Mike R. Livingston (guitarist)

Mike R. Livingston is a guitarist, mandolin player, songwriter and vocalist from Los Angeles, California. He appears in a 1977 Vom video featuring Richard Meltzer and Greg Turner and was a member of LA band The Mau Mau's (with Rick Wilder) which he joined in 1979. Around this time he also played with Legal Weapon. In the late 1980's Livingston and bassist Kevin Wood formed the band Lock-Up. Livingston was eventually replaced by guitarist Tom Morello (later of Rage Against the Machine) shortly before the recording of Lock-Up's first and only album for Geffen records. This was due to a conflict with singer Brian Grillo and other band members. MRL had met Grillo while playing in the band Ella and the Blacks which included percussionist Brendan Mullen. During the late 1980's he also did a brief stint playing guitar in local project 'The Three Little Butthairs' which was composed of bassist Flea (Fear, Red Hot Chili Peppers)and drummer DH Peligro (Dead Kennedy's, Chili Peppers, Peligro). DH had played drums for Lock Up before being unceremoniously jettisoned due to the caprices of Brian Grillo and anti-[...] activist, bassist Chris Bee Bee. In the late 1990's Livingston played mandolin on the Bluegrass Bastards CD and sang the title track "Let the [...] Be" as well as founding the band The Homebillies which included bassist/guitarist Bob Seal, formerly of 1960's band Clear Light. Michael R. Livingston is currently playing with The Mau-Mau's and his own band The Livingstons which includes bassist Danny Dorman formerly of Circle One and Wasted Youth. Mike has killer picking parties and is a resident of Silverlake California.