.

.

Interview with
CYCO MIKE
from
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

(22nd September, 2025)

Interview with Dave Bruce and Paige Clifford

.

Watch the whole interview below:

COMING SOON TO YOUTUBE

.

Few names in punk, thrash, and crossover culture carry the same weight as Cyco Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies. From backyard rent parties in California to stadium tours alongside Metallica, Mike has lived through every chapter of the band’s extraordinary journey — and he’s still pushing forward with the same raw passion that fuelled their beginnings in 1980.

I caught up with Mike (alongside Amnplify’s Paige) while he was literally on the move — walking, of course. That restless energy has never left him, and it became instantly clear that for Mike, music and life itself are about motion, growth, and refusing to let fear dictate your path.

From Rent Parties to Punk Stages

Mike recalls how Suicidal Tendencies didn’t start like most bands. Instead of carefully planning, it was more about circumstance and energy. His brother’s friends had instruments, the drums ended up in Mike’s kitchen, and they just started playing. The first shows weren’t in clubs, but at rent parties in their backyard. When those got too big, they moved into rented halls. Their hand-drawn shirts and outsider energy quickly caught attention — but not always acceptance.

“Instantly we weren’t liked in punk rock. We weren’t liked in thrash. It was always a bit of a battle,” Mike says with a grin. That battle, however, forged their unique identity — a fusion of sounds and styles that didn’t care for labels.

The Meaning of “Suicidal”

The band’s name has often sparked controversy, but Mike is quick to explain its deeper meaning. Growing up around skate culture, “suicidal” was slang for psyching yourself up to conquer fear. For Mike, it became a philosophy: “Fear is the biggest contributor to people not actually living their life. Suicidal is about pushing yourself, being prepared, and living fully — not holding back because of what others might say.”

It’s not about destruction, but liberation. That ethos continues to shape both Mike’s outlook and Suicidal Tendencies’ music.

.

.

Lessons from His Father

A recurring theme in our conversation was the wisdom Mike inherited from his father, a teacher with a straight-talking philosophy. “My dad said, ‘I’m not going to tell you what you want to hear. I’m going to tell you what I’d want to hear if I was you.’”

That mindset — valuing truth over comfort — has guided Mike through his career. He acknowledges it’s not always what people want to hear, but it’s what they often need.

Music as Experience, Not Labels

When I asked Mike how he describes Suicidal’s music, he compared it to food. “People use labels like punk, metal, thrash… but it’s like describing food. You need to taste it. It’s an experience.”

That’s exactly what fans get at a Suicidal show — a shared moment that goes beyond genre tags. Whether opening for Metallica, headlining their own tours, or his upcoming Cyco Mike solo shows in Queensland, it’s about energy, connection, and experience.

.

.

A Life of Conscious Choices

Mike’s philosophy shines through in the way he balances stadium tours with intimate gigs, or even his decision to walk away from opportunities that didn’t feel right. At one point, he even turned down a million dollars — a choice many would call “crazy,” but for him, it was about staying true to his values.

“It has to make life sense, not just business sense. If it makes life sense, then I’m good.”

Looking Ahead

With Adrenaline Addict released earlier this year and talk of a new record on the horizon, Suicidal Tendencies show no signs of slowing down. And with Cyco Mike shows lined up on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast after their run with Metallica, Australian fans are in for something truly special.

Mike may not sit still — literally, he paces while talking — but that restless energy is what has kept him and Suicidal Tendencies vital for over four decades. Grounded, conscious, and unapologetically himself, Mike Muir remains one of music’s most unique voices.

And when he says Australia is his favourite place to visit? We’ll happily take that.

.

.

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
ANZ TOUR 2025

Fri, Oct 31: Magnet House, Perth
Fri, Nov 7: The Forum, Melbourne
Sun, Nov 9: Pier Bandroom, Frankston
Tues, Nov 11: The Tivoli, Brisbane
Fri, Nov 14: The Roundhouse, Sydney
Tues, Nov 18: The Powerstation, Auckland

Aust: Tickets on sale Thurs, July 17 @ 10.00am local time
NZ: Tickets on sale Thurs, July 17 @ 12.00pm local time

.

.

Follow SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

.

.

About SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

Hailing from the sun-soaked streets of Venice, California, ST was the brainchild of the unstoppable force known as Mike Muir, younger brother of original Z-Boy and Dogtown Skateboard founder Jim Muir.

Picture this: it’s the early 80’s and Muir takes the essence of skating, surfing, and the Dogtown scene and infuses it with a new style of hardcore that forever changed the punk and metal landscape. Suicidal Tendencies hit the stage with a uniqueness that ignited a wild frenzy among crowds. Flipped up hats, hand-drawn shirts, and bandanas became their signature and was instantly recognisable and defiant. They caused such a shitstorm that they were even banned from tearing up stages in their own backyard of L.A!

But did that stop ST? Absolutely not and they went on to take the world by storm. Blending punk, metal, and hardcore into something else: Skate-Punk-Thrash. They shattered musical boundaries and left a trail of awe-inspiring chaos in their wake. With their aggressive sound and unapologetic attitude, they became favourites among the extreme sports community, pumping adrenaline into the veins of every skateboarder, surfer, and thrill-seeker out there.

The rest is history..

Suicidal Tendencies has evolved like a raging beast over the past five decades. With multiple Gold records and Grammy nominations under their belt, they have left an indelible mark on heavy music the world over. Their legacy has even earned them a prestigious spot in the Skateboard Hall of Fame, forever cementing their impact on both music and culture. And let’s not forget the incredible talent that has graced their ranks over the years, with the likes of Robert Trujillo, Thundercat, Josh Freese, and Brooks Wackerman contributing their exceptional skills to the Suicidal family.

.

Watch the whole interview below:

COMING SOON TO YOUTUBE

.

Press Release 17th July 2025 (below) HERE

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
announce headline Tour Dates
while in Australia & NZ
with Metallica, Big Noter

The new project from Briggs,
to open all shows

.

.

AMNPLIFY – DB