Mike Hoffmann
Mike Hoffmann (1953/1954 – October 24, 2021) was an American guitarist and record producer. He is known for performing with the band Yipes! and as a producer with The Verve Pipe, Willy Porter, Paul Cebar and Violent Femmes co-founder Victor DeLorenzo.
Biography
Hoffmann was a graduate of Brookfield East High School in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The youngest of three children of Janet and Fred Hoffmann, he started playing in bands in high school.[1]
He was the guitarist in the Milwaukee power pop band Yipes![2] The band had two albums with Millennium Records distributed by RCA Records.[3] Yipes! charted in the Billboard Hot 100 with its 1980 cover of the Beach Boys' "Darlin'".[4]
Hoffmann played bass for Marshall Crenshaw on tour, and opened for acts such as Foreigner, Kansas, Jefferson Starship, Lou Reed, The Clash, Cheap Trick, The Replacements and Wilco.[5] He recorded albums overseen by noted producers such as Nick Lowe, Mitchell Froom, Chris Thomas and Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads. Hoffmann also recorded with artists such as Herb Alpert, T Bone Burnett, k. d. lang and drummer Hal Blaine.[6]
Hoffmann was twice inducted into the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame, in 2013 with the band Yipes!, and in 2021 as part of the group Semi-Twang.[7][8]
He played in the group Carnival Strippers,[9] which had their music featured in the action movie Speed.
Hoffmann died at the age of 67 on October 24, 2021 from a pulmonary embolism.[1]
References
- ^ a b Levy, Pete. "Mike Hoffmann, Milwaukee music scene 'legend' from Semi-Twang and Yipes!, dies at 67". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ Levy, Pete (April 12, 2013). "Former Milwaukee favorites Yipes! reuniting for WAMI awards". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ "Billboard". February 25, 1995.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 1980". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ Schlutz, Blaine (October 27, 2021). "Milwaukee Musician and Producer Mike Hoffmann Passes". Shepard Express.
- ^ Rytlewski, Evan. "R.I.P. Mike Hoffmann, accomplished Milwaukee music veteran". 88nine radio. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ Tanzilo, Bobby (June 24, 2015). "Yipes! They're back!". On Milwaukee magazine.
- ^ "Semi-Twang to be indicated into Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame". Kenosha News. October 17, 2021. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard". February 25, 1995. Retrieved November 8, 2021.