Fat Mike

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Fat Mike
Fat Mike in South Africa, September 2007
Fat Mike in South Africa, September 2007
Background information
Birth name Michael Burkett
Also known as Fat Mike
Born January 31, 1967 (1967-01-31) (age 41)
Origin Newton, Massachusetts
Genre(s) Punk rock
Skate punk
Ska punk
Instrument(s) Vocals, Bass
Years active 1983-Present
Associated acts NOFX
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Website NOFX
Fat Wreck Chords
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Notable instrument(s)
Danelectro

Michael Burkett, more commonly known as Fat Mike, is the lead singer and bassist of the California punk band NOFX, as well as bass player for Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. As Misfit Mike, he played in a band called False Alarm before founding NOFX in 1983 with Erik Sandin and Eric Melvin. He is also the owner of Motor Studios in San Francisco, California. Mike lives in San Francisco with his wife for 14 years, Erin, and their young daughter, Darla.

The nickname "Fat Mike" originated as a misnomer - when the somewhat thin Mike went away to San Francisco State University he returned having gained a few pounds. He was slightly heavier than the broomstick-thin punk rock crowd, and the nickname stuck. Today Mike regards himself as "Not that fat."[1]

In 1990 Mike founded a record label called Fat Wreck Chords. It is one of the largest and most financially successful punk-affiliated record labels in the United States. The label is mainly run by Fat Mike and his wife Erin.

Fat Mike was the main organizer of the Punkvoter website (founded in 2003) and the Rock Against Bush project (in 2004). Both of these were created to promote political involvement within the punk community. They aimed to increase voting to get George W. Bush out of office, and to make issues close to the punk community known to politicians.

In addition to being known for political cynicism, for many years Fat Mike has been a vegetarian and supporter of PETA.

In 2005 he started a magazine called Punk Rock Confidential which distributes 4 issues a year.

He played bass on the Real McKenzies album 10,000 Shots.

Contents

[edit] Albums with NOFX

[edit] Albums With Me First and the Gimme Gimmes


[edit] References

[edit] External links

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