Mike Hoffmann
{{Short description|American musician (died 2021)}}
{{About|the musician|the environmental engineer|Michael R. Hoffmann|other people|Michael Hoffman (disambiguation){{!}}Michael Hoffman|and|Michael Hofmann (disambiguation){{!}}Michael Hofmann}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
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.{{cite web|url= https://eu.jsonline.com/story/news/obituaries/2021/10/28/mike-hoffmann-milwaukee-music-scene-legend-dies-67/8552485002/|title= Mike Hoffmann, Milwaukee music scene 'legend' from Semi-Twang and Yipes!, dies at 67|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|author= Levy, Pete|access-date=November 8, 2021}}
He was the guitarist in the Milwaukee power pop band Yipes!{{cite web|url= https://archive.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/former-milwaukee-favorites-yipes-reuniting-for-wami-awards-as9h0b2-202787321.html|title= Former Milwaukee favorites Yipes! reuniting for WAMI awards|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|author=Levy, Pete |date=April 12, 2013}} The band had two albums with Millennium Records distributed by RCA Records.{{cite web|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FiUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22mike+hoffman%22+yipes&pg=PT71|title=Billboard|date=February 25, 1995}} Yipes! charted in the Billboard Hot 100 with its 1980 cover of the Beach Boys' "Darlin'".{{cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/artist/yipes/chart-history/hsi/|title=Billboard Top 100 1980|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 8, 2021}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://shepherdexpress.com/music/local-music/milwaukee-musician-and-producer-mike-hoffmann-passes|title= Milwaukee Musician and Producer Mike Hoffmann Passes|work=Shepard Express|author=Schlutz, Blaine|date=October 27, 2021}}
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.{{cite web|url= https://radiomilwaukee.org/discover-music/milwaukee-music/r-i-p-mike-hoffman-accomplished-milwaukee-music-veteran| title= R.I.P. Mike Hoffmann, accomplished Milwaukee music veteran |work=88nine radio |author=Rytlewski, Evan|access-date=October 25, 2021}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/yipesreunion|title= Yipes! They're back!|work=On Milwaukee magazine|author=Tanzilo, Bobby|date=June 24, 2015}}{{cite web|url= https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-native-john-sieger-and-semi-twang-to-be-indicated-into-wisconsin-area-music-industry/article_ab47724e-d1b3-5b6a-8c6d-363225923cb3.html|archive-url= https://archive.today/20211108135050/https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-native-john-sieger-and-semi-twang-to-be-indicated-into-wisconsin-area-music-industry/article_ab47724e-d1b3-5b6a-8c6d-363225923cb3.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2021-11-08|title=Semi-Twang to be indicated into Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame|work=Kenosha News|date=October 17, 2021}}
He played in the group Carnival Strippers,{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4gsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=mike+hoffman+speed+carnival+strippers&pg=PA20|title=Billboard|date=February 25, 1995|access-date=November 8, 2021}} 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.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoffmann, Mike}}
Category:Musicians from Milwaukee
Category:People from Brookfield, Wisconsin
Category:American rock guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:Year of birth missing