Mike Dirnt Facts
Deep cut trivia from this corner of the GDA facts archive.
Mike Dirnt Facts
On Oscar's night in 1997, Mike did a poo over the edge of his hotel balcony. It landed on Juliette Binoche's balcony. When she found it, she tried to get the band thrown out of the hotel. Mike said, "Shit happens."
Source: Nobody Likes You by Marc Spitz, p.129
Sassafras Roots was named by Mike.
Source: Billie Joe on Twitter, 9 February 2011
While DJing in 2000, Mike challenged himself to play 7-inch records from every decade since 1920. He had about 1,000 records to choose from each night, many of which came from the Salvation Army and the Laney College Flea Market in Oakland. The first one he played was always Blue Skies by Benny Goodman.
Source: Uplister, 26 October 2000
When Mike was asked to name his favourite Green Day songs in 2013, he chose "Holiday," "Christie Road," and "Stop When the Red Lights Flash."
Source: Kerrang, 2013
The first thing Mike talked to Billie Joe about was songwriting.
Source: Interview with Michael Mayer, September 2010
Mike reached out to fans struggling with self-harm on Instagram during the ¡Uno! ¡Dos! ¡Tré! era. He said working out was helpful for him.
Source: Mike on Instagram, 2013
Mike was first taught to play guitar by one of his mom's roommates.
Source: "Green Day At: Guitar Center" interview, 2012
Mike once checked in to a hotel under the alias Seymour Butts.
Source: Q Magazine
Someone once impersonated Mike, went home with a woman, and stole all her jewellery and credit cards. The police chased Mike for six months.
Source: Kerrang
“When I was growing up, I had shaky hands, because I was put up for adoption after some substance abuse issues. As a result, I didn’t have the finesse on the guitar, so instead I fell in love with bass. Then to solidify it, when I was 14, someone broke into my house and stole all my guitars, but my bass was at Billie’s house. I said, 'it’s official — I’m a bass player.'” — Mike Dirnt
Mike was raised by a native American foster mother. He said he was "able to figure out that my mom loved me and hated other people for political reasons."
Source: Rolling Stone, 1996
Mike's ex-wife told him that she was filing for divorce the day after Green Day finished recording American Idiot. When it was mastered, he cried the whole way through.
Source: Rolling Stone, 2005
Mike was the one who suggested a stadium tour in 2020 since he felt Green Day had already achieved everything else.
Source: Jonathan Daniels (manager), 2020
"Forever Now" was Mike's favourite song to play on the Revolution Radio Tour.
Source: Mike on Instagram, February 2018
Mike used to be a dish washer. He also worked at a fish restaurant.
Source: Crossbeat, August 2000
Mike recorded an album with Screeching Weasel in 9 days from June 14th to June 24th, 1994. During this time he flew out to NYC and back to tape the Letterman show with Green Day.
In the Dookie booklet, there's a picture of Mike Dirnt looking in the mirror. If you look in the mirror, you can partially see the person taking the picture.
Mike Dirnt completed a year's worth of college courses after high school.
Mike and Billie Joe are both wearing work shirts that say "Chuck" in two music videos: Mike in "Basket Case" and Billie Joe in "Redundant."
Mike Dirnt used to co-own Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe in Emeryville, CA (a suburb of Oakland).
In the self-titled New Found Glory CD inlay, Green Day are thanked and the bass player has a special thanks to Mike: "...and Mike Dirnt for the influence..."
Mike actually believes that one day dogs will take over the world (remember the Dookie cover?).
Mike got mistaken for a ambushing fan at Woodstock 1994, and a security guard kicked him and knocked a couple of his teeth out.
Mike once rented a small part of Billie's house to live in during high school.
Mike's adoptive parents divorced when he was 6.
Mike was born with a heart problem and sometimes has panic attacks.
Mike wrote the bassline for "Longview" while he was high and listening to jazz. He forgot it the next day.
Mike smoked his first joint with his mom's friend.
Mike took the picture of himself in the Nimrod booklet.