Biography
Mike Dillon, born in San Antonio, Texas, is a celebrated American percussionist, vibraphonist, bandleader, and vocalist whose career has spanned several decades and genres. His early musical inspiration came from the progressive rock band Rush, which led him to pursue percussion as a teenager. Dillon began performing in the 1980s with Dallas-area favorites Ten Hands and soon became a fixture in the Texas music scene, leading bands such as Billy Goat and Hairy Apes BMX (HABMX), and later joining experimental groups like Malachy Papers, Critters Buggin, and Garage A Trois.
Dillon's musical style is a fusion of punk, jazz, funk, and experimental rock, drawing on influences from jazz legends like Lionel Hampton and Milt Jackson as well as punk icons such as Bad Brains and The Minutemen. His virtuosic approach to the vibraphone and percussion has made him a sought-after collaborator, working with artists including Les Claypool (Primus, Frog Brigade), Ani DiFranco, Rickie Lee Jones, Galactic, and the Dean Ween Group. Dillon is known for his relentless touring schedule and his ability to blend genres into a unique, intense, and groovy sound described as 'punk-jazz hybrid.'
Throughout his career, Dillon has formed and led several bands, most notably Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle and Punkadelick, and contributed significantly to Garage A Trois' compositions. His legacy is marked by his innovative spirit, genre-defying performances, and his role in shaping the modern fusion of jazz, punk, and funk. Dillon currently resides in Kansas City and New Orleans, continuing to record, tour, and inspire new generations of musicians.
Fun Facts
- Mike Dillon kicked a drug addiction cold turkey by dedicating himself to learning Thelonious Monk's 'Well You Needn't' on the vibraphone, marking a turning point in his life and career.
- He is known for his genre-defying performances, blending punk, jazz, funk, and experimental rock into a unique sound described as 'punk-jazz hybrid'.
- Dillon has called Austin, New Orleans, and Kansas City home, reflecting his nomadic touring lifestyle.
- He is married to artist Peregrine Honig and splits his time between Kansas City and New Orleans.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Rush - Teenage inspiration for percussion and musical exploration (General influence, not specific albums) [1980s]
- Lionel Hampton - Influence on vibraphone technique and jazz idiom (General jazz vibraphone legacy) [Referenced throughout Dillon's career]
- Milt Jackson - Influence on vibraphone approach and improvisation (General jazz vibraphone legacy) [Referenced throughout Dillon's career]
- Bad Brains, The Minutemen, Black Sabbath - Punk and rock ethos influencing Dillon's style and attitude (General punk/rock influence) [Referenced throughout Dillon's career]
Key Collaborators
- Les Claypool - Frequent collaborator in Primus releases, Frog Brigade, and Fancy Band (Les Claypool's Fancy Band, Frog Brigade, The Fancy Trio) [2000s–present]
- Ani DiFranco - Recording and touring percussionist (Touring and studio work) [2000s–present]
- Skerik - Trio performances and bandmate in Critters Buggin, Garage A Trois, Dead Kenny G's (Critters Buggin, Garage A Trois, Dead Kenny G's, Illuminasti) [1990s–present]
- Brian Haas - Touring and recording as part of Dead Kenny G's (Dead Kenny G's tours) [2000s]
- Brad Houser - Touring and recording as part of Critters Buggin Trio and Dead Kenny G's (Critters Buggin Trio, Dead Kenny G's) [2000s]
- James Singleton - Trio performances with Dillon and Skerik as Illuminasti (Illuminasti) [2000s]
- Go-Go Ray - Drummer in Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle (Go-Go Jungle) [2006–present]
- J.J. Jungle - Bassist in Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle (Go-Go Jungle) [2006–present]
- Rickie Lee Jones - Recording and touring collaborator (Touring and studio work) [2000s–present]
- Galactic - Collaborator and performer (Touring and studio work) [2000s–present]
- Dean Ween Group - Collaborator (Touring and studio work) [2010s–present]
Artists Influenced
- Punkadelick band members - Mentor and leader, shaping their genre-blending style (Punkadelick) [2020s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Run White Boy Run | 2025-02-14 | Album |
| Run White Boy Run | 2025-02-14 | Album |
| Inflorescence | 2023-01-27 | Album |
| Functioning Broke | 2016-04-29 | Album |
| Rosewood | 2020-07-17 | Album |
| 30 Beats (Music From The Motion Picture) | 2012-07-24 | Album |
| From the Basement | 2021-09-09 | Album |
| Shoot the Moon | 2021-03-12 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Fourth Party (Zycordia)
- Bowie Cumbia / I Want To Be Your Dog (Run White Boy Run)
- If You Only Knew (feat. Skerik, Reggie Watts, Mike Dillon, Brad Houser, James Rotundi & Brian Siskind) (Trilon)
- Get Your Gun (Run White Boy Run)
- Golden Ask (Run White Boy Run)
- Between the Bars (Functioning Broke)
- Run White Boy Run (Run White Boy Run)
- Bowie Cumbia / I Want To Be Your Dog (Run White Boy Run)
- Houser (Run White Boy Run)
- Hey Landlord (Run White Boy Run)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Mike Dillon has been played 29 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.