New York HardLore: Mike Dijan of Crown of Thornz & Breakdown (ASTORIA/QUEENS)

HardLore proudly present the first part of our three-part series shot in a single day all about New York Hardcore, all three of which feature special guest co-host: King Nine vocalist Dan Seely.
Part one features Mike Dijan, an absolutely all-time great hardcore guitar player and song writer. We visited his hometown neighborhood in Astoria Queens and learned the origin of how hardcore music made it's way to their neighborhood., Leeway's impact on him personally, and how he went from fan to landmark hardcore musician. We also received a special surprise visit by Jojo from Outburst, who shares his story of growing up and discovering hardcore in Astoria.
It all starts with a bench in the park...
Shot, directed and edited by the great Rob Menzer.
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INSTAGRAM | / mikedijan
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INSTAGRAM | / freedomsteely
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INSTAGRAM | / colinyovng
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TIMESTAMPS:
ASTORIA PARK - 0:00
THE BENCH - 2:25
CBGBs - 7:33
LEEWAY/KRAUT - 9:40
METS BANDS / YANKEES BANDS - 16:03
STARTING GUITAR - 22:55
STREET FIGHT - 27:27
STEALING BENCH RIFFS - 31:00
STARTING CROWN OF THORNZ - 35:30
WHO DO YOU DO? - 43:20
JOJO FROM OUTBURST - 46:03
PIZZA PALACE - 50:09
THE OTHER ASTORIA - 55:13
PARDON THIS INTERRUPTION... 57:58
PITA HOT - 1:00:44
MIKE TOURING LATER IN LIFE - 1:02:22
FILLING IN FOR CRO-MAGS - 1:04:22
FAVORITE AGE OF QUARREL TRACK - 1:07:22
BREAKDOWN BLACKLISTED - 1:13:10
THE MANY BREAKDOWN LINEUPS - 1:20:44
JOINING BREAKDOWN - 1:22:00
JOJO'S UNDERDOG JAM - 1:24:45
DON FURY - 1:27:20
CROWN OF THORNZ MENTALLY VEXED - 1:29:18
THE FUTURE OF HARDCORE - 1:32:05
JOJO'S DESPERATE MEASURES SONGS - 1:36:44
MENTALLY VEXED CONT. - 1:38:25
CLOSING THOUGHTS - 1:44:05

[@ColdhardsteelHC]

It’s only 15 mins in and this is my favorite episode.

[@xalexisxmrcsx]

“I know Jojo is a huge Mets fan” *Joe appears 30 minutes later in a Mets hat*

[@_antisocial__]

This is the content I’m here for

[@mydudechris]

JoJo just popping up was spectacular

[@mentaldisabilities1882]

Therapist: Yassified Dan Seely isn’t real, he can’t hurt you Thumbnail:

[@LouXMedina]

Blacklisted was recorded on my shitty mid 1980s Tama Swingstar kit. The Badu kit that belonged to Poogie Bell was used for the Warzone or Negative Approach cover sessions we did. Also at the same studio. ✌️

[@djabthrash]

Thanks for the gems ! Love your drumming and the tones on this release.

[@pollockdown4213]

We need a Danny Diablo episode

[@the_real_tay_loud2072]

No... we need an Ezec episode

[@asomareddy]

Mike is the epitome of 90s hardcore guitar for me. One of the best.

[@jacobthompson5042]

Now we need the ultimate NYHC playlist so I can immerse myself for this series

[@sgtbucksauce9129]

This is why I love Hardlore. Great episode, and I’m only half way.

[@jorgealexphoto]

Can yall do more like this one?

[@misanthropist3]

A legend of NYHC. Great episode. Loved hearing all of Mike's stories.

[@MadBall96]

I am so jealous of people living the Hardcore “dream” in the USA. Look at these guys and their vibe, its freaking cool. Cheers

[@djabthrash]

You can live the hardcore dream where you're from or in the closest major city too. And it's not only fairytales for these guys all the time, far from it.

[@MikeBBTG]

All the lore collected in this episode is amazing.

[@ZachyStugotz]

Absolutely love the historical deep dives. Community was such a driving factor in all of this ever happening. Something to never forget or shy away from. Great work, boys.

[@SoulPunch13]

Mike is an incredible storyteller, knowing all the names all the places all the stuff chronologically from the top of his head its no joke. Awesome episode

[@AvaValesToledano]

Absolute best episode. Albums I've been listening to for years just became a whole lot more lively. Thank you guys

[@aarongrahamcomedian]

Please do more episodes like this, Bryan’s episode etc where you can see where it all happened are just the best

[@fcaioki7949]

Breakdown Blacklisted drums recorded on Erykah Badu custom drumkit is some good ass lore 😩❤️‍🔥

[@jbasti227]

One of my favorite things I’ve learned from this podcast. That’s some DEEP lore

[@douglasfresh88]

Absolute masterpiece. Can’t wait to see the rest of this series.

[@mghc7]

I haven’t even watched this yet. And it’s freaking awesome

[@Mr.ShredsAlot]

Always dropping some heat! Best pod out there

[@mattmartinez1843]

Literally watching this in astoria park right now. ParkLore.

[@zakk219]

It's awesome watching the boys just geek out about this stuff. As someone just getting into the history of hardcore and stuff after listening to it for a long time but not really going backwards as much this episode is going to be a great reference point for all of the bands I need to check out.

[@tzmkira002]

Best episode so far

[@brentericson7447]

The weird lense distortions make it look like y'all are on a set sometimes

[@garrettwheeler5192]

swear to god it looks like the diner scene in Goodfellas haha

[@shiivagroove]

amazing episode, thank you

[@battosai02010]

What a fantastic episode

[@danbennettphotography]

Amazing episode my favorite so far...lore at its best

[@TonyZachary516]

This is incredible. Thank you for sharing.

[@misterbaker9728]

This is just great. Thanks from Cleveland

[@Rob78169]

So good. Mike Dijan is the riff king of hardcore!! Thanks for this!!💪

[@MarkOfTheSarno]

This made my day. Amazing.

[@djabthrash]

Such a good episode

[@bigdavedta1]

Such a great episode, it's amazing that I'm 43 years old and I'm still learning about a tonne of bands from this show that either passed me by as a kid in the UK or more up to the moment newer bands.

[@SamThredder]

all that time at a middle eastern joint and not one mention of the crown of thormz tune 'falafel'? hahaha awesome episode. dijan is my fave nyhc riff writer next to aj novello

[@user-ml5cr9ou6r]

As a Ukhc guy this is just awesome. Feels like a full circle for Hardlore doing something long form like this. Incredible guys

[@nickycee92]

This shit rules. Can’t wait for ep 2 and 3

[@ytube4658]

Freestyle music from late 80s-early 90s NYC is so slept on. Shoutout to Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

[@totalswabby4217]

this is gold

[@fullmetalmedia4877]

MAAAD LORE! Yo, best episode!

[@chueysanchez6854]

this is so good, i love hearing these stories, i love new york, and food lol this is everything!

[@lynnpehrson8826]

Top episode

[@RS70_UGHC]

***** Epic History. Much Respects.....

[@ThePipbrendan]

RIP moth - great episode none the less.

[@HoldenSXE]

Mike is a legend. None better.

[@returntostrength]

let Steven know that the fade into the intro was perfect

[@hannahkozlovic1715]

Incredible episode with some HARD fuckin lore. Had a hard time paying attention after finding out that it wasn’t actually a big mac though

[@clark6789]

All time best HardLore episode. Incredible, casual format. More like this please, boys.

[@benoitdegrande1902]

lesson in ny history ! awesome!! grts from Belgium :-)

[@joaocarlosmartinramosjr9782]

Dijan is the definition what a guitar hero is to me. Wish he got more new bands to work as producer tbh.

[@thechubbman]

1:09:28 the cockroach climbing up Bo’s leg is the most New York thing I’ve ever seen 😂

[@KMKimo]

Awesome

[@thrasher5122]

Can’t wait for the Judge part of this series. A legacy band that imo is underrated or under appreciated, they started writing hard ass riffs and songs about being a violent SxE kid

[@codectalker398]

let's go boys

[@meep4071]

Stories from the Bench

[@BrandonHurlesYT]

HARDLORE 🔥🤘🏻

[@daltonmckinley1659]

Yo I was at that STL show for CrowMags and EHG 🔥🔥🔥

[@dad2625]

so much hardlore

[@elijahfiest6288]

FROM QUEENS COME HARDCORE KINGS

[@EmanuelSabinonamasteskater]

Eddie Leeway forever!

[@infinitepossibility]

Truly the hardest lore

[@aarongrahamcomedian]

Dan is the coolest guy, can we get a spin off with him just talking about anything please

[@jdion79]

Get the boys out in the wild... My favorite stuff! And I know nothing about the genre. I'm a passion guy.

[@hatguy626]

Somehow just makes sense they’re islanders fans. Idk how. Just does.

[@HoldenSXE]

ITS HARDLORE TIME

[@thomaswaldron3865]

this is IT

[@xdrezcorex]

that pop cover of malfunction ruled

[@jamescook4137]

Big up higher power\ukhc

[@austinkirley4048]

where are my astoria people at 💪😩🇬🇷

[@the_real_tay_loud2072]

Shout out Bo for the gains🫡 soon he will be more ripped than James!

[@joebreakerx]

So glad there isn’t a Lore-Counter on this episode, we wouldn’t be able to hear a fucking thing 🤯

[@chrisiscool6260]

The pyramids are a LEGENDARY skate spot, so many killer videos have some real shredders destroying that spot for decades

[@socialcha]

1:09:52 bug lueders

[@alexpdrumz684]

Never FFW through the Hardlore intro music EVER

[@user-kz9mr4gk7y]

Astoria Rules.

[@roscothedude]

1:05:00 the bug enters 1:09:56 it touches Bo's hand. lol You can watch it walk to his boot and up his leg hahahaha

[@glennyoungkindid9116]

Adam Friedland?

[@mysterymystery5463]

Thank you lmaooo i thought someone flicked a cigarette at him and be stomped it out

[@fatcattattoos]

AQ forever!!

[@the_real_tay_loud2072]

Bros everyone SLEEPS ON SUBZERO!! Lou was (STILL IS) such a great frontman back in the day🔥💯💯

[@JohnEvans-xg2bp]

I may be southern as hell, but goddamn do them NYHC honkies have some of the best grooves this side of the blues and hip hop.

[@dominicdimas9188]

Fuckun hardlore time

[@SchnellVITALVINYLVLOG]

👊

[@andytuck99]

who up harding they lore rn?

[@M2HSINGER]

Always

[@pollockdown4213]

Omg such a funny, original comment. You're such a trend setter

[@user-ik7jh5qq2u]

@@pollockdown4213mad because of a KZbin comment on a Thursday morning? You can’t be insufferable and unemployed so pick a struggle

[@SoulPunch13]

​@@pollockdown4213 this is tradition mf

[@pollockdown4213]

​@@user-ik7jh5qq2u lol projecting much

[@smelvisbuttley3464]

This lore is so fucking hard

[@Mikel209]

Who goin to No Values Saturday!?

[@limozeenjenkins]

Holy shit, just realized Seely is 7 feet tall

[@LowendNate]

Maybe its just my area but the new world sucks were kids and young adults dont have spots like these iconic spots to meet up and hang out create cool shit.

[@fijixvx9042]

the lore giveth

[@juliansosa4764]

We like slow food too is crazyyyyyyyyy

[@gabesinclair1401]

movie

[@hildaarlistiyani7834]

No john joseph😮

[@BigMacUpperCut]

The fact that this whole episode isn’t occurring inside a pizza shop is a travesty

[@electriczombie86]

That’s the Killing Time episode ;)

[@MrTheBESTintime]

Somebody! Tell me what boots Bo is wearing. they are sick.

[@HoldenSXE]

Probably some red wings

[@SaulVera]

Carhartt moc toe wedge boots :)

[@the_real_tay_loud2072]

Bo is skilled at putting hard fits together. Dude is constantly steezing on everyone when he’s out in public 💯🤘

[@misanthropist3]

Thorogood?

[@ChappySinclaire]

Mike looks like a young Rudi Giuliani. We will never forget 9/11

[@armedxndxdangerous]

Joe Songco 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@machinicassemblage]

bo playing makeshift traffic director

[@donnafran]

AJ 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

[@the_real_tay_loud2072]

Mike Dijan> Danny Wholegrain

[@dollyfarton666]

yankees. islanders.

[@notgood38]

colin i think you need to oil up your iron rangers