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 guitarists Dean Pleasants (since 1996) and Ben Weinman (since 2018) bassist Tye Trujillo (since 2021), and Xavier Ware (since 2026).

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. By 1982, Mike Dunnigan had switched to guitar and Louiche Mayorga had taken over on bass. This lineup recorded "I Saw Your Mommy" for the 1983 Mystic Records compilation Slamulation, after which the Dunnigan brothers left. They were replaced by drummer Amery "AWOL" Smith and guitarist Rick Battson, briefly, before Grant Estes took over from the latter. 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.

In the summer of 1984, Leonard "Rocky" George took over on guitar; shortly thereafter, Smith was also replaced by Ralph "R. J." Herrera. 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. 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), while Mayorga was replaced by Bob Heathcote from Los Cycos, another of Muir's side projects. 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. 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. 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. For their next album The Art of Rebellion, the group enlisted Vandals drummer Josh Freese on a session basis. After the album was released, Jimmy DeGrasso took over on drums. 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. The first new album with DeGrasso, Suicidal for Life, followed in June 1994. By late 1995, however, Muir had disbanded Suicidal Tendencies.

1996–present After "about a year" away, 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. This incarnation remained stable for several years, releasing Freedumb, Free Your Soul and Save My Mind, and tracks on several compilations. In early 2001, Wackerman left to pursue other projects and was replaced by Ron Bruner. Around a year later, Paul also left the band, with Bruner's brother Steve "Thundercat" Bruner taking his place. Also in 2002, David Hidalgo Jr. began sharing drum duties with Bruner, with both members performing at various points over the coming years. In October 2008, Eric Moore took over as the band's full-time drummer.

In 2011, Thundercat left Suicidal Tendencies to focus on his solo career. He was replaced by Tim "Rawbiz" Williams. The following June, longtime rhythm guitarist Mike Clark also left to reform No Mercy under the new name Waking the Dead, having previously sat out show due to a head injury. He was replaced by Nico Santora, who completed work on the band's next studio album 13. Shortly after its release, in March 2014 it was announced that former Mars Volta drummer Thomas Pridgen had replaced Moore. In August that year, the band announced that bassist Williams had died. The following month, Pridgen left after just six months with the group to join Chiodos, with Moore returning in his place. Michael Morgan temporarily took over as the band's bassist when they resumed touring in the fall of 2014.

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

On January 13, 2026, Weinberg announced his departure from the band, his replacement, Xavier Ware, was announced 11 days later.

Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions"Cyco" Mike Muirlead vocalsall Suicidal Tendencies releasesDean Pleasants1996–presentall Suicidal Tendencies releases from Prime Cuts (1997) onwardsBen Weinman2018–present"Adrenaline Addict" (2025)Tye Trujillo2021–presentbassXavier Ware2026–presentdrums

Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMike Dunnigan1980–1982 Mike Ball1980–1981lead and rhythm guitarsrowspan="2" Carlos "Egie" EgertdrumsSean Dunnigan1981–1982 Andrew Evans1981–1982bassLouiche Mayorga1982–1988all Suicidal Tendencies releases from the untitled 1982 demos to Join the Army (1987)Amery "AWOL" Smith1982–1984drumsSuicidal Tendencies (1983)Rick Battson1982–1983lead and rhythm guitarsGrant Estes1983Suicidal Tendencies (1983)Jon Nelson1983–1984Leonard "Rocky" George1984–1995all Suicidal Tendencies releases from "Look Up... (The Boys Are Back)" (1985) to Suicidal for Life (1994)Ralph "R. J." Herrera1984–1991drumsMike Clarkall Suicidal Tendencies releases from How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (1988) to 13 (2013) Bob Heathcote1988–1989 bassRobert Trujilloall Suicidal Tendencies releases from Lights... Camera... Revolution! (1990) to Suicidal for Life (1994)Jimmy DeGrasso1992–1995drumsSuicidal for Life (1994)Josh Paul1996–2002bassBrooks Wackerman1996–2001drumsRonald Bruner Jr.2001–2008 Steve "Thundercat" Bruner2002–2011bassDavid Hidalgo Jr.2002–2008 drumsEric MooreTim "Rawbiz" Williams2011–2014 13 (2013) Nico Santora2012–201613 (2013)Thomas Pridgen2014drumsrowspan="2" Michael Morgan2014–2016Ra Díaz2016–2021Dave LombardodrumsJeff Pogan2016–2018Brandon Pertzborn2021–2023drums rowspan="2" Greyson Nekrutman2023–2024Jay Weinberg2024–2026"Adrenaline Addict" (2025)

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1980–1981Mike Muir – vocals Mike Ball – guitars Mike Dunnigan – bass Carlos Egert – drumsrowspan="3" 1981Mike Muir – vocals Mike Ball – guitars Mike Dunnigan – bass Sean Dunnigan – drums1981–1982Mike Muir – vocals Mike Dunnigan – guitars Andrew Evans – bass Sean Dunnigan – drums1982Mike Muir – lead vocals Mike Dunnigan – guitars Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Sean Dunnigan – drumsUntitled 1982 demos "I Saw Your Mommy" (1983)Late 1982 – early 1983Mike Muir – lead vocals Rick Battson – guitars Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drumsEarly 1983Mike Muir – lead vocals Rick Battson – guitars Grant Estes - guitars Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drumsEarly – spring 1983Mike Muir – lead vocals Grant Estes – guitars Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drums* Suicidal Tendencies (1983)Spring – summer 1983Mike Muir – lead vocals Jon Nelson – rhythm guitar Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drums Grant Estes – lead guitarrowspan="3" Summer 1983 – summer 1984Mike Muir – lead vocals Jon Nelson – guitars Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drumsSummer 1984Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – guitars, backing vocals Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals Amery Smith – drumsFall 1984 – early 1988Mike 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 1989Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Bob Heathcote – bass R. J. Herrera – drumsHow Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can'tEven Smile Today (1988) Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit... Déjà Vu (1989) Spring 1989Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – lead guitar, backing vocals, bass Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, bass R. J. Herrera – drumsControlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit... Déjà Vu (1989) Summer 1989 – late 1991Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Robert Trujillo – bass, backing vocals R. J. Herrera – drumsLights... Camera... Revolution! (1990) Still Cyco After All These Years (1993)Late 1991 – early 1992Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Robert Trujillo – bass, backing vocals Josh Freese – drums The Art of Rebellion (1992)Summer 1992 – late 1995Mike Muir – lead vocals Rocky George – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Robert Trujillo – bass, backing vocals Jimmy DeGrasso – drumsSuicidal for Life (1994)Band inactive late 1995 – late 1996Late 1996 – early 2001Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Josh Paul – bass Brooks Wackerman – drumsPrime Cuts (1997) Friends & Family, Vol. 1 (1997) Six the Hard Way (1998) Freedumb (1999) Free Your Soul and Save My Mind (2000) Friends & Family, Vol. 2 (2001) Early 2001 – early 2002Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Josh Paul – bass Ronald Bruner Jr. – drumsEarly 2002 – September 2008Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Thundercat – bass Ronald Bruner Jr. – drums David Hidalgo Jr. – drums Year of the Cycos (2008) Live at the Olympic Auditorium (2010)October 2008 – 2011Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Thundercat – bass Eric Moore – drumsNo Mercy Fool!/The Suicidal Family (2010)2011 – June 2012Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Mike Clark – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Tim Williams – bass, backing vocals Eric Moore – drumsAugust 2012 – March 2014Mike 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 2014Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Nico Santora – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Tim Williams – bass, backing vocals Thomas Pridgen – drumsrowspan="3" Fall 2014 – February 2016Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Nico Santora – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Michael Morgan – bass, backing vocals Eric Moore – drumsFebruary – May 2016Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Nico Santora – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ra Díaz – bass, backing vocals Dave Lombardo – drumsMay 2016 – July 2018Mike Muir – lead vocals Dean Pleasants – lead guitar, backing vocals Jeff Pogan – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ra Díaz – bass, backing vocals Dave Lombardo – drumsWorld Gone Mad (2016) Get Your Fight On! (2018)