Michael Des Barres is a European Marquis, raised in England and living in Los Angeles. As the host of Little Steven's Underground Garage on SiriusXM Radio Channel 21, he is heard by more than six million listeners, five days a week . He has appeared in over 150 hours of American television and more than 40 feature films, and has sold over 7 million albums as both a recording artist and songwriter. Over the past five decades, Michael has appeared in numerous feature films such as "To Sir With Love" with Sidney Poitier, "Pink Cadillac" with Clint Eastwood, "The Man From Elysian Fields" with Mick Jagger and "Diary of a Sex Addict" with Rosanna Arquette as well as countless television shows such as NCIS, Bones, CSI, Seinfeld, Frasier, Roseanne and Melrose Place, and as the infamous assassin Murdoc on MacGyver. Michael Des Barres was also the touring singer for the Duran Duran spin-off group, The Power Station, performing at Live Aid with one of the most iconic live acts of the mid-1980s. From 1982 to 1984, Michael was a member of Chequered Past, which included Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols, and Clem Burke and Nigel Harrison of Blondie. In 1983, Michael penned the song "Obsession," a number one hit in 27 countries for LA new wave group Animotion. Recently, Michael narrated the one-night only performance of Frank Zappa's legendary 200 Motels with the LA Philharmonic, released a live follow up to his 2012 album Carnaby Street called Hot 'n Sticky, and co-starred alongside Gene Simmons of KISS on an episode of CSI: Las Vegas. His latest album, "The Key to the Universe" was released in 2015 on FOD Records and was produced by Bob Rose.
Appeared on the original "WKRP in Cincinnati" as "Sir Charles Dog Weatherbee," member of the fictional British hard-rock band "Scum of the Earth." Fourteen years later, he became a regular cast member of "The New WKRP in Cincinnati" as disc jockey Jack Allen.
Replaced Robert Palmer as lead singer of Power Station when Robert Palmer was unable to tour with the group in 1985.
He wrote the lyrics to the song "Cleo Rocks" for "MacGyver" , episode #4.9 of the same name.
He appeared on "MacGyver" as "Murdoc", an insane and ruthless villain who always seems to come back from the dead. His was originally slated to be a one-time appearance. Yet because he did such a good job, producers Henry Winkler and John Rich gave Michael Des Barres a recurring role.
As a member of Power Station , Michael Des Barres co-wrote and co-performed "We Fight For Love", the end-title-song for Commando . He did not, however, appear in the movie.
His last name is pronounced "Deb-Barr".
Was invited by Brian May , John Deacon and Roger Taylor to succeed Freddie Mercury as the lead singer of Queen. Des Barres turned them down because he wasnt sure hed be right for the task.
Des Barres formed his first band Silverhead in England in 1972. They recorded two albums and toured the U.S., Europe and Japan, before disbanding in 1974.
Has a son, Nick Des Barres (born September 30, 1978), with ex-wife Pamela Des Barres.
He appeared in both "Superboy" and "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" .
When asked what he thought of the rebooted "MacGyver" , Des Barres - who portrayed Murdoc, the "Anti-MacGyver", in the original series - answered, "The show itself stinks...But I dig that cast".
Admits that, from time to time, he still meets Sidney Poitier - with whom he starred in To Sir, with Love . And, according to Des Barres, "...He STILL yanks my shades off whenever we trip over each other" (a running gag in the film, as Michaels character habitually wore sunglasses in "Thackerays" classroom).
