Michael Diamond

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Michael Diamond
Background information
Birth name	Michael Diamond
Also known as	Mike D
Born	November 20, 1965 (age 41)
Origin	New York City, New York, USA
Genre(s)	Hip hop Hardcore punk
Occupation(s)	Rapper Drummer
Instrument(s)	Microphone Drums
Years active	1979–Present
Label(s)	Def Jam Records Grand Royal Records Capitol Records
Associated acts	Beastie Boys
Website	http://www.beastieboys.com/

Michael Diamond, also known as Mike D (born November 20, 1965), is a founding member of New York hip hop trio the Beastie Boys. Mike D raps, sings, and plays drums alongside fellow members Adrock, MCA and Mix Master Mike.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Collaborations 3 Trivia 4 Quotes 5 External links 6 References

[edit] Biography

Mike D was born in the New York City borough of Manhattan. He attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York for six months. It is rumored that he was expelled after throwing a beer keg from the ninth floor of a residence hall. In 1979, he co-founded the band The Young Aborigines. In 1981, Adam Yauch, a friend and follower of the band became their bass player and changed the band name to the Beastie Boys. By 1983, the Beastie Boys had become a trio and their sound began to shift away from rock to hip-hop. In 1992, Mike D founded the Beastie Boys new record label Grand Royal Records. Mike D is married to Tamra Davis, director of the film Half Baked among other movies. They have two sons, Davis and Skylar.

[edit] Collaborations

• Along with the Latch Brothers, Mike D created the soundtrack for Jet Set Radio Future for Xbox.
• "The Knock (Drums of Death, Pt. 2)" - from UNKLE's album Psyence Fiction.
• "Squat!" - from De La Soul's album Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump.

[edit] Trivia

• Contrary to the persistent rumors, Mike D. is not the son of singer Neil Diamond, he is also not the elder brother of Dustin Diamond, better known to most as Screech from Saved By The Bell nor does he bear any relation Dominik Diamond, the Arbroathian former-presenter of ill-fated videogame TV show, GamesMaster.
• Mike D wore a large, gold Volkswagen emblem/log on a chain around his neck during Beastie Boys early days. Volkswagen references can be seen in the video for "Pass the Mic". In the 1980s, a rise in car symbol theft in Britain was attributed in part to Mike D.
• Shortly after the release of Licensed to Ill, a rumor circulated that Mike D had died somehow. This led to his line "I'm Mike D, and I'm back from the dead" in Shake Your Rump.

[edit] Quotes

• Regarding the cost to sample Bob Dylan's Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues for the Beastie Boys song Finger Lickin' Good:

"Seven hundred bucks, but he asked for two thousand dollars. I thought it was kind of fly that he asked for $2000.00, and I bartered Bob Dylan down. That's my proudest sampling deal."^[1]

• Regarding his failed attempt to get clearance from AC/DC member Malcolm Young to sample Back in Black on the Beastie Boys song Rock Hard:

"He goes, 'I'd love to do it for you guys, but it's 'Back In Black' - one of the top three songs we've ever written!' Whatever. AC/DC could not get with the sample concept. They were just like, 'Nothing against you guys, but we just don't endorse sampling.'" ^[2]

[edit] External links

• Mike D. at NNDB
• Beastie Boys Website

[edit] References

Beastie Boys

Mike D - Adrock - MCA

Discography

Albums: Licensed to Ill - Paul's Boutique - Check Your Head - Ill Communication - Hello Nasty - To the 5 Boroughs

EPs and compilations: Pollywog Stew - Cooky Puss - Rock Hard - Some Old Bullshit - Aglio e Olio - The In Sound from Way Out! - The Sounds of Science - Solid Gold Hits

Singles: Brass Monkey - Fight for Your Right - Hey Ladies - Sabotage - Intergalactic - Ch-Check It Out - Triple Trouble - Right Right Now Now

Related articles

Old school rap - Capitol Records - Mix Master Mike - Money Mark - DJ Hurricane - Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! - Grand Royal

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