Beech Tree News Network

Today I will continue my deejay biography series.  However, this week I’ll enter the world of Sirius XM.  I’ll begin with one we all probably know even if you don’t think you do.  

Michael Des Barres (pronounced De-Barr) is a European Marquis (his radio intro even says “the Marquis, MDB.  Join him for crumpets and tea).  Sidebar, a marquis is a title of nobility, ranking below a duke but above an earl or count.  Raised in England and currently living in Los Angeles, He is heard by over six million listeners five days a week as a host on Little Steven’s Underground Garage (7-10 am, repeating 9 pm-12 am). He has appeared in over 150 hours of American television and more than 40 feature films.  He has sold over 7 million albums as both a recording artist and songwriter.  

Over the past 5 decades, the 77 year-old(born January 24, 1948) Michael has appeared in numerous feature films such as “To Sir With Love” with Sidney Poitier, “Pink Cadilac” with Clint Eastwood, “The Man From Elysian Fields” with Mick Jagger, and “Diary of a Sex Addict” with Rosanna Arquette, as well as countless television shows such as NCIS, Bones, CSI, Seinfeld, Frasier, Roseanne, Melrose Place and my favorite tv role of his, infamous assassin and  MacGyver’s archnemesis Murdoc on the original(and best) MacGyver.  He returned for a stint on the reimagining of the show, playing mentor Nicolas Helman to the new Murdoc, played by David Dastmalchian.

MDB was also the touring singer for the Duran Duranspin-off group The Power Station, performing at Live Aid with one of the most iconic acts of the mid-‘80’s.  From ’82-’84, Michael was a member of the group ChequeredPast, which included Steve Jones from ‘70’s punk band the Sex Pistols, Clem Burke and Nigel Harrison of Blondie.  In 1983, Michael penned the song “Obsession”, a #1 hit in 27 countries for LA new wave group Animotion.  

Recently, Michael narrated the one-night only performance of Frank Zappa’s legendary 200 Motels with the LA Philharmonic, released a live follow-up to his 2012 album Carnaby Street called Hot N Sticky, and co-starred alongside Gene Simmons of KISS.  His latest album, “The Key To The Universe”, was released April 5, 2015, on FOD Records and was produced by Bob Rose.  

I’ll end with some MDB trivia: He was in a rock band called Detective that released two LP’s in 1977.  Along with Steppenwolf’s original lead guitarist Michael Monarch and Yes’s original keyboardist Tony Kaye.  They were on Led Zeppelin’s label.  He appeared in both Superboy (1988) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman(1993).  He wrote the lyrics for the song “Cleo Rocks” for MacGyver season 4 episode 9 of the same name.  As a member of Power Station, MDB co-wrote and co-performed “We Fight For Love”, the end-title song for Commando (1985).  He didn’t appear in the movie.  He has a son, Nick, with ex-wife Pamela.  He formed his first band, Silverhead, in England in 1972.  They recorded two albums and toured in the U.S, Europe and Japan, before disbanding in 1974.  He appeared on the original WKRP in Cincinnati (1978) as “Sir Charles “Dog” Weatherbee, member of fictional hard-rock band Scum of the Earth.  Fourteen years later, he became a regular cast member of *The New WKRP In Cincinnati* (1991), portraying the role of disc jockey Jack Allen.  He appeared on MacGyver (1985) as “Murdoc”, an insane and ruthless villain who always seems to come back from the dead.  His was only slated to be a one-time appearance.  Because he did such a good job, producers Henry Winkler and John Rich made MDB’s Murdoc a recurring role. (www.IMDB.com)  His were always my favorite episodes of that show.  Maybe that says a little something about me, I don’t know.  

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about Michael Des Barres.  I’ve sure enjoyed bringing it to you! No link because I’ve yet to record a vlog for this week.  See you next week!