Editing Suicidal Tendencies (section)

===Early career and ''Suicidal Tendencies'' (1980–1986)===
Suicidal Tendencies was formed in 1980 as a punk band in [[Venice, Los Angeles|Venice, California]].<ref name="allmusic"/> The original lineup of the band consisted of [[Mike Muir]] on vocals, Mike Ball on guitar, Carlos "Egie" Egert on drums, and Mike Dunnigan on bass. After the recording of their first demo, Carlos Egert left the band and was replaced by Dunnigan's brother, Sean. Muir, at the time a student at [[Santa Monica College]], originally only intended Suicidal Tendencies as a "party band", but as they grew in notoriety he soon found the band at the center of his life. Suicidal Tendencies had a rough start, including being voted "Worst Band/Biggest Assholes" by ''[[Flipside (fanzine)|Flipside]]'' in 1982 but the following year were voted "Best New Band". There were many rumors of the band being involved with [[gang]]s, and their concerts were known for violence.<ref name="allmusic"/>

In their original lineup photo, which can be seen inside their self-titled debut album, drummer Amery Smith is wearing a flipped up hat and under the bill are the markings "V13", thought to be initials for Venice 13. Smith was not a member of V13 and the hat worn in the photo was borrowed from V13 member Steve Mayorga, brother of Suicidal Tendencies bassist Louiche Mayorga.  Eventually another gang sprang up possibly named after the band, the Suicidal Cycos (also known as the Suicidals, Suis or Suicidal Boyz) with chapters in Venice, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Orange County, Oceanside, San Diego, and in San Antonio, Texas.

[[File:Mike Muir.jpg|left|thumb|Vocalist [[Mike Muir]] formed Suicidal Tendencies in 1980, and is the only remaining original member of the band.]]
Suicidal Tendencies quickly gained a following and began performing at larger gigs. They recorded a demo in 1982 and were featured on the ''Slamulation'' compilation album on [[Mystic Records]]. The song featured was "I Saw Your Mommy", which was later featured on their self-titled debut album. The Dunnigan brothers quit after these recordings, with Mike Dunnigan later joining [[Tony Alva]]'s band the Skoundrelz to be back with Mike Ball on guitar and Bela Horvath on drums. Ball stayed in the band for 2½ years before joining the Skoundrelz and was replaced by Dunnigan. Guitarist Rick Battson recorded the demo before the first album. Grant Estes learned that demo replacing him on guitar and playing on Suicidal Tendencies's first record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stillcyco.wordpress.com/2009/08/21/entrevista-rick-battson/ |title=Entrevista – Rick Battson &#124; SUICIDAL MANIAC |website=Stillcyco.wordpress.com |date=August 21, 2009 |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

In 1983, Suicidal Tendencies signed with the independent label [[Frontier Records]] and released their [[Suicidal Tendencies (album)|self-titled debut]]. It was described by critic Steve Huey as "Fast, furious, and funny... Mike Muir proves himself an articulate lyricist and commentator, delving into subjects like [[Social alienation|alienation]], [[Major depressive disorder|depression]], and nonconformist politics with intelligence and humor."<ref name="AllMusic review of first album">{{cite web|last=Huey |first=Steve |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r19322|pure_url=yes}} |title=((( Suicidal Tendencies &gt; Overview ))) |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=May 23, 2010}}</ref> It contained the song "[[Institutionalized (song)|Institutionalized]]", which featured a music video that became one of the first [[hardcore punk]] videos to receive substantial MTV airplay, and greatly expanded the band's fan base. Prior to creating the "Institutionalized" video, the band appeared on an episode of the MTV program, "The Cutting Edge", which generated some criticism by fans who regarded MTV as too mainstream; criticism to which Muir responded, "I think it was the best thing that's been on MTV! It's a helluva lot better to see Suicidal Tendencies on [MTV] than it is to see [[Duran Duran]]."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gregorio |first=Ron |date=1984 |title=Suicidal Tendencies Interview |pages=6 |work=Hard Times |url=https://archive.org/details/HardTimesNumber4MaywoodNj/page/n5/mode/1up |access-date=December 13, 2022}}</ref> The song "Institutionalized" was later featured in the 1984 film ''[[Repo Man (film)|Repo Man]]'', as well as in a 1986 episode of the TV show ''[[Miami Vice]]'' which also featured a cameo appearance of the group performing in a club. Soon after the release of their debut album in 1983, Estes left the band and was replaced by Jon Nelson.

That same year was the beginning of Suicidal Tendencies's four-year recording hiatus and Mike Muir and bassist Louiche Mayorga formed the label Suicidal Records as well as the band [[Los Cycos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://videomanic.com/videos/tag/Cycos |title=Los Cycos - Its Not Easy (Welcome to Venice) |website=Videomanic.com |date=October 12, 2011 |access-date=November 4, 2011}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> After some lineup changes the band recorded the song "It's Not Easy" written by Muir.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punksandskins.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=89340&hilit=Welcome+To+Venice |title=Welcome to Venice Compilation |website=PunksAndSkins.com |access-date=August 5, 2011}}</ref> "Welcome to Venice" was the first record to be released on Suicidal Records;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/suicidaltendencies3 |title=Various &#124; Suicidal Friends and Family 1 Epic Escape |website=Cdbaby.com|access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> the original masters were later destroyed in a fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popsike.com/Welcome-to-Venice-LP-comp-Suicidal-rare-vinyl-punk/130371327921.html |title=Welcome to Venice LP comp. Suicidal rare vinyl punk - auction details |website=Popsike.com |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> In 1989, Suicidal Tendencies re-recorded "It's Not Easy" for their release ''Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit... DejaVu'' album. The other Los Cycos track "A Little Each Day" which never made it to the album, was re-recorded for the 1987 Suicidal Tendencies release ''[[Join the Army]]'' and again on ''[[Still Cyco After All These Years]]'' released in 1993. In 2000 it resurfaced on the ''[[FNG (album)|FNG]]'' compilation and a fourth time on 2008's (split) album ''Lights...Camera...Revolution!/Still Cyco After All These Years''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/a-little-each-day-t15069488 |title=A Little Each Day |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=September 8, 2011}}</ref>  The band found a new label in [[Caroline Records (U.S.)|Caroline Records]] in 1986.<ref name="allmusic"/>