Mike Diamond (Mike D) grew up in Manhattan as an independent and curious kid, surrounded by music. As a child, he secretly took records by artists like The Jackson Five, The Beatles and various Motown acts from his older brothers. When he finally bought his first album ('Fly Like An Eagle' by Steve Miller), he began playing the drums himself.
Not long after, he discovered punk - and everything changed. Until he stumbled upon hip-hop through mixtapes, and later reggae through bands like The Clash. Each time, he found something that completely consumed him.
In the early 1980s, he founded the Beastie Boys together with Adam Yauch (MCA). What began as punk quickly evolved into a unique blend with rap, as they continued to mix their influences. This led to a long career filled with successful albums, awards and international recognition, culminating in their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
Together with MCA and Adrock, Mike D was involved in nearly every creative aspect of the group: from music production to video clips and live visuals. In the 1990s, they also launched their own label and magazine, Grand Royal, as an additional outlet for their ideas.
Beyond music, he remained active in creative projects ranging from design to art. In 2018, he co‑wrote the Beastie Boys Book with Adam Horovitz, and the accompanying live shows later formed the basis for the film Beastie Boys Story (2020).
