Mikkey Dee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mikkey Dee
|
|
|---|---|
_%E2%80%93_Wacken_Open_Air_2015_02.jpg)
Dee in 2015
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou |
| Born | 31 October 1963 Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer |
| Years active | 1977–present |
Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou (born on October 31, 1963), known as Mikkey Dee, is a famous Swedish drummer. He has played drums for the German heavy metal band Scorpions since 2016. Before that, he was the drummer for the English heavy metal band Motörhead from 1992 until 2015. Mikkey Dee has also played with other well-known artists like King Diamond and Don Dokken.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Mikkey Dee was born in Gothenburg, Sweden. His father was Greek, and his mother was Swedish. He started his music journey playing with local bands called Nadir and Geisha. Some of the drummers who inspired him the most include Neil Peart, Brian Downey, Buddy Rich, Steve Smith, and especially Ian Paice.
Mikkey Dee's Music Career
Mikkey Dee has had a long and exciting career in music. He has played with several important bands and artists over the years.
Playing with King Diamond (1985–1989)
BillO%27Leary)021.jpg)
After moving to Copenhagen, Denmark, Mikkey Dee joined the band King Diamond in 1985. He played drums on their albums Fatal Portrait (1986), Abigail (1987), and Them (1988).
Mikkey Dee decided to leave the band after their tour for Them. He felt that he was mostly a backup musician and wanted to be more involved in writing songs. However, he came back to play drums for their next album, Conspiracy (1989). After finishing that album, another drummer took his place.
Joining Don Dokken (1990)
In 1990, Mikkey Dee joined Don Dokken for his solo album, Up from the Ashes. Music videos for songs from this album, like "Stay" and "Mirror Mirror," were shown on MTV. The band went on their own tour and also opened shows for the famous band Judas Priest.
Time with Motörhead (1992–2015)
The lead singer of Motörhead, Lemmy, often asked Mikkey Dee to join his band. In 1992, Mikkey Dee finally said yes and became Motörhead's new drummer. He replaced their previous drummer, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor.
Mikkey Dee's first show with Motörhead was on August 30, 1992, in New York. He didn't play much on the 1992 album March ör Die because it was mostly recorded before he joined. His first full album with Motörhead was Bastards in 1993.
Mikkey Dee also played drums for the band Helloween on their 2003 album Rabbit Don't Come Easy. In 2006, he reunited with King Diamond for a special concert in Sweden. King Diamond called him "one of the best [drummers] of all time."
Mikkey Dee also appeared on a Swedish TV show called Kändisdjungeln in 2009. While he was filming, another drummer filled in for him on Motörhead's tour.
After Lemmy, Motörhead's frontman, passed away in December 2015, Mikkey Dee announced that the band would no longer continue.
Joining Scorpions (2016–Present)
In January 2016, Mikkey Dee joined Thin Lizzy for some anniversary concerts. However, he later joined the band Scorpions to fill in for their drummer, James Kottak. He played many shows with them, including a series of concerts in Las Vegas. Mikkey Dee later became a permanent member of the Scorpions.
In November 2024, Mikkey Dee used social media to correct false reports that he had passed away.
Mikkey Dee's Drumming Style
Mikkey Dee is known for his long and exciting drum solos. These solos often last between five and fifteen minutes during live shows. You can hear some great examples of his solos in songs like "Sacrifice," "In the Name of Tragedy," and "The One to Sing the Blues."
Musical Gear
Mikkey Dee uses specific equipment for his drumming. He plays Sonor drums and uses Paiste cymbals. He also uses Evans drumheads and Wincent Drums sticks. His main drum kit is a Sonor SQ2 Vintage Maple Custom Finish set.
Personal Life
Mikkey Dee is a big fan of ice hockey. He supports the Frölunda HC team from Gothenburg. There was a rumor that he played for a Swedish National Youth Hockey team, but Mikkey Dee has said this isn't true. He did play for a team called Team Sweden in southern California in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Mikkey Dee lives in Gothenburg with his longtime girlfriend, Mia. They have two sons together.
In 2019, Mikkey Dee opened a rock bar in Paris called Alabama. In 2022, he used his skills as a truck driver to help advertise Volvo's Electric Trucks.
Albums Mikkey Dee Played On
Mikkey Dee has played drums on many albums throughout his career.
King Diamond Albums
- Fatal Portrait (1986)
- Abigail (1987)
- Them (1988)
- Conspiracy (1989)
- In Concert 1987: Abigail (1991)
Don Dokken Album
- Up from the Ashes (1990)
Motörhead Albums
- March ör Die (1992) - played on "Hellraiser" only
- Bastards (1993)
- Sacrifice (1995)
- Overnight Sensation (1996)
- Snake Bite Love (1998)
- We Are Motörhead (2000)
- Hammered (2002)
- Inferno (2004)
- Kiss of Death (2006)
- Motörizer (2008)
- The Wörld Is Yours (2010)
- Aftershock (2013)
- Bad Magic (2015)
Helloween Album
- Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003) - played on tracks 1–6, 8–10, 12
Scorpions Albums
- Born to Touch Your Feelings: Best of Rock Ballads (2017; 3 tracks)
- Rock Believer (2022)
Other Music Projects
- Drums on "Mange Tak" by Danish band Shu-bi-dua on the album Shu-bi-dua 12 (1987)
- "Distant Voices" on "Face the Truth" (1992)
- "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" on Metallic Assault: A Tribute to Metallica (2001)
- "Fear of the Dark" on Numbers from the Beast: An All Star Salute to Iron Maiden (2005)
- "Zombie Slam" on Psalms of Extinction (2007) by Pain
- United – Where is the Fire (This video helped raise money for victims of the 2004 tsunami disaster. It featured many famous Scandinavian musicians, including Mikkey Dee on drums.)
- Nadir "Snön Faller Ner/Ett Nytt Försök" 7" (1982) and "Frusna tårar/Sommar" 7" (1983) - these singles also featured other musicians like Gunnar Jaunupe and Mats Olausson.
See also
In Spanish: Mikkey Dee para niños
