Mike D | |
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.jpg) Diamond performing in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Louis Diamond |
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| Born | (1965-11-20)November 20, 1965 (age 59) New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
| Website | beastieboys |
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Michael Louis Diamond (born November 20, 1965),[1] better known asMike D, is an American rapper, musician, and music producer. He is a founding member of thehip hop groupBeastie Boys.[2] He is Jewish.
Diamond was born in New York City[3] toHarold Diamond, an art dealer, andHester (née Klein) Diamond, an interior designer and art collector. He grew up on the Upper West Side surrounded by artwork, including pieces byWillem de Kooning,Mark Rothko, andBarnett Newman.[4][5][6] He attended the arts-orientedSaint Ann's School andWalden School.[5]
In 1979, Diamond co-founded the bandThe Young Aborigines. In 1981,Adam Yauch, (known professionally as MCA), a friend and follower of the band, became their bass player, and on the suggestion of their then-guitar player, John Berry, the band changed their name to the Beastie Boys.[7] By 1983,Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) joined, and their sound began to shift away frompunk tohip hop.[8]
In 1986, the group's debut albumLicensed to Ill was released onDef Jam Records and became a huge success. Though it spawned several singles, only one would reach the top twenty of the US Hot 100, the number 7 "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)". Sales ofLicensed to Ill were extremely strong, going multi-platinum during the time of its run. Several years later, it would be certified diamond status. The group would release several albums, some attaining platinum or multi-platinum status.
In 1992, Diamond had founded the Beastie Boys' now-defunct record labelGrand Royal Records. He is also interested in interior design, and designed Brooklyn-themedtoile wallpaper; it was used in the renovation of the Marquee nightclub in theChelsea neighborhood in New York City, which reopened in January 2013.[9][10]
A year after the death of Yauch in 2012, Diamond toldRolling Stone he was "excited about making new stuff again" and released "Humberto Vs the New Reactionaries (Christine and the Queens Remix)" in July 2013.[11] A remix of Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band's "Bad Dancer" by Diamond and Adam Horovitz was streamed online in August 2013. The pair is credited with "additional beats, programming and other curve balls".[12] In October 2014, Diamond stated that he had been working in the studio with American rock bandPortugal. The Man as a producer.[13] He has also produced English punk duoSoft Play's (formerly Slaves) second studio album,Take Control, which was released on September 30, 2016.[14]
He hosts theApple Music podcastThe Echo Chamber.[15]
In 1993, Diamond married film, television and music video directorTamra Davis; they have since legally separated.[16] They have two children, Davis Diamond and Skyler Diamond who formed the group Very Nice Person.[17] They lived inCobble Hill, Brooklyn.[18]
He grew up onCentral Park West.[4] He later lived in Brooklyn andTribeca,[18] and as of 2016 was living inMalibu, California.[19]
with Beastie Boys
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