995, however, Muir had disbanded Suicidal Tendencies. [16]
After "about a year" away, [17] Suicidal Tendencies reformed with a new lineup including Infectious Grooves members Dean Pleasants on lead guitar, Josh Paul on bass and Brooks Wackerman on drums, who joined returning members Mike Muir and Mike Clark. [18] This incarnation remained stable for several years, releasing Freedumb , Free Your Soul and Save My Mind , and tracks on several compilations. [19] In early 2001, Wackerman left to pursue other projects and was replaced by Ron Bruner. [20] Around a year later, Paul also left the band, with Bruner's brother Steve "Thundercat" Bruner taking his place. [21] Also in 2002, David Hidalgo Jr. began sharing drum duties with Bruner, with both members performing at various points over the coming years. [22] [23] In October 2008, Eric Moore took over as the band's full-time drummer. [24]
In 2011, Thundercat left Suicidal Tendencies to focus on his solo career. [25] He was replaced by Tim "Rawbiz" Williams. [26] The following June, longtime rhythm guitarist Mike Clark also left to reform No Mercy under the new name Waking the Dead, [27] having previously sat out show due to a head injury. [28] He was replaced by Nico Santora, who completed work on the band's next studio album 13 . [29] Shortly after its release, in March 2014 it was announced that former Mars Volta drummer Thomas Pridgen had replaced Moore. [30] In August that year, the band announced that bassist Williams had died. [31] The following month, Pridgen left after just six months with the group to join Chiodos, [32] with Moore returning in his place. [33] Michael Morgan temporarily took over as the band's bassist when they resumed touring in the fall of 2014. [34]
In February 2016, Suicidal Tendencies underwent two more lineup changes – Roberto "Ra" Díaz took over on bass, [35] while former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo replaced Moore. [36] In May, Santora was replaced by Jeff Pogan, who debuted on World Gone Mad later that year. [37] After the EP Get Your Fight On! and another album, Still Cyco Punk After All These Years , Pogan left and was replaced by former Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Ben Weinman. [38] During 2021, Díaz and Lombardo were replaced in the band's touring lineup by Tye Trujillo and Brandon Pertzborn, respectively. [39] In April 2023, Pertzborn was replaced by Greyson Nekrutman, [40] who himself made way for former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg the following March. [41]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Cyco" Mike Muir |
| lead vocals | all Suicidal Tendencies releases | |
| Dean Pleasants | 1996–present |
| all Suicidal Tendencies releases from Prime Cuts (1997) onwards | |
| Ben Weinman | 2018–present |
| none to date | |
| Tye Trujillo | 2021–present | bass | ||
| Jay Weinberg | 2024–present | drums |
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Dunnigan | 1980–1982 (died) |
|
| |
| Mike Ball | 1980–1981 | lead and rhythm guitars | none | |
| Carlos "Egie" Egert | drums | |||
| Sean Dunnigan | 1981–1982 (died 2002) |
| ||
| Andrew Evans | 1981–1982 | bass | none | |
| Louiche Mayorga | 1982–1988 |
| all Suicidal Tendencies releases from the untitled 1982 demos to Join the Army (1987) | |
| Amery "AWOL" Smith | 1982–1984 | drums | Suicidal Tendencies (1983) | |
| Rick Battson | 1982–1983 | lead and rhythm guitars | none | |
| Grant Estes | 1983 | Suicidal Tendencies (1983) | ||
| Jon Nelson | 1983–1984 | none | ||
| Leonard "Rocky" George | 1984–1995 |
| all Suicidal Tendencies releases from "Look Up... (The Boys Are Back)" (1985) to Suicidal for Life (1994) | |
| Ralph "R. J." Herrera | 1984–1991 | drums |
| |
| Mike Clark |
|
| all Suicidal Tendencies releases from How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (1988) to 13 (2013) – four tracks only | |
| Bob Heathcote | 1988–1989 (died 2022) | bass |
| |
| Robert Trujillo |
|
| all Suicidal Tendencies releases from Lights... Camera... Revolution! (1990) to Suicidal for Life (1994) | |
| Jimmy DeGrasso | 1992–1995 | drums | Suicidal for Life (1994) | |
| Josh Paul | 1996–2002 | bass |
| |
| Brooks Wackerman | 1996–2001 | drums |
| |
| Ronald Bruner Jr. | 2001–2008 (part-time starting from 2002) |
| ||
| Steve "Thundercat" Bruner | 2002–2011 | bass |
| |
| David Hidalgo Jr. | 2002–2008 | drums |
| |
| Eric Moore |
| 13 (2013) | ||
| Tim "Rawbiz" Williams | 2011–2014 (until his death) |
| 13 (2013) – two tracks only | |
| Nico Santora | 2012–2016 |
| 13 (2013) | |
| Thomas Pridgen | 2014 | drums | none | |
| Michael Morgan | 2014–2016 |
| ||
| Ra Díaz | 2016–2021 |
| ||
| Dave Lombardo | drums | |||
| Jeff Pogan | 2016–2018 |
| ||
| Brandon Pertzborn | 2021–2023 | drums | none | |
| Greyson Nekrutman | 2023–2024 |
| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1980–1981 |
| none |
| 1981 |
| |
| 1981–1982 |
| |
| 1982 |
|
|
| Late 1982 – early 1983 |
| none |
| Early – spring 1983 |
| Suicidal Tendencies (1983) |
| Spring – summer 1983 |
| none |
| Summer 1983 – summer 1984 |
| |
| Summer 1984 |
| |
| Fall 1984 – early 1988 |
|
|
| March 1988 – February 1989 |
|
|
| Spring 1989 |
|
|
| Summer 1989 – late 1991 |
| |
| Late 1991 – early 1992 |
|
|
| Summer 1992 – late 1995 |
|
|
| Band inactive late 1995 – late 1996 | ||
| Late 1996 – early 2001 |
|
|
| Early 2001 – early 2002 |
| none |
| Early 2002 – September 2008 |
|
|
| October 2008 – 2011 |
|
|
| 2011 – June 2012 |
| none |
| August 2012 – March 2014 |
|
|
| March – August 2014 |
| none |
| Fall 2014 – February 2016 |
| |
| February – May 2016 |
| |
| May 2016 – July 2018 |
|
|
| July 2018 – summer 2021 |
| none |
| Summer 2021 – April 2023 |
| |
| April 2023 – March 2024 |
| |
| March 2024 – present |
| none to date |
Suicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash band formed in 1980 in Venice, California, by vocalist Mike Muir. The band has undergone various lineup changes, with Muir as the only remaining original member. Their current lineup includes Muir, guitarists Dean Pleasants and Ben Weinman, bassist Tye Trujillo and drummer Jay Weinberg. Notable musicians who have contributed to the band's studio or live activities include guitarists Rocky George and Mike Clark; bassists Louiche Mayorga, Robert Trujillo, Ra Díaz, Josh Paul and Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner; and drummers Amery Smith, Jimmy DeGrasso, Brooks Wackerman, David Hidalgo Jr., Thomas Pridgen, Ron Bruner, Eric Moore, Dave Lombardo, Brandon Pertzborn, Greyson Nekrutman and session musician Josh Freese.
Still Cyco After All These Years is the seventh studio album by American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, released in 1993. The album is composed of re-recorded songs from the band's 1983 debut album, Suicidal Tendencies; re-recordings of "War Inside My Head" and "A Little Each Day" from the band's second album, Join the Army; and "Don't Give Me Your Nothin'" which was previously released as a B-side to "Send Me Your Money".
Infectious Grooves is an American funk metal supergroup led by vocalist Mike Muir and initially a side project from his group Suicidal Tendencies. The current lineup also includes guitarists Dean Pleasants and Dave Kushner, bassist Robert Trujillo, and drummer Jay Weinberg. To date, the project released four albums between 1991 and 2000.
Roberto Agustín Miguel Santiago Samuel Trujillo Veracruz is an American musician who has been the bassist for heavy metal band Metallica since 2003. He first rose to prominence as the bassist of crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies from 1989 to 1995, while also collaborating with Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir for funk metal supergroup Infectious Grooves. After leaving Suicidal Tendencies, he performed with Ozzy Osbourne, Jerry Cantrell, and heavy metal band Black Label Society. Trujillo joined Metallica in 2003 and is the band's longest-serving bassist. He was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Metallica in 2009.
Join the Army is the second studio album by American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies. It was released in April 1987, and is one of the most well known albums for crossing over the genres of punk and thrash metal, known as crossover thrash, a genre that Suicidal Tendencies have been credited for creating. Join the Army is arguably one of Suicidal Tendencies' most popular efforts, although it only reached No. 100 on the Billboard 200 chart. This was their first album with guitarist Rocky George and drummer R.J. Herrera, and their last recording with bassist Louiche Mayorga. This is also the last album to feature the band playing hardcore punk before an extended period with a more thrash metal focus. However, on some more recent albums, hardcore punk is again part of the mix.
Suicidal for Life is the eighth studio album by American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1994. It is their sixth full-length album with original material, and their last album to feature lead guitarist Rocky George and bassist Robert Trujillo as well as their only one to feature drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. Suicidal for Life was also Suicidal Tendencies' final studio album released on Epic Records and their last one before their temporary breakup in 1995–1996.
Michael Allen Muir is an American singer who is the lead vocalist and the sole continuous member of Los Angeles-based bands Suicidal Tendencies, Los Cycos, and Infectious Grooves. He has also released several solo albums under his nickname Cyco Miko. Muir's trademark is wearing bandanas, jerseys with the number 13, and hats with block-style letters that read "suicidal".
Groove Family Cyco / Snapped Lika Mutha is the third album by Infectious Grooves, a 1994 concept record about a family of crazy people. The "Violent & Funky" music video appeared in Beavis and Butt-head.
Leonard F. George, best known by his stage name Rocky George, is an American guitarist who has been a member of several notable musical acts, including Suicidal Tendencies, where he was their lead guitarist from 1984 to their first breakup in 1995, and was the first African-American member of the band. After Suicidal Tendencies, George played with 40 Cycle Hum and Cro-Mags, and in 2003, he joined Fishbone. George was also a member of a local punk rock band called Pap Smear with Jeff Hanneman and Dave Lombardo. In 2019, George returned to the Cro-Mags lineup.
Controlled by Hatred / Feel Like Shit… Déjà Vu is the fourth album by American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, released on October 17, 1989, by Epic Records. Despite containing re-recorded songs of previously released material, Controlled by Hatred / Feel Like Shit… Déjà Vu is still considered a studio album rather than an EP or a compilation album. It includes four covers of No Mercy, a cover of Los Cycos, two never-before released tracks and two different versions of "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow" : the "video edited" version and the "heavy emotion" version. Controlled by Hatred is the first of two Suicidal Tendencies albums to go gold.
No Mercy is an American thrash metal band from Venice, California, the brainchild of guitarist Mike Clark who later played in Suicidal Tendencies.
Josh Paul is an American bass guitarist best known as an original member of the band Daughtry, playing on all six of their studio albums. In January 2022, Paul left Daughtry. Prior to that, at the age of 18, he joined thrash/punk band Suicidal Tendencies. Other notable work includes his soul/rock side project Bobby Church, and contributions to a diverse range of bands and artists such as Infectious Grooves, Everlast, Kelly Osbourne, The Veronicas, and Ashley Parker Angel.
No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family is the eleventh studio album by American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, released in 2010. It is considered the follow-up to 1993's Still Cyco After All These Years; like that album, it features some re-recorded songs of their early material. Aside from the re-recordings of songs from their 1987 Join the Army album, it also features re-recordings of No Mercy songs, and the previously released "Come Alive". Its cover art was created by designer Alan Pirie.
Anthony Gallo is an American guitarist who started at age 16 in the early 1980s punk scene. Gallo later progressed into heavy metal and rock as well as T.V. and Film. With a career spanning over 30 years Gallo played and recorded with New Regime, Los Cycos, Nick Menza (Megadeth), Mike Muir, Suicidal Tendencies/Los Cycos, SIN 34, Jon Nelson, Louiche Mayorga, Louis "Loud Lou" Hinzo (Würm), D.H. Peligro, Tiny Bubz (T.S.O.L.), Phil Campbell (Motörhead), heavy metal act Cold Shot, guitarist Carlos Cavazo, James Bradley Jr., Scott Weiland, guitarist Christian Nesmith and Bullet Boys vocalist Marq Torien, and has appeared on Sons of Anarchy in Seasons 5 and 6 as a hang around, and Season 7, the final Ride episode 9, as an S.O.A. Indian Hills, Nevada, charter member.
Los Cycos was an American 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.
13 is the twelfth studio album by the American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies. It was released on March 26, 2013. The album was recorded over a ten-year period at the band's studio "ST Studio", while additional recording took place at Interscope Studios, Stall #2 and Titan Studio.
World Gone Mad is the thirteenth studio album by the American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, released on September 30, 2016. It is the band's first studio album to feature Dave Lombardo on drums, Ra Díaz on bass, and Jeff Pogan on rhythm guitar. Vocalist Mike Muir had stated that World Gone Mad could have been Suicidal Tendencies' final studio album, although he later retracted that statement.
Get Your Fight On! is the second EP by the American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, which was released on March 9, 2018.
Still Cyco Punk After All These Years is the fourteenth studio album by the American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, released on September 7, 2018. This features re-recorded songs of Cyco Miko's 1996 debut album, Lost My Brain! ; it is a near-complete re-recording, since the only tracks from the original album not included are its last two tracks "Cyco Miko Wants You" and "Ain't Mess'n Around", while "Sippin' from the Insanitea" was previously never released. The latter uses the same basic musical structure as "Cyco Miko Wants You", but with brand new lyrics and a different vocal melody.
| Studio albums |
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| Infectious Grooves | |
| Compilation albums | |
| Extended plays | |
| Split albums | |
| Video albums | |
| Notable songs | |
| Related articles | |
