Mickey Avalon
Avalon in San Diego, California
Background information
Birth name	Yeshe Perl
Also known as	Mickey Avalon
Born	December 3, 1975 (1975-12-03) (age 34)
Origin	Hollywood, California, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop Rap Rock
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2004 - present
Labels	Shoot To Kill / Myspace / Interscope Records
Associated acts	Dyslexic Speedreaders, Dirt Nasty, Andre Legacy, Beardo
Website	http://www.mickeyavalon.com/

Mickey Avalon (born Yeshe Perl on December 3, 1975) is an American rapper from Hollywood, California. His debut self-titled solo album was released Nov. 7, 2006 on Interscope/Shoot to Kill Records in association with MySpace Records. Avalon blends dark, lewd, and humorous hooks with heavy beats. Frequent topics of Avalon's songs are his experiences with substance abuse.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Controversy 2.1 Oklahoma City concert 3 Dyslexic Speedreaders 4 Discography 4.1 Studio albums 4.2 Singles 4.3 Tours 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Biography

Avalon's family upbringing was tumultuous; both he and his parents used drugs. ^[1] Avalon's paternal grandparents are Holocaust survivors who endured lasting injuries from their imprisonment at Auschwitz. By his early 20s, Avalon had married, had a daughter, and moved to Portland, Oregon.^[2]

Upon moving to Los Angeles, he was befriended by ex-MTV VJ Simon Rex (aka Dirt Nasty) who encouraged Avalon to rap and collaborated with him. The two began passing out demos to Hollywood clubs and soon developed a following among fans of the Los Angeles nightclub scene. Mickey also attended college at Webster University in St. Louis, MO for a brief time before he signed with Interscope Records. Mickey has a unique rhyming style and raps mostly about his experiences on the streets, with drugs, and prostitution. He was a member of the Dyslexic Speedreaders, a rap group which also includes rappers Dirt Nasty, Andre Legacy, and Beardo. Dirt Nasty, Beardo, and Andre Legacy all appear in Avalon's recent music video, "Fuckin' 'Em All".

In recent years Avalon toured internationally, appeared on an episode of The Simple Life, and appeared in a Boost Mobile commercial with Young Jeezy and Jermaine Dupri. He is currently working with Travis Barker of +44 and Blink-182 on his new album.

Avalon's song "My Dick" (also featuring Dirt Nasty and Andre Legacy) was featured in the 2008 movie Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay. "My Dick" can be found on Avalon's self-titled (Mickey Avalon) album as a hidden song on track 69.

His song "Jane Fonda" was featured briefly in an episode of Entourage (Episode: Strange Days).

He collaborated with the Happy Mondays on their 2007 album Uncle Dysfunktional, providing vocals on the track "Deviants".

Avalon co-wrote Unwritten Law's radio hit, "Shoulda Known Better," and also provided vocals for a remix version which has been released on Unwritten Law's "best of" album, The Hit List.

Avalon is also a member of the legendary Los Angeles-based graffiti crew CBS (Can't Be Stopped / City Bomb Squad).

Avalon's song "My Dick" was featured in the end credits for the HBO original series Hung (Episode: Great Sausage or Can I Call You Dick?).

According to Mickey Avalon's Myspace page, the song "What Do You Say" from the movie The Hangover, is the last song to feature Dyslexic Speedreaders Andre Legacy and Dirt Nasty. "What Do You Say" samples "King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-me-o".

[edit] Controversy

[edit] Oklahoma City concert

Avalon was booed off the stage while opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers at a March 2007 concert in Oklahoma City. During his set, Avalon threw his microphone at the audience in frustration, and walked off stage angrily. The next day, Red Hot Chili Peppers' lead guitarist, John Frusciante, wrote a letter to the band's fans in Oklahoma City. ^[3]

In the letter, Frusciante accused OKC fans of booing Avalon for personal issues, and a lack of "regard for humanity."^[3]

[edit] Dyslexic Speedreaders

Mickey Avalon, Dirt Nasty, Andre Legacy, and Beardo were the four members to make up the rap group, Dyslexic Speedreaders. Dirt Nasty was Avalon's friend from Hollywood, Andre Legacy was Avalon's friend since elementary school, and Beardo had been in the modeling business with Avalon before they gained fame. The group became widely popular thanks to internet sites like Myspace, YouTube, and Twitter. Dirt Nasty, Andre Legacy, Mickey Avalon, and Beardo all have their own self-titled album and they were all featured in Mickey Avalon's "Fuckin' 'Em All" video. The last song to feature Dirt Nasty and Andre Legacy was the song, "What Do You Say". Avalon had announced on his Myspace that this was the last Dyslexic Speedreaders song. Avalon went on tour in Hawaii and did a show with Andre Nickatina. On a Myspace bulletin Avalon said he had "traded one Andre for a better one."

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak positions
		US Heat
2006	Mickey Avalon Released: October 31, 2006 Label: MySpace Records	27

[edit] Singles

• "Fuckin' Em All" (2009)
• "What Do You Say" (feat. Cisco Adler, Dirt Nasty & Andre Legacy) (2009)
• "Stroke Me" (2009)

[edit] Tours

• "Stroke Me Tour" (2009) (Feat. Beardo, Ke$ha & Magician John Shackelford)
• "Blazed & Confused Tour" (2009)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Video Interview with Mickey Avalon
• Mickey Avalon's Website