Suicidal Tendencies was born out of Southern California’s thriving skateboard culture of the late ’70s/early ’80s. Leader and singer Mike Muir originally intended for the group to be a part-time party band on the Venice, CA, punk scene and skatepark circuit, but the Suicidal quickly evolved into one of the first punk/thrash crossover successes, gaining a following so rabid that they actually considered themselves a gang. The Suicidal Cycos, as they called themselves, had various local chapters in cites across Southern California and as far away as San Antonio, Texas. The band also gained infamy due to the culture of violence involving gang clashes at many of their early shows.