 michael ryan pritchard (born may 4, 1972), better known as mike dirnt, is an american musician. he is best known as the  bass player, backing and occasional lead vocalist and co-founder of the american punk rock band green day. he has also played in several other bands, including the frustrators. his stage name was originally a nickname from his friends at grade school, as he would constantly play "air bass" and make a "dirnt, dirnt, dirnt" noise while pretending to pluck the strings. ==early life== dirnt was born in berkeley, california. he was given up for adoption by his biological mother, who struggled with heroin addiction.spitz, 2006. p. 12 at six weeks of age, he was placed in foster care with cheryl nasser and patrick pritchard of el sobrante, california, a couple who subsequently adopted him.spitz, 2006. pp. 12-13 as a child, his father was often away obtaining a degree at uc berkeley, while his mother stayed at home to care for him and his sister myla.spitz, 2006. p. 13 dirnt excelled in school despite missing classes, often as a result of various illnesses believed to be caused by his biological mother's drug use. after an argument between his parents resulted in a call to the police, the couple divorced. his mother and sister moved to rodeo, while he stayed in el sobrante with his father. however, missing his mother, he eventually moved in with her and myla. having been previously described as bright and fearless, dirnt became sullen and withdrawn after the divorce. in the cafeteria in carquinez middle school, ten year old dirnt met billie joe armstrong, with whom he bonded instantly. armstrong began to teach dirnt how to play guitar, and the two spent much time in armstrong's bedroom learning to play songs by ozzy osbourne and van halen.spitz, 2006. p. 14 they formed a group with fellow students raj punjabi on drums and jason andrew relva on bass, with armstrong playing lead guitar and dirnt playing rhythm guitar.spitz, 2006. p. 
1972_births Alternative_rock_bass_guitarists Alternative_rock_singers American_adoptees American_alternative_rock_musicians American_male_singers American_punk_rock_bass_guitarists American_punk_rock_guitarists Backing_vocalists Green_Day_members Living_people Musicians_from_Berkeley,_California Musicians_from_Oakland,_California