Mike Dirnt: Difference between revisions

| birth_namealias = Michael Ryan Pritchard = Van Gough

| aliasbirth_date = {{birth date and = Van Goughage|1972|05|04}}

| occupation = {{flatlist|

| instrument = {{flatlist|

| years_active = 1986–present

| past_member_of = {{flatlist|

| spouse = {{unbulleted list|

== Early life and education==

Michael Ryan Pritchard was born in [[Oakland, California]] on May 4, 1972.<ref name="Nobody Likes You Page 12">{{cite book |last1=Spitz |first1=Marc |title=Nobody Likes You: inside the turbulent life, times, and music of Green Day |url=https://archive.org/details/nobodylikesyouin00spit |url-access=registration |date=2006 |publisher=Hyperion |isbn=1-4013-0274-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/nobodylikesyouin00spit/page/12 12] |chapter=Twin Jesuses of Suburbia}}</ref> As a child, his father was often away obtaining a degree, while his mother stayed at home to care for him and his sister Myla.<ref name="Spitz13">Spitz, 2006. p. 13</ref> Pritchard excelled in school, despite often missing classes as a result of various illnesses attributed to his biological mother's drug use.

In the cafeteria in Carquinez Middle School, ten-year-old Pritchard met [[Billie Joe Armstrong]], with whom he bonded instantly.<ref name="Spitz13" /> Armstrong began to play guitar with Mike, and the two spent much time together at Armstrong's house learning songs by artists such as the [[Ramones]], [[Ozzy Osbourne]], [[Def Leppard]], [[Hüsker Dü]], [[AC/DC]], [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]], [[The Replacements (band)|the Replacements]], [[the Who]], and [[Van Halen]].<ref name="Spitz14">Spitz, 2006. p. 14</ref> At the age of 14, they formed a group named "Sweet Children."

After attending [[Salesian High School (Richmond)|Salesian High School]], an all-boys Catholic school for his first year, Pritchard transferred to [[Pinole Valley High School]], where Armstrong had also recently transferred from [[John Swett High School]].<ref name="Spitz16">Spitz, 2006. p. 16</ref> Pritchard's family struggled with financial troubles; in an effort to help out, he worked as a chef at Nantucket, a seafood restaurant in [[Crockett, California|Crockett]].<ref name="Spitz20">Spitz, 2006. p. 20</ref> He eventually saved up enough money to purchase a used pickup truck that he and Armstrong often drove to [[Berkeley, toCalifornia|Berkeley]], where they attendattended shows at [[924 Gilman Street]], an influential [[DIY]] [[Punk rock|punk]] club.<ref name="Spitz20" /> The pair got jobs at the club as security guards, despite their small physiques. Mike recalled, "We lived and died for that place. At that time, it meant everything."<ref name="Spitz35">Spitz, 2006. p. 35</ref>

Although Armstrong is Green Day's main lyricist, Dirnt has written lyrics for "Emenius Sleepus",<ref>{{sfncite book |last1=Gaar |first1=Gillian |title=Green Day: Rebels With a Cause |date=2009 |ppublisher=Omnibus Press |isbn=978-0857120595|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bbkSCgAAQBAJ |pages=85-86}}</ref> "[[J.A.R.]] (Jason Andrew Relva)",<ref>{{cite web | url=https://genius.com/Green-day-jar-jason-andrew-relva-lyrics | title=Green Day – J.A.R. (Jason Andrew Relva) }}</ref> "Scumbag", "Ha Ha You're Dead", the subtrack "Nobody Likes You" from the medley "Homecoming" and the bB-side "Governator",<ref name= "AI liner notes"> American Idiot (CD liner). [[Green Day]]. [[Reprise Records]]. 2004.</ref> He also co-wrote the lyrics to "Best Thing in Town", "The One I Want", and "Panic Song" with Armstrong,<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Insomniac |others=[[Green Day]] |date=1995 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]}}</ref> and writes all the bass lines for Green Day songs. Mike also composed the intro to "Desensitized" from ''Shenanigans'' using a baseball bat and an old cathode ray tube television.<ref>''Nimrod'' liner notes. Retrieved October 13, 2011</ref>

[[Category:AlternativeAmerican alternative rock singers]]