Mike Lawrence

Birthday - January 18

Cubs Fan, Bud Man

Hat Size: 7 1/4

Height: 2'4" (On his back)

Turn-Ons: Puppies and long walks on the beach

Mike "The Hammer" Lawrence (the only drummer we could find with two first names), bought his first drum set on a spring day back in 1986 and has not stopped beating off since. He quickly formed a band with his high school buddies including Chip Holoway on guitar, Jay Applehans on bass and Douglas Burke on vocals. They were very lousy at best but played to sold out crowds in the back garage and at Butch Vanelak parties featuring their greatest hits ("Rock Your Socks Off" frequently featuring Frank Merlo on vocals, "In Love" and "Party") plus the latest and greatest Motley Crue hits.

As high school ended and members went on to college and to different projects, Mike made his way into various local bands such as MT Gunn (with Dave Franke and later Ron Baker), Upside Down (including the infamous guitar virtuoso Dennis Weber, Ron Baker, Ryan Ward on keyboards and even Emmit Lipinski on bass) and Brandi Smash (including Jay Truelove on guitar). Mike played out at various venues with these bands and tried to sleep with….

But by the middle of his college years (a lot of people take 8 years to finish college - they're called DOCTORS) in 1991, he became tired of beating his skins and had played his last show. The drums were retired to Jay's basement and would not be seen or heard from again for many years.

In 1998, Mike pulled out his instrument and began the beating process once again. He filled in on drums for the illustrious original band Special Purpose (which included his brother-in-law Keary Phillips on bass). After playing a few shows, he realized his skills were not completely gone (even though the hair was) and wanted to rekindle the great feeling that comes at the end of the pounding process.

This is where Ron Baker lends a hand. He wanted to start playing in a band again and contacted Mike (the greatest beat off he knows) about a possible comeback tour as he was short on cash from all the (another story for a later date). Mike was hip to the groove and called Tony Besson (the great guitar god from Antioch High School). And in February of 2002, The Awful Truth was formed. The rest is history as they say and Mike gets to pound a few out regularly.