In 1981 Gates sang and played bass for Monkey Rhythm, a band started (with British guitarist Graham Clarke and drummer Chuck Risby) while attending Miramonte High School in Orinda California.
In 1987 the original band dissolved and Gates, keeping the name Monkey Rhythm, played with various local musicians and friends (Wire Train's Jeff Trott and Brian MacLeod) while continuing to study Graphic Design at San Francisco State.
While still tentatively using the name Monkey Rhythm, Gates, Berg and Winegar created a live band (with drummer Michael Urbano and bassist, and old friend, Derek Greenberg).
Soon after, members John Berg and Michael Urbano left the band, leaving the core trio of Gates, Winegar and Greenberg to record their sophomore effort "Steve" for Geffen.
With his interest in electronic music growing, Gates released multiple albums under the name No Force Field with friends Brian "Brain" Mantia and Larry "Ler" LaLonde.
Gates originally met Les Claypool at the radio station "The Quake" while both musicians tried to secure air play from DJ Big Rick Stewart.
As the chief songwriter, Gates and Bassist/Engineer McFarland (along with drummer Jeff Gomes) recorded a full-length album "Idiot Jones Will Have His Day" as well as the "Eris Cycle" a 5 EP Box set.
The albums gained considerable international attention and MBO briefly played as a live act (with guitarist MIRV, Bassist- McFarland, Drummer-Gomes and Keyboardist-Tom Muer).
With his involvement in the music industry growing in the late 1980s Gates found the opportunity to explore one of his other major creative interests: graphic design.
Gates worked extensively with the band Primus on many graphic projects including the CD-ROM for "Tales From The Punchbowl" and later the interactive menu and packaging for their platinum-selling "Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People" album.