Michael (FAT MIKE) Burkett (placeholder)

Michael Burkett, more commonly known as Fat Mike, is the lead singer and bassist of the popular band NOFX, as well as bass player for Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. As Misfit Mike he played in a band called False Alarm before founding NOFX in 1983 with Erik Sandin and Eric Melvin. He’s also the owner of Motor Studios in San Francisco, California. Mike and his wife of 14 years, Erin, have one child, daughter Darla.

The name Fat Mike is a misnomer, as he isn’t obese. This nickname emerged when the somewhat thin Mike went away to San Francisco State University and returned having gained a few pounds, making him slightly heavier than the broomstick-thin punk rock crowd. The nickname stuck, even working its way into the name of his label, Fat Wreck Chords, one of the largest and most financially successful punk-affiliated record labels in the United States, mainly run by Fat Mike and his wife Erin. The label was founded in 1990. He regards himself as “Not That Fat”.

In 1997 he opened Motor Studios in San Francisco together with record producer Ryan Greene.

Fat Mike was the main organizer of the Rock Against Bush (Vol. 1 (2004) & Vol. 2 (2004)) and Punk Voter (founded in 2003) projects. Each project was created to increase voting among fans of punk music to vote George W. Bush out of office, and to make issues close to the punk community known to politicians.