By Phil Lacombe
From the raw, blistering riffs of early alt-metal to the global stage of modern metal’s evolution, Mikey Doling has built a legacy that’s loud, lasting, and unapologetically real. As the founding guitarist and continuing force behind Snot, the Coachella Valley native remains a vital part of the scene that helped shape him. Beyond that, he’s rocked international stages with Soulfly and continues to unleash thunderous energy as a member of Channel Zero. His story is one of grit, growth, and relentless creativity, a reminder that true musicians never stop pushing boundaries, no matter how far they’ve already gone.
CVW: Snot is still going strong decades after its explosive debut. What keeps that fire alive for you and the band after all these years?
Doling: I think what keeps snot alive is the Friendship or even better I should say brothership between John (Tumor) our bass player, and Myself. He and I always believed in Snot and since Lynn Strait’s unfortunate passing, we’ve been the driving force behind keeping Snot’s legacy intact especially with this re-launching. And the real strength and belief in what we’re doing comes from the fans, when we play, they always show up! Without them, I know it sounds cliché, but we would be nothing!
CVW: You’ve played in heavy-hitting groups like Soulfly and now Channel Zero, each with its own personality and sound. How do you adapt your creative energy between them?
Doling: For Soulfly, I was pretty much just a hired gun, even though I did participate in the writing and recording of two of their albums. I was a huge fan of Max Cavalera when he was in Sepultura, and when I got the call to play guitar for him, it was a no-brainer. I was like hell yeah!
I’ve been in the band Channel Zero for 17 years now, I have recorded three albums with them. And played countless shows overseas in Europe. The band is just massive over there in the Belgium region and I’ve had a really good time with them. Those guys are truly like brothers to me and I love them so very much. Although we have decided to call it quits with the channel zero this year 2026, we are playing a string of shows through the year, we’re playing a couple festivals overseas, and we’re doing an arena show in Antwerp Belgium, and then at the very end of the year in December, we have three shows that are already sold out to say goodbye to the fans and thank them for all the support over the! I’m gonna miss playing in that band!
CVW: The Coachella Valley has a deep and diverse music culture. What’s it like to carry that desert-bred energy onto global stages?
Doling: Well, I grew up in Coachella Valley, I went to elementary and junior high school in Palm Springs, And then after junior high school, me and my mother and two brothers moved to Palm Desert, and then I started going to Indio high school from the ninth grade until 12th grade. I am a full-blown desert rat and proud of it! There’s some amazing music that comes out of the Coachella Valley, let’s start with the band Kyuss, and the desert legend himself, Mario Lalli, who I actually went to high school with and shared some classrooms with. He was the kid wearing a black flag T-shirt and I was the kid wearing a Judas Priest T-shirt, we would sometimes talk about music together. I think he’s the real deal, he’s sort of a legend around the entire planet, and maybe be considered the inventor of stoner rock!
The first actual life performance I ever saw was black flag in the early 80s in Palm Springs on Indian Avenue at a small club called rumors. That means so much to me, it was the first live band I ever saw perform on a stage, After I saw Greg Ginn play guitar live, that was literally the moment I decided that is what I wanna do!
CVW: Get Some remains a cult-classic album. When you revisit those songs today, what emotions or memories come flooding back?
Doling: It’s hard to believe how long ago that album came out, and how it’s so relevant to this day it’s been 28 years, and it seems like the album is bigger than ever right now! It’s so strange so many of our fans are literally 16 years old all the way up to 22 years old, at the shows we see them seeing every lyric and this record came out before they were even born! In a strange way, it seems like get some is almost a new album again! An entire new generation of youth has discovered snot and it’s just bananas right now! Yeah, emotions run high when we play those songs!
CVW: After so many years on the road and in the studio, what drives you to keep creating new music instead of just reliving the past?
Doling: I have always been consistently creating new music, it’s just something inside me that I have to get out. I literally wake up every single morning, running to my guitar and writing new riffs and song ideas! I am currently working with Chris Collier on a new Snot album, he’s a fantastic producer, he produced the last two KORN records and many other albums that I love. It’s going extremely well. With our new vocalist who blows my mind every single time we step in the studio it’s going extremely well. I cannot wait until we get to release a couple singles coming out early 2026and then soon after a completed album!
CVW: Channel Zero has earned a massive following in Europe. How does that fan energy compare to what you experience stateside?
Doling: It just seems like the American audience and the European audience express themselves differently, why both are incredible Europe just seems to be more open and non-elitist, you can have a punk rock band playing with a metal band and the entire crowd will support both of them equally. I really dig that about Europe!
CVW: You’ve worn a lot of hats, songwriter, guitarist, performer, producer, mentor. Which role brings you the most fulfillment right now?
Doling: Well, as a songwriter that would probably be the most fulfillment for me, it always has been. Being a producer is really cool too, I have worked with many young bands in the past, and the experience I have in creating music and recording music goes a long way with these younger bands. I really love seeing the outcome and the excitement that comes from these young bands, it’s inspiring!
Also, after 35 years of performing live, around the entire planet many many times, I’m still not jaxed or tired of it, I still get excited and nervous right before I go on stage it’s the most exciting thing in the goddamn world!
CVW: For local up-and-coming musicians in the Valley, what’s the single biggest piece of advice you’d pass on from your journey?
Doling: I think the biggest piece of advice I would give, To really enjoy what you are doing, always be creative, play live as much as possible. Surround yourself with other musicians that challenge you! And the most important thing is practice practice practice!
CVW: What’s next for you, new Snot material, more Channel Zero shows, or maybe something totally unexpected?
Doling: Snot Is working extremely hard right now in the studio creating and recording a new album! I can’t fucking wait to get this new music out!
CVW: Where can fans find you?
Doling: Go to social media we are out there!
From the grit of the ’90s underground to international metal mainstages, Mikey Doling continues to prove that passion and authenticity are timeless. Whether tearing it up with Snot, crushing riffs with Channel Zero, or inspiring the next generation of local artists, his presence in the scene is both legacy and lifeblood. For the Coachella Valley, Mikey isn’t just a hometown hero, he’s living proof that real rock never dies, it just evolves louder.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Local Music Spotlight, but the party doesn’t stop here. Hit the shows, feel the beats, and keep the valley’s music scene thriving. Because around here, the next song that changes your life might be playing tonight.
