• August 1, 1958
• Michael Penn's younger brothers are famous actors: Sean and Chris Penn. Michael didn't get the acting gene but does have a talent for music - he's an acclaimed singer-songwriter who plays a variety of instruments and also does production work. Unlike his brothers, performance isn't his thing - he's subdued on stage, just trying to get the song across.
• Penn's biggest hit is his debut single, "No Myth." The video did very well on MTV and won him the award for Best New Artist In A Video, beating Lenny Kravitz, Bell Biv DeVoe, The Black Crowes, Jane Child, Alannah Myles and Lisa Stansfield.
• Michael Penn was born in New York City but raised in Los Angeles. He went to Santa Monica High School, where one of his classmates was Terri Nunn, frontwoman of the band Berlin.
• For much of the '80s, Penn was in a band called Doll Congress with Patrick Warren, a keyboard player that became one of his main collaborators. On "No Myth," Warren played the Chamberlin, which activates tape loops when the keys are pressed.
• He married the singer-songwriter Aimee Mann in 1997. They've often performed together and have worked on each other's albums.
• He had a small role in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights playing Nick the Engineer, who records Dirk Diggler (played by Mark Wahlberg) singing "The Touch" in the studio.
  
  The film's director, Paul Thomas Anderson, worked closely with Aimee Mann on his 1999 film Magnolia.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Who You AreJessie J

Jessie J had a lyric from her song "Who You Are" tattooed on her hip, but she spelled "lose" incorrectly so it reads: "Don't loose who you are in the blur of the stars."

The Kids Aren't AlrightFall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy's "The Kids Aren't Alright" song title is not a reference to The Offspring's 1998 single of the same name. It actually alludes to The Who's 1979 rockumentary film called The Kids Are Alright.

TodaySmashing Pumpkins

"Today" by Smashing Pumpkins is sarcastic in the line "today is the greatest day." Lead singer Billy Corgan wrote it about the crippling depression he was battling following the band's first big tour.

Psycho KillerTalking Heads

The French part in Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer" explains that the killer is going after a girl, like Norman Bates in the movie Psycho.

Somebody That I Used To KnowGotye

45% of the royalties for "Somebody That I Used To Know" go to the estate of the Brazilian classical guitarist Luiz Bonfá, whose song "Seville" Gotye sampled.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My BrotherThe Hollies

The motto for Boys Town, which was a Nebraska home for troubled youth, inspired the song "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by The Hollies.

Editor's Picks

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Phil Hurtt ("I'll Be Around")Songwriter Interviews

Phil was a songwriter, producer and voice behind many Philadelphia soul classics. When disco hit, he got an interesting project: The Village People.

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.