In basements, garages and late-night studios, Royal Oak’s Mike Dereniewski has spent over three decades contributing to Metro Detroit’s underground DIY media scene.

Born in Detroit and raised Downriver, Dereniewski joined WHFR 89.3 FM, Henry Ford Community College’s student-run radio station, in 1991.

“I started DJ’ing there just for fun,” he said. “I’d hang out with the on-air DJs in the basement studio. One day they handed me the controls and suddenly I was live. That moment changed everything for me.”

It launched a remarkable 30-year run, where Dereniewski was the first DJ ever to host a show in the Sunday 10 p.m. – midnight timeslot at WHFR, retiring the show in 2021.

“I didn’t stay off the airwaves for long,” he said. Several months later he landed at 100.7 FM Ferndale Radio, hosting THEE MIC–D SHOW!, and once again occupies that very same timeslot.

“Ferndale Radio broadcasts live from the Rust Belt Market 24/7,” he said. “I love the station’s free-form programming and its all-inclusive atmosphere. It’s true indie community radio.”

Radio, however, isn’t Dereniewski’s only experimental space. He’s an award-winning filmmaker whose work has been screened worldwide and at local events such as Detroit’s Dirty Show and The Mitten Movie Project, a monthly film fest that was held at Royal Oak’s own Main Art Theatre for many years.

As a graphic artist, he’s created album artwork for local bands such as Windy & Carl and Frankie & The S.E.M.M., and still designs t-shirts for DsTees.biz. He also invented the Record Reverser, “a device that allows listeners to play vinyl records backwards – perfectly – on pro turntables,” he said. “It’s based on an old DJ trick of using an empty duct tape spool and empty coffee cup.”

A devoted fan of Hollywood actress Patty Duke, Dereniewski created The Patty Duke Fanzine, eventually meeting Duke three times.

“She was a very gracious lady,” he said. “Kind, funny, charming, extraordinarily talented. I love everything she’s done, but her character from 1967’s Valley of the Dolls is a top fave.”

Living in Royal Oak, Dereniewski appreciates the city’s offbeat local flavor and broad mix of boutique retailers, “Especially Ray’s Ice Cream for their delicious vegan butter pecan ice cream,” he said. “A local music video show that I really dig, 11 Mile Sessions Live, is headquartered at the NRM Streamcast studios right here in Royal Oak.”

After decades of collecting and archiving the fringe corners of media culture, Dereniewski is entering a new phase.

“I’m in my condensing stage now,” he said. “I once sold 4,000 CDs in a single transaction at a local show.”

Mike’s life still revolves around music. His wife was a fellow DJ whom he met at WHFR. They had an entire bedroom filled with records.

“I built lots of shelving,” he said. “I really despise paid streaming services. I’ve got well over 36,000 actual MP3s on my phone, mostly from my own digitized collection and artist-friendly sites like Bandcamp. This doesn’t mean I’m done collecting – just more fine-tuned and intentional curating.”

To contact Mike email TheeMicD@gmail.com or visit https://topqualityrockandroll.com/tmds/.