Jesse Michaels
Jesse Michaels (born
1969) is a
songwriter,
guitarist and
artist from
Berkeley, California's
East Bay. He is the son of the late author
Leonard Michaels. His lyrics deal with
politics,
Racism, and all around
social matters.=Musical Overview=In February 1987 he published his first First
Fanzine, "Kill Deal for 50 Cents". Later that year he formed
Operation Ivy with
guitarist Tim Armstrong,
bassist Matt Freeman, and
Drummer Dave Mello. He wrote all of the lyrics for
Hectic and
Energy, except for
Bad Town on Energy which Tim Armstrong wrote. After Operation Ivy broke up in
1989, he formed
Big Rig in
1994 and
Common Rider from
1999 to
2003. Michaels is also regarded as a talented artist, responsible for designing Operation Ivy's well-known and widely-recognized "Ska Man" logo as well as other artwork for the album. In addition to drawing logos, album covers and other assorted art for his own musical projects, his artwork has been used by bands such as Filth,
Neurosis,
Green Day and
Against All Authority.
*When he quit
Operation Ivy he was rumoured to have said "I quit; you're rancid", which gave the new band their name (
Rancid).
*He is currently not performing; although he has stated that he will continue to make music, Michaels is also an avid
painter.
*It was rumored that during his hiatus in the early- to mid-90's he became a
Buddhist monk. According to a
2004 interview with Michaels by
The Beer O'Clock Show,a
Montreal-based
underground radio show, he indeed was a monk for about a six month interim.
*In 2005, Jesse collaborated with
Chris Appelgren of
Lookout! Records to launch Dynaformer, an art/design collective dedicated to showcasing the artwork of both individuals, as well as offering their artistic talents for hire.
*In early 2006 Jesse met up with his former band mates to discuss business matters; however, no reunion is planned for the band.
*
OperationIvy.orgInformation on Jesse Michaels and his bands - Operation Ivy, Big Rig, Common Rider, and more.
*
The Beer O'Clock Show Interview with Jesse Michaels*
Dynaformer
