Mike Roche (musician)

Mike Roche
Mike Roche
Born	March 25, 1961 (age 63)
Genres	Punk rock; hardcore punk; hard rock; horror punk; deathrock;
Occupation(s)	musician, songwriter, entrepreneur, tattooist
Instrument	Bass
Years active	1979-present

Michael Paul Roche, aka Mike Roche (Born March 25, 1961), is a founding member and bassist of the American punk rock band T.S.O.L. (True Sounds of Liberty.) He is also a tattoo artist currently at Hart and Huntington in Las Vegas, Nevada.^[1]

Biography

Early life

Mike Roche grew up in Huntington Beach, California. During the late '70s and '80s, a surfer and skateboarder, he was influential in bringing punk rock style to his hometown. Roche was the creator and manager of the iconic Electric Chair in 1983. Originally, Electric Chair opened as Sunline Surfboards in 1980 on Main St. H.B.^[2] The store was a punk rock haven that sold creepers, Doc Martins, jewelry, and more. The record selection catered to punk music, post punk, industrial, and goth.

Music Career

T.S.O.L. was formed in 1978 in Long Beach originally named Vicious Circle.^[3] The original lineup consisted of Jack Grisham, Ron Emory, Mike Roche and Todd Barnes. Their debut five-song EP, T.S.O.L., was released in spring 1981 by Posh Boy Records, This first release was harshly political, featuring tracks such as "Superficial Love," "World War III" and "Abolish Government." Their first full-length album, Dance with Me, was released later in 1981 on Frontier Records, and showcased a more gothic/deathrock sound. They then signed to independent label Alternative Tentacles, releasing the Weathered Statues EP early in 1982, and the melodic Beneath the Shadows album later that year; the latter featured a new member, keyboardist Greg Kuehn. Amid personal turmoil, Grisham, Barnes and Kuehn all left the band in 1983 while Mike Roche and Ron Emory continued to play with a new lineup and went on to release three albums on Enigma, Change Today? (1984), Revenge (1986) and Hit and Run (1987). All three albums featured a more polished production style, with Hit and Run reaching No. 184 on the Billboard 200 charts. Hit and Run was released July 11, 1987 through Enigma Records (catalog number 73263), and T.S.O.L. supported it by touring with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N' Roses. They became friends with Guns N' Roses, who were rising to stardom on the success of their platinum-selling debut album Appetite for Destruction, released ten days after Hit and Run. T.S.O.L.'s opening spot on their tour dates, coupled with Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler wearing a T.S.O.L. T-shirt in the music video for "Sweet Child o' Mine", brought T.S.O.L. increased attention: "I hear more people telling me about seeing our T-shirt every day than anything else we've ever done", said bassist Mike Roche in 1988. ^[4] T.S.O.L. reformed in 1989, but lost Todd Barnes who died of a brain aneurysm in 1999.^[5] Since 1996 when Mike rejoined the other original members to reform the band, they continue to write, record and tour and remain active today.

Tattooing

Roche began tattooing while mentoring under Mark Mahoney at Gill Montes’ shop Tattoo Mania. Later he would continue to work alongside Mark at Shamrock Social Club on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood California. Mike Roche has been tattooing since 2004 currently working at Hart and Huntington in Las Vegas, NV. ^[6]

Personal Life

Mike Roche has been sober over twenty five years. He currently resides in Las Vegas, NV with his girlfriend Tracy and their rescue dog an Akita named Rowan.

Film and television appearances

In 1981, director Paul Young made Urban Struggle: The Battle of The Cuckoo's Nest,a film which featured him and live performances by T.S.O.L. as well as several Orange County punk and hardcore bands. Dave Markey's 1982 film The Slog Movie also featured live T.S.O.L. performances, as did the 1989 movie The Runnin' Kind.. Their music was also featured in the 1984 movie Suburbia, the popular 1985 horror movie The Return of the Living Dead and 1986 film Dangerously Close. They were also mentioned in the 2007 documentary Punk's Not Dead. T.S.O.L. songs "Just Like Me" and "Flowers by the Door" were featured in the 1985 CBS Schoolbreak Special: Hear Me Cry, a program about teen suicide In the 1984 Penelope Spheeris film Suburbia, Mike appeared with T.S.O.L. performing "Wash Away" and "Darker My Love.". Mike appeared in the Sid and Nancy (also known as Sid and Nancy: Love Kills) the 1986 British biopic directed by Alex Cox and co-written with Abbe Wool. The film portrays the life of Sid Vicious (Gary Oldman), bassist of the seminal punk rock band the Sex Pistols, and his relationship with girlfriend Nancy Spungen (Chloe Webb). The film also features supporting performances from David Hayman, Xander Berkeley, and Courtney Love.

Writing

In 2024, Roche released his memoir I Play with Giants.^[7]

Discography

Vicious Circle

Vicious Circle EP (TKO) #192. RELEASE: 2013, Originally recorded in 1978.

Vinyl, 12", EP, White Vinyl With Blue Splatter

T.S.O.L.

Main article: T.S.O.L. discography

Studio albums

Dance with Me (1981)
Beneath the Shadows (1983)
Change Today? (1984)
Revenge (1986)
Hit and Run (1987)
Strange Love (1990)
Disappear (2001)
Divided We Stand (2003)
Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Free Downloads (2009)
The Trigger Complex (2017)
A-Side Graffiti (2024)

EPs

T.S.O.L. EP – (1981)
Weathered Statues – (1982)

References

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^ "The story of Las Vegas tattoo artist Mike Roche". hhtattoolasvegas.com. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
^ Viewpoints (2007-03-08). "Thrills style and more at 'Electric Chair'". viewpointsonline.org. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
^ Jack Grisham explains Vicious Circle., retrieved 2024-03-12
^ "T.S.O.L. Sings Out: We're Not 'That Punk Band' Anymore". Los Angeles Times. 1988-07-14. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
^ Lewis, Randy (1999-12-08). "TSOL Drummer Todd Barnes Dies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
^ "The story of Las Vegas tattoo artist Mike Roche". hhtattoolasvegas.com. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
^ Roche, Mike (May 18, 2024). I Play With Giants Paperback. Los Angeles, California: Punk Hostage Press. ISBN 978-1940213279.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

[1] "The story of Las Vegas tattoo artist Mike Roche". hhtattoolasvegas.com. Retrieved 2024-03-12.

[2] Viewpoints (2007-03-08). "Thrills style and more at 'Electric Chair'". viewpointsonline.org. Retrieved 2024-03-12.

[3] Jack Grisham explains Vicious Circle., retrieved 2024-03-12

[4] "T.S.O.L. Sings Out: We're Not 'That Punk Band' Anymore". Los Angeles Times. 1988-07-14. Retrieved 2024-03-21.

[5] Lewis, Randy (1999-12-08). "TSOL Drummer Todd Barnes Dies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-03-21.

[6] "The story of Las Vegas tattoo artist Mike Roche". hhtattoolasvegas.com. Retrieved 2024-03-21.

[7] Roche, Mike (May 18, 2024). I Play With Giants Paperback. Los Angeles, California: Punk Hostage Press. ISBN 978-1940213279.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)

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