How SUICIDAL TENDENCIES changed punk forever (gang members to MTV) 

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All he wanted was a Pepsi.

A true story for ST fans: Many years ago my brother-in-law Ernie the HUGE ST fan was struck down with a blood clot in his brain and was found by his daughter passed out on the floor. Soon, medical aid arrived and took him to the hospital. Ernie survived but with severe mental and physical effects. His full recovery took over two years. During his darkest days of recovery a friend wrote to ST and told them about Ernie's situation and what a big fan he was. A few weeks later a box arrived for Ernie with a personal note from the band members and hats and shirts and everything you can think of. Yet another reason to love those guys!

As a Mexican Punk looking for people who dress like me and look like me ST was one of the first bands that made me feel comfortable and accepted got me into Hardcore Thrash and even 2000s Pop Punk

A badass band. One of a kind. Mike Clark and Rocky George were unreal guitarists. Lyrics were true to life. All songs were different and it'll always be ST!

Rocky George is a beast of a guitar player and is so underrated it’s a crime. Love Suicidal!

One thing about Suicidal Tendencies people overlook is their ability to connect lyrically with their fans. ST got me through a lot of dark times when I was younger. I'm not sure I'd be where I am today without those songs.

I saw Suicidal Tendencies live in 2007 and I loved it. A middle aged Mike Muir still had that same raw teenage anger and rebelliousness. Really awesome.

You didn't mention this, but their guitar player was the first time I ever saw a 7-string Ibanez guitar, in their video for "You Can't Bring Me Down". And then a few years later, every band from Korn and Limp Bizkit to the Deftones were using them as standard. I love that crunchy 7-string guitar sound.

my mom was a skater in the 80’s so i grew up listening to her cassettes of Suicidal tendencies, Black Flag, Circle Jerks and MOD. ST was definitely my favorite!

ST's debut album was just a beast of speed and noise and black humor. Incredibly under rated band.

Suicidal was so influential and Institutionalized was some of the first sounds of the new emerging Punk/Hardcore sound coming out at the time. Growing up in an area where Chicano/ LowRider culture was huge---- Suicidal made so much sense to me. Absolutely seminal band that doesn't get all the credit they rightfully deserve

I feel like when Rocky George joined the band he took them to the next level with his guitar shredding skills and took them into the direction of crossing over into thrash. My dad turned me on to S-T around the same time I was learning guitar, and Rocky's solos are epic and were a huge influence on me because at the time I was solely into punk rock power chord playing mindset. Very underrated guitarist imo.

Mike's lyrics got me through some tough times as a teenager. I will always be grateful for lights, camera, revolution.

I was a skater in the 80s, and Suicidal Tendencies was always on blast in my backyard while we were riding my halfpipe. Anything fast and energetic was what we listened to, and ST provided some of the best songs to skate to!

I was in the suicidal tendencies when I was 15 years old as a skater when I first got into the punk scene before I started playing in bands. Their songs were anthems to us. Still are. Years later when I was working security at this place called The Ritz theater in Tampa has security at the dressing rooms.. infectious grooves came and that's when I met Robert Trujillo... And Mike was there... My heroes were standing right next to me!!! One of the coolest moments of my entire life!!

The funny thing about the punk and metal animosity from back then is that it was just the fans who hated each other. For the most part, a lot of the bands got along reasonably well. They shared rehearsal spaces and went to each others' shows and generally had the respect for each other that comes from people all doing the same thing.

I’ll never forget how my mom FREAKED OUT when she found a suicidal tendencies album that I had borrowed in 1987 (I was in the eighth grade) She wouldn’t let me keep it in the house and made me set it on the front porch. my friend came over the next day, understandably perturbed because his album was covered in pollen. She thought because I had the record I was literally suicidal?!?

These episodes delving into the history of a band/artist are my favorite

As someone who was there .. from the south bay... I was fully punk by 1984...from my circles of punks, metal heads could openly rock ST....as a punk you had to be a closet ST fan... Till eventually ST was so badass you didn't have to hide it..

I worked security for Mike Muir. He’s a class act. Very humble. He’d stay to sign autographs for everyone after shows

It truly is a damn shame that Rocky George doesn't get the love that he should!!!🤘🤘🤘

ST was one of the very first bands I listened to and realized I wasn't alone in the depths of my anger and despair. Sure, some of their songs felt fun and upbeat, but I knew from the other darker lyrics and tones that they were authentic and I could - for the first time - relate to somebody. Those early albums were a bridge to the rest of the world for me.

I saw Suicidal at a small venue in Tokyo about 5-10 years ago. They were amazing. They played perfectly. They're old masters now.

I really love this band. I'm not sure we can call it "the band that linked metal and punk", since there were others who explored that idea before (like Motorhead) but they sure brought that union alive at their gigs more than anyone else.

I was the rock/metal kid who discovered punk and hip hop as a freshman in high school in ‘85. Most kids couldn’t understand why I loved all of it and I couldn’t really explain. That first Suicidal album brought it all together for me.

Without Suicidal Tendencies, we wouldn't have the cultural fusion of the hardcore, death metal, and thrash scene today going on. Bands like Drain, 200 Stab Wounds, Judiciary, Frozen Soul, Enforced, Sanguisugabogg, Harm's Way, Code Orange...and the fact all these bands tour together and embrace each other's music. Even OG's like RATM owe a nod.

I’ve always been partial to the Lights Camera Action album, one of my favorite albums ever produced, I’m 54 and I listen to it still to this day. The other albums are great, but this album was just a little more polished, and the guitar work is absolutely brilliant

Tall socks and short pants are the casual clothes of a distinguished gentleman

Institutionalized is still one of the greatest songs of the 80s.

Thanks for letting us sponsor your video man :)

they all pioneered the fusion between thrash and rap. from thier album "lights, camera, revolution" the track "you can't bring me down". awesome band.

One of the most underrated/unappreciated bands of all time. I myself in highschool and shortly after dressed like that. Graduated in 2000. I was introduced to Suicidal Tendencies by older brother in the late 80's and early 90's. I never really saw pictures or videos of the band. So I didn't know how they dressed. But I picked up on the style in the late 90's through music like Korn, Sepultura, Limp Biscuit, Deftones, and so on. It's cool to see who pioneered it. Much respect!!

My friend Louie was the bass player on the 1st 3 albums. Now he does shows With His band LUICIDAL he does the O.G. suicidal songs that he co wrote. I think he recently hosted a couple of tours at the new punk rock museum in Vegas recently with Fat mike and has a couple of his bass guitars there. Ive been a hardcore fan since 1987. Whooooo this is cool. 🎉❤😊 thanks. SUI4LIFE

hit the nail on the head with the punk-metal animosity

These kinds of videos are so underrated! Such a cool way of combining music history with social commentary, history and pop culture!

Damn finally someone giving Chicanos the actual credit we deserve for some aspect of pop culture in the world.

One of the most original and thankfully not often copied punk/thrash bands!😬👌🏼

Honestly, I'm surprised it's taken this long for this video, thank you ThePunkRockMBA

Honorable mention their song being played in the 1st Iron Man movie too. When Tony is working on his car in the garage.

Jon Nelson, my cousin, was the one who wrote "War Inside My Head". I remember growing up, him playing in the band. It was a crazy time to be alive. I am suprised no one bothered to interview him.

I'm 44 years old and was introduced to ST in the 3rd grade and a couple of years later had seen and fell in love with "Blood in, Blood out" and "American me!" My first CD was "Infectious grooves" the plague that makes yer booty move! I'm from the upper peninsula, Michigan! Suicidal has been everywhere for a long time!

Also Mike wrote really emotional, vulnerable, introspective lyrics that he got away with, imo, cuz of the tough guy aesthetics. So first emo band as well.

I seen ST many times back in the early middle 80s you fought for your life in those shows . Still one of my favorite bands .

LOVE this show dawg! You're covering EVERY genre in some of the BEST and insightful obviously researched, way I've seen in a minute. Kick ass work brother, keep it comin!🤘👊🤘😀

Ice-T has listed them as a big influence for Body Count, another great LA crossover band, but they started later. They have their own parody version of Institutionalized from about 10 years ago, only it's got his wife complaining about him playing too much xbox lol.

Mike’s lyrics are incredibly philosophically deep. ST helped me navigate my way through the teenage years as kind of the “soundtrack” to my life, at the time.

Absolutely LOVE the early crossover bands like DRI, SOD, ST, Murphy's Law, etc., listening to it as it came out. We saw ST live at the lakefront in Milwaukee many years ago, right after Suicidal For Life came out. Great show, great performance, great set list. Craziest thing was, Mike Muir had recently broken his leg, and spent the entire show on a spraypainted couch, occasionally getting up on a set of crutches. Few people could ever pull off being a frontman for a metal band, broken leg, on a couch, and be high energy and entertaining. He did. I don't think they've ever put out a bad album, but yeah, CBH/FLSDJV is my favorite release from ST, too. They are so underappreciated!

Hey listen, my brother Kent Senatore is the skateboarder depicted in one of that artist dudes most famous works! And for years Jim Muir believed it to be Tony Alva! Who other than Jay Adams was the single most recognizable DogTown skater! Just some awesome Suicidal Tendencies trivia!

ST opened my eyes to so much music. I would say ST and DRI did the most in exposing me to punk. I was a metal kid and the most punk thing I listened to was Dead Milkmen 😅. After hearing ST and DRI on Headbangers Ball I ended up getting both albums for my birthday. I remember using the video to "Possessed to Skate" as an intro to a speech I did in speech class on skating. 35 years later and I have quite the punk library......plus 30 second DRI songs were great for an ADHD kid.

In junior high , I took a Sharpie to a dress shirt and crafted my own Suicidal shirt just like those on the cover. I believe my mom was called to the school for that episode.

I remember back in the late 80's going to high school with my Sanyo Walkman tape player pumping out Join the Army whilst skateboarding on my Powell Peralta Mc Gill .. Miss some of those time’s when life was less complicated

My mom was a skater and part of the metal and punk scene back during the 80s, and also being from California she is a huge fan of ST, even to this day she has been part of the ST family and great friends with many of them and the close people with the group like Marcus (ST Mangy) to name one (who I've also have had the pleasure to speak to and have as a family friend). its just surreal on how many people and bands ST has influenced and had an affect on in the years they've been around, I for one being only a 22yo myself, I see how big the impact and influence of ST is around the world and I appreciate them for that, not to mention all of ST are great people too, especially when you're lucky enough to get to know them

Rob Trujillo didn't join Metallica just a few years after his ST debut. He was in Suicidal and Infectious Grooves all throughout the 90s and then played in Ozzy Osbourne's band for several years. He didn't join Metallica until 2003.

I found that Finn never talked about BANE. I’m not from the states so I’ve no idea how big the band was but i always feel that it’s an important band

I grew up in the 70s and 80s in San diego and was heavy into the hard core punk scene. Ive been to a suicidal show band before they got real famous and man was it really wild.

good work Finn, your mini docs are getting better & better. keep up the good work

Suicidal Tendencies was the first band I saw live when I was a teenager. I love this band. I even have a ST logo on my hand 👌

Regardless of whether or not I like the music, I love the idea of having a band sponsor your video and share their music on your platform. Hope it’ll happen more often!

legendary band, had a huge influence on my teenage years and I still remember how proud I was to go to school with my ST shirt!

GREAT VIDEO! I grew up in Venice and Santa Monica and going to shows from 85 to 95. I was at that MUSIC+ show. It was such a huge deal to get to see them again in LA County. Suicidal was a gang connected to V13 and were called Suicidal. They even had links to the LBC (Long Beach Crips) connected Sons of Samoa. Once when MTV interviewed Muir he said Suicidal was just a skate bmx thing and denied gang links. Soon after his folks skate shop Streets of Venice got thrashed by angry Suis and SOS who were pissed he denied ST's real gang roots. At local LA shows Suis used to run the pits period. They would roll in and run the floor. When the Sons of Samoa started going to shows more they repped Sui and SOS and ran pits. Shows from Oxnard to Reseda to Fenders in Long Beach and even OC had this presence at shows. Loved growing up where I did was an awesome time for Punk HC Metal. BTW your part about connecting their style and Cholo street style to fashion makes sense, but overall SOCAL/LA Gang culture is the true connection of to street wear. Travis Barker was from Fontana, CA and that is pure Socal Cholo culture he probably got his style from. IMHO Japanese got it from LA Cholos not Suicidal. BTW Cool link on the lineage of the Venice Suicidal Gangs. www.reddit.com/r/CaliBanging/comments/qlnrum/suicidals_gang_from_venice_and_west_side_crazys/

There’s nothing like that first ST album. I’m still searching for the high I got listening to it for the first time. Took me on a journey. I never heard punk with that level of musicianship before. The solo in Two Sided Politics for example blows me away every time. Too punk to be metal, too metal to be punk… whatever it is it’s a masterpiece

Thanks for Showing a New Band to check out at the end of the Video. I think it is good to Inspire any body who feels the need to create. It is so Liberating for the maker of the art, as well as the listener. Thank You Finn!

I’ll never forget my introduction to Suicidal was when I first heard “Cyco Vision” on “Tony Hawk Pro Skater”, I didn’t know who it was at that time but I was instantly hooked the first time i heard it.

I Heard of these guys in 1986 when i was 13 years old,they were the first punk Album i Owned and it was a life changing moment . I would not be who i am today without their first album.

I learn more stuff from this channel that I use more than I ever did from school

In 1991 a rift opened up in the spacetime continuum and I saw Suicidal Tendencies open for Queensryche. It was a pretty good show.

It’s crazy how many badass gospel chops drummers have played with them too

When I started skating in the UK in the late 80s, I was drawn towards Suicidal Tendencies, then Excel, Beowulf and No Mercy, but had to get them as a special import on vinyl.

Rocky George is a legit amazing guitarist. Many of those riffs and solo's he did with ST are incredible. A personal fav riff of mine (probably because it was one of the first riffs I learned) was from the song waking the dead

My first-ever concert was Megadeth suicidal tendencies. Such a great experience

Love that you brought these guys up!❤ such a good band

I saw a kid on a train with Suicidal cap on four months ago in Vantaa, Finland. ST culture is vital and kick'n.

When I was little, I saw the blue rags and thought they all were crips lol. I didn't know about mexican gangs back then. I remember them being the first crossover band I heard. I really loved their earlier albums. I haven't kept up with them, but i'll have to check out their newer stuff.

Respect to finn for promoting an up and coming indie band like Rushing Spring, they’re good too

Found ST through the skaters, i seen the Institutionalized and was hooked. I wear a bandana everyday still at 50 because Mike had his pulled down over his eyes and i thought that was bad ass. Still have cds in my van that I listen to regularly. I seen them twice, meet Mike and got an autographed bandana!!

My 11 year old brother introduced me to Suicidal in 83. I was 14. He heard it at a friends and borrowed it because he knew I'd love it. Sorry Marty, I still have it.

ST! ST! ST! Great band. They survived a hard transition from skate punk to metal and stood their ground.

Your dedication to your craft is pretty impressive! You manage to sound like somebody who grew up in any genre you cover. Even Though I know you Weren't there BECAUSE I WAS THERE, But god damn you do your due Diligence Great vid. What a trip down memory lane.

I saw them a few times back in the old days. My favorite was when Muir's side project, Infectious Grooves, opened the show. Incredible rocking show. "For this infectaphibian thing, man"

I grew up in the SFV in the 80’s and saw Suicidal many times. In fact, I almost fell over when I saw my young self on stage during that clip you showed after the Flipside cover. Great video that brought up great memories! Thanks

As a kid from Maryland Suicidal Tendencies was my gateway drug to punk rock in the late 80s. Which then opened me up to the DC Punk and hardcore scene. It was a good time to be young.

Suicidal was my introduction heavy music in 89. My little kid brain couldn’t comprehend what I was hearing, but I was loving every minute of it. Couldn’t agree more with how much pop culture changed because of their influence.

As a Chicano from Venice born in the 80’s I appreciate the story you’ve told here for the world to see. Thanks

Thank you for this video. Another Marine, Pete Arnella from Northern Cal, introduced me to ST in 1987, along with the Dead Kennedys. Meanwhile, yet another Marine, Marvin Krejci from Nebraska introduced me to Minor Threat. At the same time, Beastie Boys were blaring everywhere - they were doing punk before the switched to rap, but their rap album 'Licensed to Ill' got heavy play everywhere. Damn, I feel ancient now.

Suicidal was one of my favorite bands as a kid. I was from an upper middle class family from the burbs, but could 100% relate to what they were doing. If you were like me or a straight cholo it was appealing and that’s powerful. Like Finn said, what couldn’t he denied was the talent in this band. Rocky George in particular is an absolute monster.

It would be really cool if you made a video about the Japanese punk scene. Of course, you might not have any interest in this but I find this scene to be one of the most interesting in punk history.

Found ST in '85. Skipping school in the city park hanging out with a couple of metalheads. I was a punk skater and was blown away by the first ST album. They also turned me on to Wendy O Williams who was equally good, imo. Good days to have grown up in. Miss it.

In 1984 I was 9 and my sister was 15. She had a boyfriend that was something I had never seen before. The dude was 17 rode a motorcycle and this haircut that was short in the back and long in the front. He really was a nice guy but thats when I 1st heard Suicidal Tendencies and thats my into into hard music. Before that it was Waylon Jennings and Kenny Rogers. You just never know how fast life can change. Thanks Shawn, hope you're doing well.

i love that you're having independent/ up and coming bands sponsor your videos. Stays true to your roots and i dig that

This Was a nostalgic trip to my music in the youth just before the 90's , suicidal was the skateboarding music for us

Just saw infectious grooves here in Melbourne Australia and they’re still rockin’ it. I just remember them being the first band I ever heard who sang about youth mental health issues and they helped me through some dark times as a teenager.

They were the first band outside of mainstream to understand not only the power of a brand but how to do it. They created a blueprint that the majority of DIY bands now follow. They have had so many different band members however the brand is still the same, their albums differ but the Suicidal name remains strong.

It's crazy to think about how strong the divide between punk and metal really was back in the 80s and 90s. Stuff gradually changed so much in the hc scene, these days it can be difficult to tell if certain bands are supposed to be hardcore or metal on first listen cuz the two genres are so cross-bred.

Some guys mention this in the comments and I totally agree. Discovering Suicidal and going to their shows in Europe helped me through some really tough times when I was young. I could connect to them and I still do even though I am old now. To this day I still remember the friend I used to have who gave me a Suicidal Tendencies cassette. From this day on my life changed. In the Pantheon of punk and hardcore Suicidal still receives to less appreciation for what they did for the culture and most important for their fans. I am pretty sure that I'm not the only one who is still alive thanks to ST and Mike Muir. Thanks for the video, bro.

I was introduced to Suicidal in the movie Repo Man. "I'm just working on myself"

Among all the other things this band has been responsible for in music, it also gave us Thundercat.

I remember the first time I saw them after being a huge fan for many years. They toured in support of Alice in Chains for the Dirt album. Any band that can open with You can’t bring me down and keep up the energy and power for the entire set is dooming the headliner to a miserable situation which is what happened. I’ve seen them on every tour since and been consistently blown away. Ive been luck enough to have met the classic line up and they were very kind and gracious with their time with photos and autographs etc. Criminally underrated band!

Great Video, I very much enjoyed the history run down, I have been a fan of theirs since my sister brought their first album home back in 1984

Back in high school in 89 I did an art project that was going to be the Suicidal logo from JTA. I didn't want to do the whole thing (lazy) so I only did "Suicidal". It was a painting that I had to leave out to dry in the art room and another teacher (not the art teacher) saw it and reported it to the Vice Principal. I got called in to discuss my "feelings" and to make sure that I wasn't depressed. The art teacher and I got a good laugh out of it. Love Suicidal.