Suicidal Tendencies

Live at Ozzfest

San Bernardino, CA

September 24th, 2016

Review and photos by Travis Baumann

It is incredible how things from the past can come full circle.  I have not listened to Suicidal Tendencies in quite some time, but was an avid fan back in my skateboarding days over thirty years ago. Songs like "Institutionalized", "I Saw Your Mommy", and "I Shot the Devil" were some of the earliest punk anthems that I played, literally all the time back then.

When I saw they were playing Ozzfest this year I thought that it would be really cool to see what they are up to these days. The weather was insanely hot, and the dust clouds were rolling across the field where the stages were set up, but there was a massive crowd ready to see S.T. in the flesh.

The only remaining member from those early days is the main man, Mike Muir, still leading the charge of the revolution. Joining him on stage were Dean Pleasants on lead guitar, Jeff Pogan on rhythm guitar, Ra Diaz on bass, and surprisingly, ex-Slayer skins-man, Dave Lombardo on drums.

They started the set with what seemed an extremely extended and hyper version of "You Can't Bring Me Down". "Cyco Miko", as he is affectionately called, was a blur of motion, running all around the stage, up on to speakers, over on to supporting columns, just completely freaking out as he sang.

The bassist and rhythm guitarist followed suit, constantly running around, stopping only long enough to find a microphone when the chorus came around. Dean on lead guitar was a bit more composed, and generally remained near his primary mic position.

The crowd went absolutely batshit crazy and were creating their own dust storm with a very intense circle pit. People came flying over the barrier on to our and the security guy's heads so they shut the photo pit down on this first song and booted us out into the dust cloud with all the moshers.

I was surprised and happy when they played "I Shot the Devil" for their second song.  I remember this being really controversial when I was a kid (at least all our parents hated it) with lyrics like "I shot Reagan, I shot the Pope" and we would get in trouble for playing it or singing it in junior high.

Another old classic that I used to listen to all the time was up next with "Trip at the Brain". I was surprised that so far I recognized every song even though I have not listened to them in so long.

With their fourth song they actually hit something I did not know. I looked it up later and it was "Freedumb" from the album of the same name.

They played "War Inside My Head" and "Subliminal" in a row after that and I remember both of those songs too so this was turning out be a classic S.T. "best of" set from my perspective.

They played another one I did not know which was "Cyco Vision" and I swear I heard a bit of "I Saw Your Mommy" but I don't think it was the complete song.

The one song that has stuck with me for all this time and I do occasionally still put on was up next.  "How Will I Laugh Tomorrow (When I Can't Even Smile Today)" was a big change of pace for them from the early stuff like "Institutionalized". When it came out it broke down the stereotype of "talentless punks" screaming and blasting atonal music in one fell swoop. The song stands up today as strongly as it did upon its first release, and really is a great song. I was pretty stoked to get to see it live after all these years.

They finished out the set with as much energy as the started it with, bringing the "Pledge Your Allegiance" anthem to the crowd for their finale. It was a good show and really cool to see Mike in action.

Suicidal Tendencies juxtapose so many mental images, lyrical messages, and musical styles over their three decade plus run that it really is a "Trip at the Brain".

They are still going strong and still doing their thing and obviously still relating to the audience despite this audience being made up of almost entirely new blood from what I could tell. That's some longevity right there and I am glad I got to see them and be a part of it.

Click the banner above