Suicidal Tendencies

  • Los Angeles, CA
    hometown
  • Rock
    genre
  • 1981
    started
  • Bio
    full story
  • Share
  • Similar
Close

About Suicidal Tendencies

Official Site: http://suicidaltendencies.com/


Judging from their name, Suicidal Tendencies were never afraid of a little controversy. Formed in Venice, CA, during the early '80s, the group's leader from the beginning was outspoken vocalist Mike Muir. The outfit specialized in vicious hardcore early on -- building a huge following among skateboarders, lending a major hand in the creation of skatepunk -- before turning their focus eventually to thrash metal. Early on, the group (whose original lineup included Muir, guitarist Grant Estes, bassist Louiche Mayorga, and drummer Amery Smith) found it increasingly difficult to book shows, due to rumors of its members' affiliation with local gangs and consistent violence at their performances. The underground buzz regarding Suicidal Tendencies grew too loud for labels to ignore though, as the quartet signed on with the indie label Frontier; issuing Muir and company's classic self-titled debut in 1983. The album quickly became the best-selling hardcore album up to that point; its best-known track, "Institutionalized," was one of the first hardcore punk videos to receive substantial airplay on MTV, and was eventually used in the Emilio Estevez cult classic movie Repo Man, as well as in an episode for the hit TV show Miami Vice (for which the group made a cameo appearance).

Suicidal Tendencies proved influential for future speed/thrash metal bands, but despite its early success, the quartet's reputation preceded them, as no other record label was willing to take them on (in addition, Los Angeles banned the group from playing around this time, lasting until the early '90s). Not much was heard from the group for several years afterward (leading many to believe that Suicidal had broken up), but Muir and company eventually found a home with Caroline Records. By this time, half of the original lineup had left; Muir and Mayorga were the only holdovers, while guitarist Rocky George and drummer R.J. Herrera rounded out the group. 1987 saw the release of Suicidal's sophomore release, Join the Army, which spawned another popular skatepunk anthem, "Possessed to Skate," as more and more metal heads began to be spotted in Suicidal's audience. Soon after, Suicidal was finally offered a major-label contract (with Epic), as another lineup change occurred: Mayorga exited the band, while newcomer Bob Heathcote took his spot; and a second guitarist, Mike Clark, was added as well. This Suicidal lineup's first album together, 1988's How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today, showed that their transformation from hardcore to heavy metal was now complete, as did a compilation of two earlier EPs, 1989's Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu.

Suicidal's first release of the new decade, 1990's Lights, Camera, Revolution, was another success; its video for the explosive "You Can't Bring Me Down" received repeated airings on MTV's Headbanger's Ball program, while the album (in addition to the Controlled by Hatred comp) would be certified gold in the U.S. a few years later. The release also signaled the arrival of new bassist Robert Trujillo, whose penchant for funk added a new element to the group's sound. The group tried to broaden their audience even further by opening a string of arena shows for prog-metallists Queensrÿche during the summer of 1991. Their next release, 1992's The Art of Rebellion, proved to be one of Suicidal's most musically experimental albums of their career. Muir and Trujillo also teamed up around this time for a funk metal side project, Infectious Grooves (including several other participants, such as Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins) and issued a debut release, The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move. Upset that the group's classic debut had been out of print for several years by this point, Muir decided to re-record the entire record with Suicidal's '90s lineup under the title of Still Cyco After All These Years.

But after one more release, 1994's Suicidal for Life, Suicidal Tendencies decided to hang it up. A pair of compilations were issued in 1997: a best-of set, Prime Cuts, plus Friends & Family. Muir and Trujillo continued to issue further Infectious Grooves releases (Sarsippius' Ark and Groove Family Cyco), in addition to Muir pursuing a solo career under the alias of Cyco Miko (Lost My Brain Once Again) and Trujillo touring and recording as part of Ozzy Osbourne's solo band (appearing on Osbourne's 2001 release, Down to Earth). Muir formed a new version of Suicidal Tendencies in the late '90s (with Clark being the only other familiar face), resulting in such further studio releases as 1999's Freedumb and 2000's Free Your Soul and Save My Mind. Muir and Trujillo joined forces once more for a fourth Infectious Grooves studio release in 2000, Mas Borracho; while another Cyco Miko release surfaced, Schizophrenic Born Again Problem Child, along with a follow-up up to their earlier compilation, Friends & Family, Vol. 2. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi

Scroll up Scroll down

Music

From position 0, showing 7 items, asking 10
See All
  • Love vs. Loneliness
    suicidal-tendencies
    Video
    Love vs. Loneliness
  • I'll Hate You Better
    suicidal-tendencies
    Video
    I'll Hate You Better
  • Nobody Hears
    suicidal-tendencies
    Video
    Nobody Hears
  • War Inside My Head
    suicidal-tendencies
    Video
    War Inside My Head
  • Waking The Dead
    suicidal-tendencies
    Video
    Waking The Dead
  • How Will I Laugh Tomorrow
    suicidal-tendencies
    Video
    How Will I Laugh Tomorrow
  • I Wasn't Meant To Feel This/Asleep At The Wheel
    suicidal-tendencies
    Video
    I Wasn't Meant To Feel This/Asleep At The Wheel
  • 163
    SoundStream
    SoundStream
    song name
    0:00
    Audio powered by
    All the music you want, just 10 bucks a month. Try it free.
    • Institutionalized
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/0/9/4/5/105654901.mp3
    • You Can't Bring Me Down
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/0/5/2/5/190852500.mp3
    • Nobody Hears
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/9/2/8/2/9/920492829.mp3
    • How Will I Laugh Tomorrow
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/2/4/9/6/105569429.mp3
    • I Saw Your Mommy
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/4/7/8/6/105568743.mp3
    • How Will I Laugh Tomorrow
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/7/9/0/3/9/920493097.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

From position 0, showing 2 items, asking 10
See All
  • Mike Muir's Rockin Suicidal Tendencies & Infectious Groove On Stage
    suicidal-tendencies
    video
    Mike Muir's Rockin Suicidal Tendencies & Infectious Groove On Stage
  • Mike Muir Gives An Update On Suicidal Tendencies
    suicidal-tendencies
    video
    Mike Muir Gives An Update On Suicidal Tendencies

News

From position 0, showing 1 items, asking 10
See All
  • Suicidal Tendencies
    Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - "Institutionalized" (Suicidal Tendencies Cover) (Stereogum Premiere)
    stereogum.com
    Suicidal Tendencies have released seven LPs since their 1983 self-titled debut -- and that includes a couple of legit punk-funk-metal-crossover classi...
    Read More

Tour Dates

From position 0, showing 10 items, asking 50
See All
  • Jun 22 Saturday
    Jakarta, Indonesia Carnaval Beach, Ancol
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 22 Saturday
    Jakarta, Indonesia Carnaval Beach, Ancol
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 7 Sunday
    Athens, Greece TerraVibe Park
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 7 Sunday
    London, UK Electric Ballroom
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 12 Friday
    Zottegem, Belgium Rock Zottegem Festival Grounds
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 13 Saturday
    Düsseldorf, Germany Zakk
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 14 Sunday
    Leiden, Netherlands Unknown venue
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 17 Wednesday
    Hamburg, Germany Markthalle
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 18 Thursday
    Düsseldorf, Germany Zakk
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 24 Wednesday
    Berlin, Germany C-Club
    Buy Ticket

Discography

From position 0, showing 10 items, asking 10
See All
Next Page
  • 13 (2013)
    Suicidal Tendencies
    13 (2013)
    Suicidal
  • No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family (2010)
    Suicidal Tendencies
    No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family (2010)
    Suicidal
  • Free Your Soul and Save My Mind (2000)
    Suicidal Tendencies
    Free Your Soul and Save My Mind (2000)
    Suicidal
  • FNG (2000)
    Suicidal Tendencies
    FNG (2000)
    Virgin
  • Freedumb (1999)
    Suicidal Tendencies
    Freedumb (1999)
    Side One
  • Six the Hard Way (1998)
    Suicidal Tendencies
    Six the Hard Way (1998)
    Suicidal
  • Suicidal for Life (1994)
    Suicidal Tendencies
    Suicidal for Life (1994)
    Epic
  • Still Cyco After All These Years (1993)
    Suicidal Tendencies
    Still Cyco After All These Years (1993)
    Epic
  • The Art of Rebellion (1992)
    Suicidal Tendencies
    The Art of Rebellion (1992)
    Epic
  • Possessed to Skate (1990)
    Suicidal Tendencies
    Possessed to Skate (1990)
    Caroline Distribution
Are You Suicidal Tendencies? Claim this page | Learn more about Artists.MTV | FAQ for Artists
Suicidal Tendencies Bio | Suicidal Tendencies Tour Dates | Suicidal Tendencies Music | Suicidal Tendencies News | Suicidal Tendencies Discography |
MTV | MTV Jobs | Privacy Policy | User Content Agreement | Copyright | Artist Index | Social Projects Agreements | Ad Choices |
Portions of this page powered by
This site contains content from artists, fans, and writers from around the internet in it's natural form. Such content is not representative of Viacom Media Networks.

©2012 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

  • Explore
    • Popular
    • Emerging
    • Genres
      • Rock
      • Hip Hop
      • Indie
      • Electronic/EDM
      • Country
      • Pop
    • Collections
    • Artist To Watch
  • Search
  • Are you an artist?
    • Claim Your Page
    • Learn More
    • FAQ
    • Opportunities