Mike Belitsky
Mike Belitsky | |
|---|---|
 Belitsky with the Sadies in 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Michael Jonathon Belitsky January 19, 1966 |
| Genres | Indie rock, country |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Labels | Blue Fog, Sonic Unyon |
Michael Jonathon Belitsky is a Canadian musician. He has played drums for a number of bands, including Jellyfishbabies, Jale, Neko Case, and Pernice Brothers,[1] and later The Sadies.
Early life
Belitsky was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[2][3] He attended Concordia University in Montreal.[4]
Career
Belitsky left Concordia in 1987 to join the band Jellyfishbabies, who relocated to Toronto.[4] He later moved to Halifax, drumming in punk bands.[1] In 1996, he became a member of the band Jale, and drummed on their second album, So Wound. A year later he performed at the New York Pop Explosion festival with the band Cheticamp.[5]
In the late '90s, Belitsky joined Toronto band the Sadies. By 2004, he was playing with the band Unintended[6] as well as the Sadies.[7] In 2013, he joined the band The New Mendicants. He toured Spain with the group in 2014,[8] and drummed on their 2014 album Into the Lime.[9]
In 2018, Belitsky injured his shoulder while ice skating, and was unable to perform for several months.[10] Since that time he has continued to play in The Sadies and The New Mendicants.[8]
Following the Sadies' lead singer Dallas Good's death in 2022, Belitsky suffered a torn ligament in his wrist, providing a further setback for the band.[11] After Belitsky healed from wrist surgery, the Sadies rallied and continue to tour and record to this day.
Album appearances
- Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (2006, Anti-)
References
- 1 2 "Mike Belitsky". Exclaim!, By Jason Schneider, Sep 01, 2004
- ↑ Kloke, Joshua (April 5, 2020). "Tales from the Juno Cup and identifying Canada's best hockey-playing musician" – via NYTimes.com.
- ↑ "The Halifax Dartmouth Ferries". www.hdf.ca.
- 1 2 Michael Barclay; Ian A.D. Jack; Jason Schneider (June 2011). Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance, 1985-1995. ECW Press. p. 636. ISBN 978-1-55490-968-1.
- ↑ Josh O'Kane (1 April 2016). Nowhere with You: The East Coast Anthems of Joel Plaskett, The Emergency and Thrush Hermit. ECW Press. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-77090-840-6.
- ↑ No Depression. Vol. 49–54. No Depression. 2004. p. 154.
- ↑ Larry LeBlanc (14 August 2004). "Sadies get colourful" - Billboard. p. 59. ISSN 0006-2510.
- 1 2 "The New Mendicants – the indie supergroup that begs to differ". The Irish Times, Jan 17, 2014, Lauren Murphy
- ↑ " The New Mendicants". AllMusic Biography by Timothy Monger
- ↑ "Through Northern Passages and Broken Bones: The Sadies". The Sound, by Chris Illich, June 5, 2019
- ↑ Star, Ben Rayner Special to the (August 13, 2022). "After losing singer and guitarist Dallas Good, the Sadies talk healing, touring and what's next". Toronto Star.