BORN IN:   Detroit, Michigan

LIVES IN:   Los Angeles, CA

DRUMMING SINCE:   1987

PREVIOUS BANDS/PROJECTS:  W.A.S.P., John Mellencamp, Eric Sardinas, Annabella Lwin (Bow Wow Wow), Dizzy Reed (Guns N’ Roses), Hair of the Dog, Love/Hate, Casualty Of God

BIGGEST INFLUENCE(S):   Kenny Aronoff, Anton Fig, Gene Hoglan, Dave Grohl, Peter Criss, Eric Carr

FAVOURITE ALBUM YOU PLAYED ON: W.A.S.P. “Golgotha”, Casualty Of God “S/T”

FAVOURITE ALBUM YOU DIDN’T PLAY ON:  Strapping Young Lad “City”, Devin Townsend “Ocean Machine: Biomech”

CAREER HIGHLIGHT:  Playing Wacken Open Air and Sweden Rock Festivals, twice each

FAVOURITE SABIAN CYMBAL:   19″ AAX Xplosion Crash (Brilliant Finish)

Mike Dupke is a Michigan-born drummer who began playing at age 13. After “basically living in the band room” through high school, Dupke enrolled in the Indiana University School of Music, where he began studying with Kenny Aronoff. At only 19 years old, Mike performed with John Mellencamp’s band, playing percussion alongside Kenny. He performed on the MTV Human Wheels special, the Arsenio Hall Show, and the “When Jesus Left Birmingham” video. Dupke also played drumkit for a track on Mellencamp’s Dance Naked disc.

After college, Mike relocated to Nashville where he met Cinderella drummer Fred Coury. It was Coury who ended up pairing Dupke with L.A.-based rock band Hair Of The Dog. HOTD got signed to Spitfire Records and recorded two more discs, 2000’s Rise and 2001’s Ignite. After that group disbanded, Mike began backing slide-blues powerhouse Eric Sardinas, and got his first taste of international touring.

In 2006, Dupke joined heavy metal legends W.A.S.P., with mainman Blackie Lawless calling Dupke the only drummer he “ever hired on the spot.” Mike has recorded three discs with the band, 2007’s Dominator, 2009’s Babylon, and 2015’s Golgotha. While a member of W.A.S.P., he performed in nearly 30 countries around the globe. In addition, he has also recently performed with Dizzy Reed (Guns N’ Roses), Annabella Lwin (Bow Wow Wow), Love/Hate, and Casualty Of God. Mike and W.A.S.P. parted ways in 2015.

In August of 2017, Mike Dupke joins legendary singer Dee Snider’s (Twisted Sister) solo group for tour dates throughout the USA and Europe in support of Dee Snider’s new release We Are The Ones. Mike Dupke plays and endorses Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and Ahead Drumsticks