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The INFECTIOUS GROOVES were put together by Mike Muir and
Robert Trujillo, band mates from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, somewhere in 1991. The
story goes that Trujillo, who had just joined the seminal L.A. band, concocted
the bottom-heavy INFECTIOUS GROOVES approach while on tour. So Muir and
Trujillo began talking  about their musical likes and
dislikes, and, as Mike Muir recalls, "decided we wanted to do some stuff
centred around bass grooves." That was how it all began. Right from the
start, INFECTIOUS GROOVES was intended to be more than a side project. That
was going all the way while working on "Lights Camera Revolution",
a SUICIDAL TENDENCIES album where the influence of funk could have already
been felt. "We just wanted to do something that people didn't expect",
explains Muir. And they did it well. The INFECTIOUS GROOVES quickly blossomed
into serious song writing, recording and a very powerful performing unit.
Many friends who were into funk as well soon joined Muir and Trujillo. The
music was an energetic mix of funk and Suicidal-style metal/hardcore, but
without SUICIDAL's serious focus; this was simply good-time, over-the-top
party music, and the band made no pretence to anything else. The wait was
over and the fun could begin.
 "The Plague That Makes Your
Booty Move... It's The Infectious Grooves" marked their debut, released
in 1991. on Epic Records. Produced by Mark Dodson along with Mike Muir and
Robert Trujillo. It was a real blast; it was something new and unheard till
then and it allowed Mike Muir him to relax and display his fun, non-political
side, but it also provided ST bassist Robert Trujillo an opportunity to turn
loose his formidable funk chops. Album was greeted with thunderous critical
acclaim and great fan support from all who latched on to the band's loopy but
righteously funky assault. Their new way of growing rep started an avalanche
of all kinds of offers, starting from the commercials (all of which they have
declined), and a spot as the "prom band" in the movie "Encino
Man" (as well as a song on the soundtrack, non-album track "Feed
The Monkey"). The band itself consisted of over 10 people, who were
jamming together. So there they were, Mike Muir on vocal duties, Robert
Trujillo on bass guitar, Dean Pleasants and Adam Siegel on guitars, Scott
Crago and Stephen Perkins (ex-JANE'S ADDICTION and PORNO FOR PYROS) taking on
drums and percussion, and Dave Dunn on keyboards. There were also additional
guitar players, like Phil Kettner, Christian Gaiters, Dave Kushner (later to
be in CYCO MIKO) and Rocky George (from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES). Not to mention
the Groovalistic All-Star Back-Up Choir, which consisted of good ST's and
IG's friends. The album mixed hyperactive RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS funk with
traditional metal (including an appearance by Ozzy Osbourne on
"Therapy") and SUICIDAL's skate punk thrashes. It was an unabashed
good-time party record, with songs carrying catchy and infectious vibe. They
were also funny, like "You Lie... And Yo Breath Stank" or
"Stop Funk'n With My Head", and then again they were serious, in a true ST
spirit, like "I'm Gonna Be My King" or "Do The Sinister".
As a special bonus included, there were between-song sketches featuring a
jive talking, funk-singing reptile named Sarsippius. Although they were not
as schizophrenically eclectic as FAITH NO MORE, nor as arty as JANE'S
ADDICTION, the funk-metal debut was good-humored and full of attitude,
without seeming smug or macho and their output was fairly consistent and
similar. Definitely a great debut for INFECTIOUS GROOVES!
"Sarsippius' Ark" was band's second release. It was released on
February 2nd, 1993 on
Epic Records, and was marked as "Limited Edition" release. That was
recorded like a journey into the world of INFECTIOUS GROOVES, combined from
some old demo songs like "Infectious Grooves" and "You Pick Me
Up (Just To Throw Me Down)" (that was sang to the tune of
"Therapy" from the first album) and live tracks "Infectious
Grooves" and "Do The Sinister", as well as cover songs
"Immigrant Song", from LED ZEPELLIN and "Fame", from
DAVID BOWIE. There were also some new tracks and lots of funny Sarsippius'
(one of their musical characters and also their old friend Aladdin
Sulemanagic) talking parts, as well as his "own" track at the end
of the album, named "Spric". The band line-up changed a bit, Josh
Freese (that was playing with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES during that time) took the
drums duties, while on some older tracks drums and percussion were managed by
Scott Crago, Stephen Perkins and Sam Pokebo (he played with Mike Muir and
Mike Clark in NO/MERCY, later to be in THE FUNERAL PARTY). Probably the
biggest change was that they recorded this album without keyboards. They were
just played on two older tracks, by Dave Dunn, who also played keyboards on
first album. But still that was great funky whacked IG's attack. In R.I.P.
Magazine agreed, calling "Sarsippius' Ark" as "a non-stop,
shaking, twitching, butt-wiggling, groove thang."
 It was well known that from the
beginning, the image and vibe behind the band was kept deliberately and
comically murky. IG's guitarist Adam Siegel painted the
"Infectiphibian", who graces the first album, a sort of B-Boy
lizard that became the INFECTIOUS GROOVES mascot and visual alter ego. Mike
Muir put it once; "We wanted to sell the music, not me or some cool
image, so we've kept everything sort of underground." But it was turned
out that it couldn't be that underground. Just knowing that "The Plague
That Makes Your Booty Move..." and "Sarsippius' Ark" were sold
over 350,000 copies combined, all from incredible grass-roots support and
word-of-mouth reputation, without any advertisements or commercials.
"That's the best marketing plan ever," Muir voted, "No money
or ad strategist alive can duplicate the buzz on the street when your fans
are going "Dude, this album is cool, check it out!"" And once
again they hit the bull's eye. If Nine-Trey were the year of
"Sarsippius'", then Nine-Four was bound to be the year of
"Groove Family Cyco".
 "Groove Family Cyco" was
the right thing. It was their third release and it was released in 1994. on
Epic Records. Michael Vail Blum, along with INFECTIOUS GROOVES, produced the
album. Some changes in band were made. Brooks Wackerman (from band BAD4GOOD)
came to be permanent drummer (as INFECTIOUS GROOVES had several drummers),
and this time there were definitely no keyboards featured on the album. The
album was written in just three days and recorded in just two weeks, so some
of the fans found "Groove Family Cyco" to be a maelstrom of P-Funk
meets SEX PISTOLS, and as well a further indication of lead singer and chief
conspirator Mike Muir's visionary approach to hard-core music. With ultimate
psycho babble at a new deafening roar and the family unit a lot more screwed
up than ever, the time has never been more in-correct for the "Groove
Family Cyco", the family to end all families. That is why it was
presented as "...bone-crunching, heart-stopping, groove-metal... Groove
Family Cyco is the latest missive from INFECTIOUS GROOVES, the band
that", The Los Angeles Times said, "may play the heaviest music
that you can actually dance to." "Groove Family Cyco" also
features the premier single and video "Violent & Funky", an
assault of noise and muthafunkin' attitude, along with the ultimate song,
"Do What I Tell Ya!" (dedicated to RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) and
the earwax-meltdown of great "Rules Go Out The Window." According
to Muir, "Groove Family Cyco" album "is a musical documentary
of a dysfunctional family". The album introduces this "Groove
Family Cyco", whose members are cyco Pa, Ma, Uncle Ervil, Cousin Randy,
and Lil' Jr. To create on the masterpiece album cover art, the five sat for a
portrait session by spray -paint  maestro Adam Siegel. Cousin Randy,
the true family headcase with his beanie and camouflage tattoos, is represented
in "his own" whacked-out ditty entitled "Cousin Randy".
With their devoted fan base, INFECTIOUS GROOVES have decided to take assault
on the rest of the unsuspecting planet. Guess you'd better be on the lookout
for two totally insane videos for "Violent & Funky" and
"Cousin Randy". As Mike Muir put it once again; "I know what
it's like to break down barriers; with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, we had to kick a
lotta butt - we weren't accepted right off the bat. With INFECTIOUS GROOVES,
we've set out to prove that we are a great band." And "Groove
Family Cyco" sure is all the proof that anyone needs.
"Epic Escape" was the title of the compilation released in 1997. It
came out on Suicidal Records label, after all the problems they went through
with Epic Records. It featured SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, INFECTIOUS GROOVES (with
three new songs), CYCO MIKO, 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", in a
way. Inside the CD there was also word of thanks from Mike Muir, and future
plans. ST produced most of the songs, while some were produced by The
Freakazoid Twins (of the MUSICAL HEROIN). The whole album was co-produced by
Michael Vail Blum, known from his previous work with INFECTIOUS GROOVES.
There was also a funny warning on the CD saying that all unauthorized
duplication is a violation of applicable laws (and will result in a ass whoppin').
INFECTIOUS GROOVES presented themselves in the new line-up once again.
Guitarist Adam Siegel (that also played in CYCO MIKO and MY HEAD) was
replaced by great ST guitarist Mike Clark, and Robert trujillo (who went
playing with OZZY OSBOURNE) was replaced by Josh Paul (who played in BAD4GOOD
along with Brooks Wackerman). Despite the loss of Robert Trujillo, IG showed
that they still know how to hit that funky vibe. From their title song,
"Epic Escape", or hilarious "Payback's A Bitch", to great
"It's Time", it was clear that IG is still in motion. Alive, funky
and kicking!
 After years of silence, almost out
of nowhere, on August 29th, 2000 "Mas Borracho" was released. I might say that
it took me by surprise, because it still was difficult to predict in which
direction INFECTIOUS GROOVES were going. By the time it was released, the
band had morphed into something like SUICIDAL TENDENCIES 2, with many members
from vocalist Mike Muir's initial, more serious, but sonically similar
musical partnership. With all the changes in the personnel and probably some
track from old sessions, the album finally saw the light of a day. As it was
their fourth release and first in six years, Muir and company seemed to lay
back more than at any time in the past, widening their stylistic and dynamic
reach while maintaining the party atmosphere. But all in all, it was well
worth a wait. Produced by Mike Blum, known from previous work with IG, album
surprisingly featured some of the same IG line-up as way back in 1994. including
Robert Trujillo on bass. Kind of strange, knowing that he was out of the
band. Despite that, the songs on the album were really groovy and maybe even
bit funkier than the ones on "Groove Family Cyco"! While
"Groove Family Cyco" was combined of fast and furious
guitar riffs with less groove, "Mas Borracho" continued in really
funky tradition, much more similar to "Sarsippius' Ark" than to
"Groove Family Cyco". With funny lyrics included too! It was all
about the funk on agile numbers like "Lock It in the Pocket" and
"Good Times Are out to Get You," but since the band was never
content to stay in one place too long, they changed pace and styles through
the album, ranging from fast and crunching "Good For Nothing", over
a little surf-space-cowboy ruminations in "21st Century Surf
Odyssey" or rocking slow-metal "Fill You Up". That didn't only
defy the funk/metal categorization, but couldn't be adequately described by,
or compared with, any genre at all. Other highlights on the album would
include the title track, "Borracho", as well as infectious
"Please Excuse This Funk Up", "Going Going Gone", and
epic track "Leave Me Alone". The album also featured bonus EP
titled "Pneumonia", which contained songs from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES,
MY HEAD, NO MERCY FOOL!, CREEPER and CYCO MIKO. A little bit for everyone, I
should say! And what a pleasant surprise; The INFECTIOUS GROOVES were
definitely back on the map in a style!
The End (for now)
INFECTIOUS GROOVES
timeline & fact sheet.
1991.
- Infectious Grooves formed somewhere in 1991.
- "The plague that makes your booty move... It's The Infectious
Grooves" is released.
- Videos featured: "Punk It Up", "Therapy", "You Lie
And Yo Breath Stank".
- Also featured live video "Infectious Grooves - Live At The Universal
Amphitheatre".
- "Plague That Makes Your Booty Move" at Heatseekers chart position
No.6
1992.
- "Plague That Makes Your Booty Move" at The Billboard 200 chart
position No.198
- The band appears in movie as a cameo appearance and on the Original
Soundtrack: Encino Man (with "Feed the Monkey").
- The band was subsequently featured as opening act Ozzy Osbourne's "No
More Tears" tour.
1993.
-
"Sarsippius' Ark (Limited Edition)" is released.
- Videos featured: "Don't Stop, Spread The Jam!", "Three
Headed Mind Pollution" and "These Freaks Are Here To Party".
- "Sarsippius Ark" at The Billboard 200 chart position No.109
- "Sarsippius Ark" at Heatseekers chart position No.1
- Appeared on Various Artists: Thrash & Burn (with "You Pick Me Up
(Just To Throw Me Down)").
1994.
- "Groove Family Cyco" is released.
- Videos featured: "Violent & Funky", "Cousin Randy"
and "Why?".
- "Groove Family Cyco" at Heatseekers chart position No.19
1997.
- "Epic Escape", an Suicidal Records sampler is released, which,
amongst many Venice bands, also featured Infectious Grooves.
1999.
- "Mas Borracho" is released.
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