12 November 2025 – The Tivoli, Brisbane – words by Zachen Wiki – pictures by Marty Schmidt
Hailing from Venice, California, Suicidal Tendencies possess something special that I never truly understood – until I had the privilege of watching them live. One of the greatest and most influential bands in the history of punk and metal were headlining at one of the greatest and well known venues in Brisbane at The Tivoli and I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many people in the 40+ age range at a gig as I did on this night. I mean that in the best possible way too, the bar would have made a fortune as the beer sinking veterans poured through the doors to down as many cold pours as possible on a Tuesday, and opening act, Big Noter, hadn’t even hit the stage yet.
Travelling up from Melbourne, the artist known as BRIGGS has changed up his old hip hop sound to something a little more suitable for an ST support act. The Big Man accomplishes this whilst keeping true to his original style, littering his songs with a flow of syllables and rhymes that he makes seem surprisingly easy considering the angst he is delivering his vocals with. Despite the mass of people who were no doubt mainly here for the headliner, Big Noter was quick to win them over with heavy hitters like ‘TALK STRAIGHT’, ‘IDENTITY’ and ‘F.M.D.’ I have rarely seen a stationary mosh swiftly turn into a beating organism of push pits and headbanging, but the crowd reaction was well deserved.
BIG NOTER – Tivoli – photos by Marty Schmidt
I mentioned before that I didn’t understand what made ST so special, I also didn’t realise how many of their songs I had grown up hearing without realising that they wrote it. And don’t even get me started on how many of my favourite bands they influenced by pioneering the crossover between punk and hardcore. I could go on and on about the reality check I received over the near 90 minute barrage of pure energy, blistering drums, unbridled charisma and absolute adoration for one of the best to ever do it, so I will.
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES – Tivoli – photos by Marty Schmidt
‘Cyco Mike’ Muir is hands down the most entertaining front man I’ve seen in my life, and I have seen a lot of them. It’s as though Donnie Thornberry grew up in California and started a punk band. Growing up in my own projects as a vocalist has made me drawn to them and he really is the best of the lot. Whether he is leading the crowd chants in ‘You Can’t Bring Me Down’ and ‘Send Me Your Money’, pulling a duet with Brisbane local, Nisha Star, on ‘Adrenaline Addict’ or flexing his ridiculous cardio by refusing to stand still for a single second of the entire set, Mike really set a new standard for myself when watching vocalists dominate a stage.
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES – Tivoli – photos by Marty Schmidt
Dominate might even be an unfair term to use, as he is flanked by longtime member Dean Pleasants, Devin Townsend Project member, Ben Weinmann, son of Rob Trujillo (yeah, THAT Rob Trujillo) Tye and former Slipknot drummer, Jay Weinberg. Every single band member pulls their weight, from wah heavy solos, Tye’s own insane bass solo, Weinmann’s incessant energy or Weinberg’s chops as an incredible drummer, there is no slouch in the entire group.
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES – Tivoli – photos by Marty Schmidt
It is their ability as a collective to feed off of each other, and the crowd, from whom they have earned the respect of by being at the top of their game for over 40 years that makes them special. There’s no high end production, no backing tracks, no bullshit. Suicidal Tendencies are honest, frenetic and an outright joy not only to watch, but to experience as a whole.
