Mike Patton (Producer)
Although he shares the same name as a famous vocalist, Mike Patton has a veritable music pedigree of his own.
As bassist of the So-Cal/hardcore punk band Middle Class, which was formed in 1977, Patton (alongside the Atta brothers: Jeff (vocals), Mike (lead guitar) and Bruce (drums)) was part of the burgeoning California punk scene. They have been included in the discussion for “first hardcore punk band ever”. Although some fans consider Black Flag to be the first formed band, no one can dispute that with the Out of Vogue EP, Middle Class released the first hardcore punk record.
As far we knew, we were the only people in Orange County besides maybe one or two others who listened to The Ramones or The Dictators. Later on, we found out there were groups in Fullerton at the time like The Mechanics and Agent Orange. Soon after that, all that stuff in Huntington Beach stared to bubble up. But we had no idea, we were completely isolated. As far as we knew, we were surrounded by white boy who liked Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull and cholos. who liked oldies.
It wasn’t like we had any idea in our mind like “Let’s make a new genre of punk rock!” As young kids, our interpretation of punk rock was simple and fast; so that’s what we did. We weren’t trying to be different from what anybody else was doing. Who knows? Maybe the Bad Brains Pay to Cum 7” came out a few days before Out of Vogue. It’s not like we kept records from the pressing plant so we can go back and say who was first. For us, it’s just nice to get any recognition at all!
- Jeff Atta via Vice
Middle Class circa 1979
As Middle Class evoled their sound into a post-punk, Patton also forayed into producing with Adolescents' self-titled debut (aka The Blue Album. The album was groundbreaking, and following the Dead Kennedys' [Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables] was the second Californian hardcore punk album to ship 10,000 units.
Middle Class reformed again in 2011 for reunion shows until 2014, when Mike Atta’s died from lung and kidney cancer.