Jesse Michaels (born April 1, 1969) is an American songwriter, painter, illustrator, musician, singer, and author from Berkeley, California.
[5][6] In 1987 he formed the band Operation Ivy with guitarist Tim Armstrong, bassist Matt Freeman, and drummer Dave Mello.
In August 2008, Jesse went on a short Southern California tour with long-time friend Jeff Ott, playing new solo songs.
In December 2008, he participated in a small Northern California tour with Mike Park and Kevin Seconds, as well as formed a new band, Classics of Love.
In March 2023, Michaels and Tim Armstrong along with Circle Jerks drummer Joey Castillo and Trash Talk bassist Spencer Pollard formed the band Bad Optix and released their first single called "Raid".
He is no longer an active musician, he cites punk music as a formative aesthetic influence and continues to direct his creative energies towards film, literature and visual art.
[13] Michaels is also regarded as a talented artist, responsible for designing Operation Ivy's well-known and widely recognized "Ska Man" logo as well as other artwork for the album.
In 2013 the pair teamed up to produce the cover of Michaels' debut novel as well as creating an EP design for a solo record by Murder City Devils' Spencer Moody.
[15] Whispering Bodies is a comic novel about a recluse who is forced to enter the world at large to clear the name of a woman who he believes has been falsely accused of a crime.