Cyco Miko Story

Thrown together over the years by Sven "D-Fens" Gjurček

As most of us for sure know, CYCO MIKO was (I believe it is defunct now) Mike Muir's punk side project. Mike Muir was "responsible" for two most in exemplary way awesome bands. We all know which two bands I'm talking about. For those who don't know, one of them is real hardcore legend; glorious SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, and the other is funky/hardcore-combined band, fabulous INFECTIOUS GROOVES. So, it came as no surprise that this project, CYCO MIKO, which is kind of skate/punk rock influenced band, is also amazing.

The band (or should I say "project") was formed somewhere in the 1994. just before the SUICIDAL TENDENCIES split. During that time their decision to split was definitive. By that time Mike Muir had his own band called INFECTIOUS GROOVES, along with Robert Trujillo, who was playing bass in both bands. Then he had formed CYCO MIKO, and recorded a skate/punk LP called:

"Lost My Brain! (Once Again)" which was released in 1995. by Epic Records and produced by Michael Vail Blum (who also produced INFECTIOUS GROOVES album) and Mike "Cyco" Muir. The members of the band were Dave Silva on bass, Greg Saenz on drums and Adam Siegel (from INFECTIOUS GROOVES) on guitars (playing guitar on 9 tracks). Beside that, Adam Siegel and Greg Saenz were playing in EXCEL, and now, along with Dave Silva, they play in Siegel's hard rock/punk band called MY HEAD. Except Adam Siegel, there were two other guitarists that appeared on some of the tracks. They were Steve Jones (formerly of SEX PISTOLS and NEUROTIC OUTSIDERS) who played guitar on 7 tracks, and Dave Kushner (he played guitar on early INFECTIOUS GROOVES tracks) who played guitar on 6 tracks. The album has been available in the U.S. and Europe since January 1995. And what a pleasant surprise Mike (once again) gave us! "Lost My Brain" is CYCO MIKO's debut album, and yet it left me breathless, containing so much energy, speed, faith, hate and humour. This is such an awesome album that if you haven't heard it by now, you can't possibly know what you've been missing. "Bigger, Better & Crazier Than Ever!" is what the sticker on the front of this CD reads. Is that all that's on this CD? Well, I can tell you that there is even a lot more of it! Album is really "crazy", although we've seen a lot of "craziness" in the past of Mike Muir; this one is really killing in some spots. I know this isn't SUICIDAL TENDENCIES or INFECTIOUS GROOVES, and if you're expecting of it to sound like them you shouldn't listen to it and hope that you'll like it "right away". It takes some time for groove on this album to get to you, but I can guarantee that you'll like it forever once it gets into you. For example, there is one really didactical song called "Gonna Be Alright" or revolutionary call to arms in shape of "Ain't Mess'n Around" (it is rumoured that this track has been made during S.T. "Suicidal For Life" album sessions). Also, not to forget whacky "F.U.B.A.R." (Fucked up beyond all recognition). You just go and check it out yourself. Ya won't be sorry...

It was all quiet for a while in Mike Muir's camp, until "Epic Escape" compilation surfaced in 1997. As Mike and the band "escaped" from the Epic Records, after a lot of uneasy-going stuff, the band saw a new opportunity to finally manage the stuff the way then want it and the way they love it... Prior to that, their label, Suicidal Records, defunct from 1985. or so, was to be resurrected. Made as a sampler of a new stuff, with a taste of things to come, rather than an album, it featured Venice based bands such as SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, INFECTIOUS GROOVES, CYCO MIKO (with two brand new songs), THE FUNERAL PARTY, CREEPER and MUSICAL HEROIN. All those bands were simply called "Suicidal Family & Friends" so that name soon became synonymous for the whole compilation. Muir said that it could also be called "Welcome To Venice 2" after a sampler released way back in 1985. on Suicidal Records. Inside the CD, there was also word of thanks from Mike Muir, and future plans. S.T. produced most of the songs, while whole album was co-produced by Michael Vail Blum, known for his work with INFECTIOUS GROOVES, as well as from CYCO MIKO's debut album. There was also a funny warning in the CD booklet that all unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws (and will result in a ass whoppin'). CYCO MIKO presented himself with two great tracks, the first one was real killer; "Sweet Disharmony". Fast thrashing song with lead breaks, which lasted over 6 minutes. The second one was "Big Fat Baby", sang to the music of the "Lost My Brain Once Again" from the debut album. The band line-up stayed the same, except that Steve Jones didn't appeared on these new songs.

After promising new tracks on "Epic Escape", CYCO MIKO continued in that direction, and released a CYCO MIKO sampler in 1999. called "Schizophrenic Born Again Problem Child". Again, it was released on Suicidal Records. As for the production part, Mike Muir made YOU into an Executive Producer! Yes, as it was stated in the booklet, there were so many people that needed to be thanked to, but Mike said that he couldn't get by without thanking YOU, so he made YOU the Executive Producer! The record itself was fantastic! Lots of new tracks from Mike's projects over the past years, with some of personal remarks written by each of the tracks... This release also featured tracks that were to appear on the new SUICIDAL TENDENCIES records, as well as some long ago lost tracks from the SOLOCIDE sessions. Also, the new and fantastic NO MERCY re-recordings (now named NO MERCY FOOL!) of a classic track "I'm Your Nightmare", released back in 1985. on "widespread Bloodshed... Love Runs Red" album, as well as a new track "It's A Cyco Thang". The compilation also featured a new recording of song "Waking The Dead", and two tracks that were to appear on forthcoming INFECTIOUS GROOVES album named "Mas Borracho".

1999. saw the release of INCECTIOUS GROOVES new album, "Mas Borracho", which featured "Pneumonia" bonus EP, that contained new CYCO MIKO track "Strugglin'". After all said and done, it was the last track ever from CYCO MIKO, and the band was put on hold. Permanently? No one knows.

The End