The AquaSonics & Miss Kitty Baby ROCKED Viva in 2008...... Rockabilly Weekend in the east lounge at the Gold Coast Hotel, Vegas!!
MAD DOG! Mike Minnick ~ Biography
Throughout Mad Dog's 25+ years in music & drumming, his touring resume includes an extensive list of bands ranging from punk to blues to rockabilly to psychobilly to surf: HABEAS CORPUS, ILL REPUTE, AGRESSION, THE THROTTLEMEN, PAUL GALAXY & THE GALACTIX, HILLBILLY HELLCATS, SINSHAKERS, THE RAILBENDERS, G.T. & THE SIDEWINDERS, THE AQUASONICS, BUCKWILD, THE QUAKES, and many others.....
Here's Mad Dog's story and how he became known as "The Shuffle King": "A Born Drummer"
Mad Dog! Mike Minnick was born October 29, 1967 in Oxnard, California. He began playing music at an early age, starting on the piano, then moving to guitar, before discovering his passion...the drums. Mad Dog began beating out rhythms on his first drum kit at age ten and hasn't stopped since. He played in marching and concert bands throughout his junior high and high school years. As a sophomore at Adolpho Camarillo High School, Mad Dog headed for the drumline, placing in every competition he entered. As a senior, he composed & choreographed an intricate drumline performance, “The Chicken Breast Concerto.†His group of percussionists took first place in the California state competition. Mad Dog began playing professionally at age 14 with local country groups THE TRI-COUNTY PLAYBOYS and LANCE HAWKINS, "Country & Western Singin' Sensation." Despite the fact that he was earning a whopping $70 a gig, Mad Dog was still hitching rides from his dad. "Skateboards and Punk Rock"
It was 1985, the year of skateboards and punk rock, when Mad Dog joined the band HABEAS CORPUS. Eventually, he moved on to join the much acclaimed punk rock band AGRESSION, out of Oxnard, CA, and would continue with the band for just over a decade. Shortly after joining, AGRESSION relocated from sunny California to the Rocky Mountains of Denver, Colorado where Mad Dog still resides today. "Grow Up and Cut Your Hair!"
What happens to punk rockers when they grow up? They cut their hair, grease it back, and begin finding the heart and soul of music from decades past. Rockabilly soon became Mad Dog’s focal point. With the influences of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa’s jungle-style rhythms, Mad Dog quickly mastered the new genre, with his own style of swing, shuffles and surf beats. "New Millennium Brings Renewed Success"
The new millennium brought many changes for Mad Dog. In 2000, he quit his full time painting job and no longer gigged around with two or three bands at a time. His focus narrowed when he joined PAUL GALAXY & THE GALACTIX and committed to touring and recording with the band. With over 200 dates a year, PAUL GALAXY & THE GALACTIX had found renewed success. The band signed with “Rollin’ Rock Records†out of Las Vegas, NV in 2001. They released two CDs for the label: “Cross the Line†(2001), and “Slingshot†(2004). During Mad Dog’s five-year run with PAUL GALAXY & THE GALACTIX, he toured the country many times over. "Mad Dog Still Goin’ Strong"
In 2006, PAUL GALAXY & THE GALACTIX took a hiatus. Mad Dog went on to tour with JOEY FENDER & THE 55s and filled in for LIL' BIT & THE CUSTOMATICS. Today, he continues gigging with Denver rockabilly band, G.T. & THE SIDEWINDERS. Mad Dog has joined ‘60s surf-rock group, THE AQUASONICS and also performs with Denver's roots rockabilly group, THE VELVET ELVIS. He often gets requests to fill in for area bands when a drummer is needed. "On Tour with THE QUAKES in '07"
Recently, Mad Dog was recruited by longtime psychobilly group, THE QUAKES. He toured with the trio on the West Coast in 2007. Mad Dog lives in Denver with his wife, and his dogs Astro and Rocket. When he's not performing, he's busy passing along drumming wisdom and teaching the chops to new up-and-coming drummers.
Watch out for Mad Dog! He’s on the loose!
Thanks for visiting.....