List of Suicidal Tendencies band members

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 lead guitarist Dean Pleasants (since 1996), bassist Tye Trujillo (since 2021), rhythm guitarist Ben Weinman (since 2018), and drummer Jay Weinberg (since 2024).

Suicidal Tendencies performing in 2017, 2018 and 2024

History

1980–1995

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]

Rocky George joined the band in 1984 and remained a member until their breakup in 1995.

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]

1996–present

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] He was replaced by Nico Santora, who completed work on the band's next studio album 13.^[28] Shortly after its release, in March 2014 it was announced that former Mars Volta drummer Thomas Pridgen had replaced Moore.^[29] In August that year, the band announced that bassist Williams had died.^[30] The following month, Pridgen left after just six months with the group to join Chiodos,^[31] with Moore returning in his place.^[32] Michael Morgan temporarily took over as the band's bassist when they resumed touring in the fall of 2014.^[33]

In February 2016, Suicidal Tendencies underwent two more lineup changes – Roberto "Ra" Díaz took over on bass,^[34] while former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo replaced Moore.^[35] In May, Santora was replaced by Jeff Pogan, who debuted on World Gone Mad later that year.^[36] 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.^[37] During 2021, Díaz and Lombardo were replaced in the band's touring lineup by Tye Trujillo and Brandon Pertzborn, respectively.^[38] In April 2023, Pertzborn was replaced by Greyson Nekrutman,^[39] who himself made way for former Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg the following March.^[40]

Members

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	"Cyco" Mike Muir	1980–1995 1996–present	lead vocals	all Suicidal Tendencies releases
	Dean Pleasants	1996–present	lead guitar backing vocals rhythm guitar (since 2018)	all Suicidal Tendencies releases from Prime Cuts (1997) onwards
	Ben Weinman	2018–present	rhythm and lead guitar backing vocals	none to date
	Tye Trujillo	2021–present	bass
	Jay Weinberg	2024–present	drums

Former

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Mike Dunnigan	1980–1982 (died)	bass (1980–81) lead and rhythm guitars (1981–82)	Untitled 1982 demos "I Saw Your Mommy" (1983)
	Mike Ball	1980–1981	lead and rhythm guitars	none
	Carlos "Egie" Egert		drums
	Sean Dunnigan	1981–1982 (died 2002)		Untitled 1982 demos "I Saw Your Mommy" (1983)
	Andrew Evans	1981–1982	bass	none
	Louiche Mayorga	1982–1988	bass backing vocals	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	lead and rhythm guitars bass (1989) backing vocals	all Suicidal Tendencies releases from "Look Up... (The Boys Are Back)" (1985) to Suicidal for Life (1994)
	Ralph "R. J." Herrera	1984–1991	drums	all Suicidal Tendencies releases from "Look Up... (The Boys Are Back)" (1985) to Lights... Camera... Revolution! (1990) Still Cyco After All These Years (1993)
	Mike Clark	1988–1995 1996–2012	rhythm guitar bass (1989) backing vocals	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	How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (1988) Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit... Déjà Vu (1989) – three tracks only
	Robert Trujillo	1989–1995 2023 (substitute)[41]	bass backing vocals	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	all Suicidal Tendencies releases from Prime Cuts (1997) to Friends & Family, Vol. 2 (2001) 13 – one track only
	Brooks Wackerman	1996–2001	drums	all Suicidal Tendencies releases from Prime Cuts (1997) to Year of the Cycos (2008) No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family (2010) – seven tracks
	Ronald Bruner Jr.	2001–2008 (part-time starting from 2002)		Year of the Cycos (2008) – one track only No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family (2010) 13 (2013) – three tracks only
	Steve "Thundercat" Bruner	2002–2011	bass	Year of the Cycos (2008) Live at the Olympic Auditorium (2010) No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family (2010) 13 (2013)
	David Hidalgo Jr.	2002–2008 (part-time)	drums	Live at the Olympic Auditorium (2010) 13 (2013) – one track only
	Eric Moore	2008–2014 2014–2016		13 (2013)
	Tim "Rawbiz" Williams	2011–2014 (until his death)	bass backing vocals	13 (2013) – two tracks only
	Nico Santora	2012–2016	rhythm guitar backing vocals	13 (2013)
	Thomas Pridgen	2014	drums	none
	Michael Morgan	2014–2016	bass backing vocals
	Ra Díaz	2016–2021		World Gone Mad (2016) Get Your Fight On! (2018) Still Cyco Punk After All These Years (2018)
	Dave Lombardo		drums
	Jeff Pogan	2016–2018	rhythm guitar backing vocals
	Brandon Pertzborn	2021–2023	drums	none
	Greyson Nekrutman	2023–2024

Timeline

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
1980–1981	Mike Muir – vocals Mike Ball – guitars Mike Dunnigan – bass Carlos Egert – drums	none
1981	Mike Muir – vocals Mike Ball – guitars Mike Dunnigan – bass Sean Dunnigan – drums
1981–1982	Mike Muir – vocals Mike Dunnigan – guitars Andrew Evans – bass Sean Dunnigan – drums
1982	Mike Muir – lead vocals Mike Dunnigan – guitars Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Sean Dunnigan – drums	Untitled 1982 demos "I Saw Your Mommy" (1983)
Late 1982 – early 1983	Mike Muir – lead vocals Rick Battson – guitars Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drums	none
Early – spring 1983	Mike Muir – lead vocals Grant Estes – guitars Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drums
Spring – summer 1983	Mike Muir – lead vocals Jon Nelson – rhythm guitar Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drums Grant Estes – lead guitar	Suicidal Tendencies (1983)
Summer 1983 – summer 1984	Mike Muir – lead vocals Jon Nelson – guitars Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drums	none
Summer 1984	Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – guitars, backing vocals Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drums
Fall 1984 – early 1988	Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – guitars, backing vocals Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals R. J. Herrera – drums	"Look Up... (The Boys Are Back)" (1985) Join the Army (1987)
March 1988 – February 1989	Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Bob Heathcote – bass R. J. Herrera – drums	How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (1988) Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit... Déjà Vu (1989) – three tracks
Spring 1989	Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – lead guitar, backing vocals, bass Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, bass R. J. Herrera – drums	Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit... Déjà Vu (1989) – remaining tracks
Summer 1989 – late 1991	Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Robert Trujillo – bass, backing vocals R. J. Herrera – drums	Lights... Camera... Revolution! (1990) Still Cyco After All These Years (1993)
Late 1991 – early 1992	Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Robert Trujillo – bass, backing vocals Josh Freese – drums (session member)	The Art of Rebellion (1992)
Summer 1992 – late 1995	Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Robert Trujillo – bass, backing vocals Jimmy DeGrasso – drums	Suicidal for Life (1994)
Band inactive late 1995 – late 1996
Late 1996 – early 2001	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Josh Paul – bass Brooks Wackerman – drums	Prime Cuts (1997) – four new tracks Friends & Family, Vol. 1 (1997) – three tracks Six the Hard Way (1998) Freedumb (1999) Free Your Soul and Save My Mind (2000) Friends & Family, Vol. 2 (2001) – five tracks
Early 2001 – early 2002	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Josh Paul – bass Ronald Bruner Jr. – drums	none
Early 2002 – September 2008	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Thundercat – bass Ronald Bruner Jr. – drums (part-time) David Hidalgo Jr. – drums (part-time)	Year of the Cycos (2008) Live at the Olympic Auditorium (2010)
October 2008 – 2011	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Thundercat – bass Eric Moore – drums	No Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family (2010) – also features Brooks Wackerman
2011 – June 2012	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Tim Williams – bass, backing vocals Eric Moore – drums	none
August 2012 – March 2014	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Nico Santora – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Tim Williams – bass, backing vocals Eric Moore – drums	13 (2013)
March – August 2014	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Nico Santora – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Tim Williams – bass, backing vocals Thomas Pridgen – drums	none
Fall 2014 – February 2016	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Nico Santora – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Michael Morgan – bass, backing vocals Eric Moore – drums
February – May 2016	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Nico Santora – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ra Díaz – bass, backing vocals Dave Lombardo – drums
May 2016 – July 2018	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Jeff Pogan – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ra Díaz – bass, backing vocals Dave Lombardo – drums	World Gone Mad (2016) Get Your Fight On! (2018) Still Cyco Punk After All These Years (2018)
July 2018 – summer 2021	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ben Weinman – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Ra Díaz – bass, backing vocals Dave Lombardo – drums	none
Summer 2021 – April 2023	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ben Weinman – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Tye Trujillo – bass Brandon Pertzborn – drums
April 2023 – March 2024	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ben Weinman – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Tye Trujillo – bass Greyson Nekrutman – drums
March 2024 – present	Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ben Weinman – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals Tye Trujillo – bass Jay Weinberg – drums	none to date

References

1. "Sunday Old School: Suicidal Tendencies". Metal-Underground.com. September 20, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
2. Wells, Kevin J. (September 19, 2014). "Interview: Luicidal Brings "Early Suicidal Tendencies" To Their New Album". New Noise. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
3. "Entrevista – Rick Battson" (in Portuguese). Suicidal Maniac. August 21, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
4. "Entrevista – Jon Nelson" (in Portuguese). Suicidal Maniac. October 12, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
5. Gregorio, Ron (November 1984). "Suicidal Tendencies". Hard Times. Vol. 1, no. 4. Maywood, New Jersey: Hard Times. p. 4. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
6. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Join the Army – Suicidal Tendencies: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
7. "Interview: Mike Clark (Waking the Dead, No Mercy, Suicidal Tendencies)". Aversion Online. January 29, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
8. "MR Exclusive Interview: Louiche Mayorga of Suicidal Tendencies and Luicidal". Metal Riot. April 5, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
9. "Entrevista – Bob Heathcote" (in Portuguese). Suicidal Maniac. December 20, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
10. "Metallica's Robert Trujillo Looks Back On Suicidal Tendencies' Debut Album (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. September 5, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
11. "Entrevista – R.J. Herrera" (in Portuguese). Suicidal Maniac. April 20, 2010. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
12. Boehm, Mike (May 29, 1992). "Xtra Large Becoming a Giant". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
13. Iwasaki, Scott (November 26, 1992). "College Crowd Kept Suicidal Tendencies Alive". Deseret News. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
14. Prindle, Mark. "Still Cyco After All These Years – Epic 1993". Mark's Record Reviews. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
15. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Suicidal for Life – Suicidal Tendencies: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
16. Baltin, Steve (February 3, 1996). "Cyco Miko's Mike Muir: Going Crazy" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 59, no. 21. New York City, New York: Cash Box. p. 5. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
17. "Suicidal Tendencies Frontman Recalls Band Splitting Up After Opening for Metallica: 'I Was Absolutely Miserable'". Ultimate Guitar. May 27, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
18. Robinson, Nathan (February 1, 1999). "Suicidal Tendencies – Prime Cuts / Friends And Family / Six The Hard Way". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
19. Prato, Greg. "Suicidal Tendences: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
20. "Archive News Mar 08, 2001 – update 2". Blabbermouth.net. March 8, 2001. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
21. "Suicidal Tendencies Finalize European Tour, Offer Band Update". Blabbermouth.net. April 30, 2002. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
22. "On The Beat with David Hidalgo Jr. of Social Distortion: Balancing Bands and Styles". Modern Drummer. January 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
23. "Suicidal Tendencies Begin Work On First Studio Album In Six Years". Blabbermouth.net. January 16, 2006. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
24. "Suicidal Tendencies Announces New Drummer". Blabbermouth.net. October 12, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
25. Maharaj, Zoneil (June 13, 2019). "Tracing Thundercat's key evolutionary steps, from Suicidal Tendencies to Kendrick Lamar". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
26. DeGroot, Joey (August 27, 2014). "R.I.P. Suicidal Tendencies Bassist Tim 'Rawbiz' Williams". Music Times. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
27. "Ex-Suicidal Tendencies Guitarist Mike Clark Resurrects No Mercy Under New Name". Blabbermouth.net. March 4, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
28. "New Suicidal Tendencies Guitarist Nico Santora Interviewed By Fandalism Founder". Blabbermouth.net. July 15, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
29. Kamiński, Karol (March 12, 2014). "Suicidal Tendencies announce new drummer!". Idioteq. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
30. Lynch, Joe (August 27, 2014). "Suicidal Tendencies Announce Death of Bassist Tim 'Rawbiz' Williams". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
31. "Chiodos Part Ways With Drummer & Bassist, Announce Replacements". Theprp.com. September 3, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
32. Childers, Chad (February 21, 2016). "Suicidal Tendencies Tap Former Slayer/Philm Drummer Dave Lombardo for Tour". Loudwire. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
33. Wise, Lauren (November 17, 2014). "Slayer, Exodus, Suicidal Tendencies – Comerica Theatre – 11/15/2014". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
34. "'Ra' Díaz: El nuevo bajista Suicidal Tendencies es chileno" (in Spanish). Biobio TV. February 25, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
35. "Dave Lombardo To Play Drums For Suicidal Tendencies On Megadeth Tour". Blabbermouth.net. February 20, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
36. "Suicidal Tendencies Set Release Date For New Album". Blabbermouth.net. June 19, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
37. "Suicidal Tendencies Recruits The Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman For Upcoming SHows". Blabbermouth.net. July 3, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
38. "Mike Muir Explains Dave Lombardo's Absence From Suicidal Tendencies' Recent Shows". Blabbermouth.net. December 17, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
39. "Suicidal Tendencies Enlist Viral Drumming Sensation Greyson Nekrutman As Their Newest Member". Theprp.com. April 19, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
40. "Ex-Slipknot Drummer Jay Weinberg Officially Joins Suicidal Tendencies". Blabbermouth.net. March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
41. Krol, Charlotte (October 31, 2023). "Watch Metallica's Robert Trujillo fill in for his son at Suicidal Tendencies show". NME. Retrieved October 31, 2023.