Mike Dirnt American musician Date of Birth: 04.05.1972 Country: USA

Biography of Mike Dirnt

Mike Dirnt is an American musician, best known as the bassist, backing vocalist, and one of the founding members of the American rock band Green Day. He was born on May 4, 1972, in Berkeley, California, with the birth name Michael Ryan Pritchard.

As a child, Dirnt often pretended to play the guitar by mimicking the sound "dёrnt-dёrnt-dёrnt." This led his classmates to give him the nickname "Mike Dёrnt." He was adopted at a young age by a Native American woman, as his biological mother was a heroin addict. He grew up with his sister, Myla, but she ran away from home when she was 13.

Dirnt faced many challenges growing up, including his adoptive parents' divorce. He initially lived with his father but later moved back to his mother due to frequent arguments. They lived in poverty, and Dirnt has stated that he witnessed difficult situations during this time. When he was in fourth or fifth grade, his mother remarried, and although their relationship was initially strained, they became very close when Dirnt entered high school. Unfortunately, his stepfather passed away when Dirnt was 17.

After being left alone, Dirnt planned to live in his car but eventually moved in with his close friend Billie Joe Armstrong. He attended Salesian High School, where he briefly played in a band called Helder and the Heldernauts. He then transferred to John Swett High School and finally graduated from Pinole Valley High School in 1990. The day after graduation, Green Day embarked on their first tour. Despite facing difficulties, Dirnt managed to graduate after having a serious conversation with his mother about the importance of education.

Dirnt first met Billie Joe Armstrong in the school cafeteria in 1982 when they were both 10 years old, a few months before Armstrong's father passed away from cancer. In 1987, they formed the band Sweet Children, which later evolved into Green Day. When Dirnt's mother left town, he chose to live with Armstrong to remain close to his best friend and the band, which had become his life during his challenging teenage years.

Since 1990, Green Day has released eight studio albums, five live albums, three compilations, and 32 singles. Their performance at Woodstock '94, where they had already released three albums, made history when a massive mud fight broke out between the band and the audience. Dirnt was mistaken for a fan by a security guard and was attacked, resulting in the loss of several teeth.

Dirnt played the Gibson G3 bass guitar for a long time until it was accidentally smashed by their drummer, Tre Cool, on stage. He then switched to a '69 Precision Bass Fender. Later, he collaborated with Fender to create a custom guitar, which was released as a new model in early 2004. Armstrong has referred to Dirnt as the best bassist in the history of punk rock.

In 1996, Dirnt married for the first time, and he and his wife, Anastasia, welcomed their daughter, Estelle Desiree, in April 1997. In the summer of 2008, Dirnt gained full custody of their daughter and moved her to Oakland. In 2004, he married his girlfriend, Sarah, but they divorced the same year. On March 14, 2009, Dirnt married Brittney Cade in a modest private ceremony in her hometown of Ojai, California. Their son, Brixton Michael, was born on October 11, 2008, and their daughter, Ryan Ruby Mae, was born on November 29, 2010.

In addition to his musical career, Dirnt is a devoted fan of Star Wars. He is also a co-owner of the Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe, a chain of restaurants in Emeryville and Oakland, California. The cafe's name is derived from the song "Rudie Can't Fail" by The Clash, and the menu is decorated with names of famous punk compositions. Dirnt underwent wrist surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome after the release of Green Day's album "Warning" in 2000.