Back in February, Mike's Dead premiered a gritty, industrialized cover of Garbage's "#1 Crush," showcasing another side to his shape-shifting sound, which has incorporated rap, punk, nu-metal and more, and in an interview with Revolver, he promised a more industrial sound for his future releases.
Today, Mike's Dead has delivered on said promise, offering up his first original cut since, the stomping, Rammstein-esque "Puppets." The single, which addresses his lifelong relationship with prescription medication, also marks the artist's first release on his new label home, Hopeless Records.
"As someone who's dealt with mental health issues throughout life I've played the 'medication game' for years, and often felt zombie'd or drugged out from half the shit they put me on," Mike's Dead commented. "My experience in that realm was really along the lines of 'take your pills and smile.' It always felt like there was very little empathy or time spent learning background, but rather doctors just pushing pills down your throat. I know that it helps with certain people, but to me I never felt like myself; all in this search to feel 'normal.'
"'Puppets' was an ode to taking back control of myself and a hit at this medication game that millions of people are playing right now... hence the 'you can't take control of me' lines in the pre chorus. I think it's funny that I wrote this back in 2020 since the lyrics can be applied to so many current themes in 2023 with all of the chaos that's been going on lately."
Mike's Dead will be hitting the road this spring. See the itinerary below.
Mike's Dead 2023 tour dates:
25-May - Pontiac, MI - Pike Room
26-May - Columbus, OH - Sonic Temple Festival
28-May - Pittsburgh, PA - Preserving Underground
30-May - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
31-May - Hartford, CT - Webster Underground
1-Jun - Philadelphia, PA - Warehouse on Watts
3-Jun - Washington, DC - Comet Ping Pong
4-Jun - Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall
6-Jun - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Purgatory)
7-Jun - Orlando, FL - Level 13
9-Jun - Nashville, TN - The End
10-Jun - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
12-Jun - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen
13-Jun - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
