Mike D formed the Beastie Boys with Adam Yauch in 1981, soon adding Adam Horovitz to the group. They started out as a punk band, but they found their calling with hip-hop music. In 1985, they opened for Madonna on her famous "Like a Virgin" tour. The Beastie Boys gained huge success with numerous albums and tours, then later founded their own record label and magazine called Grand Royal in 1993. Mike has also worked on musical projects with Mike Watt and Kenny 'Tick' Salcido, as well as Miho Hatori and Yuka Honda of the band Cibo Matto.

Has a dog named Rufus who sometimes appears in Beastie Boys videos and is mentioned in certain Beastie Boys songs.Owner of the defunct record label Grand Royal Records with fellow Beastie Boys Adam Yauch and Adam Horovitz.Mike D, Adam Yauch and Adam Horovitz are the second-highest selling hip-hop artists (Beastie Boys) of all time, only behind Tupac Shakur, who has sold 35 million albums. The Beastie Boys have sold 21 million, closely followed by Eminem's 20,000000 copies.Is the best known of the Beastie Boys for his business sense, having been the main decision-maker for Grand Royale records.Often plays drums on Beastie Boys songs when not performing with a DJ, although when the band plays hardcore punk songs, he usually switches to being the lead singer (as was the set-up when the Beastie Boys originally formed in 1981 as a punk band).Has two sons, Davis and Skylar, with wife Tamra Davis.The Beastie Boys were voted the 77th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.