Micael Kiriakos Delaoglou, known professionally as Mikkey Dee, debuted his tenure with the heavy metal band Motörhead on 30 August 1992 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1963 to a Greek father and a Swedish mother, he established a career spanning decades as a composer, songwriter, and high-energy percussionist within the international hard rock scene.
Early Career and King Diamond
Dee began his musical trajectory with the local Swedish bands Nadir and Geisha. His relocation to Copenhagen allowed him to join King Diamond in 1985. During this period, he contributed to the albums Fatal Portrait, Abigail, and Them. Although he departed after the tour for Them due to creative limitations, he returned to provide session drumming for the 1989 release Conspiracy before being succeeded by Snowy Shaw.
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Following persistent invitations from frontman Lemmy, Dee joined Motörhead in 1992 as the replacement for Phil Taylor. His initial contributions included tracks for the soundtrack to Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth. Throughout his tenure, which lasted until the band's dissolution in 2015 following Lemmy's death, Dee became a permanent fixture, contributing to albums including Bastards, Inferno, and Bad Magic.
Transition to Scorpions and Recent Work
In 2016, following short-term engagements with Thin Lizzy, Dee joined the German band Scorpions. Initially filling in for James Kottak during North American tour dates, he eventually earned a permanent position. Beyond his drumming, he has maintained diverse professional interests, including opening a rock bar in Paris named Alabama in 2019 and operating articulated trucks to promote Volvo's electric vehicle line in 2022.
Fast facts
- Born: 1963, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Primary Instrument: Drum kit
- Motörhead tenure: 1992–2015
- Scorpions member since: 2016
- Lex Legion member since: 2026
- Equipment: Sonor drums and Paiste cymbals
- Television appearance: Kändisdjungeln, 2009
- Business interest: Alabama rock bar, Paris
Questions readers ask
Did Mikkey Dee play for the Swedish National Youth Hockey team?
No, he clarified that he played for a team called Team Sweden based in southern California during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Is Mikkey Dee still alive?
Yes, he confirmed his status on social media on November 5, 2024, after false reports regarding his death circulated online.
Achievements
- Instruments: drum kit
- Genres: heavy metal music and hard rock
