MELVINS -vs- CINCINNATI
Words: Charlton Sect
The bout was set for July 20th, 1999. The gloves were
off. Sudsy
Malone's had offered up a feast for the ears: the
Melvins. With their
new album The Maggot fresh on the shelves, the Melvins
headed for the
stage that night intent on destroying every stereotype
the music
industry had thought to command. Without remorse or
tact, they threw
death metal jabs and punk rock uppercuts right into
the chins of the
raucous, steaming crowd. Late into the third round the
crowd got
restless. After a short Sudsy's sound failure, the
Melvins received an
earful of Cincinnati charm. With parched foot in
mouth, the city
dwellers yelled fun-loving obscenities at the
legendary trio. When Dale
Crover (drummer) climbed from his throne and King
Buzzo
(guitarist/vocalist) rested his five string strung
neck, I feared for
the worst. My fears resided when Crover, leaving his
immaculate set
behind, reclaimed the guitar under his own passage.
With mic in hand,
Buzz introduced the crowd to a boy, "John," who was
about to take his
first step into a larger world. Like a toddler trying
on his father's
shoes, their newfound friend stepped behind the drums
with pride. Aided
by King Buzzo, John held the beat throughout the
Flipper cover,
"Sacrifice" (recorded by the Melvins on their infamous
“Lysol” album).
Upon the arrival of the first lyrical break, the crowd
stirred again.
Someone chanted, "Play a real song!" Buzzo faltered,
personally shaken
by the blow, then punched back. "Play a real song?" he
questioned. "It's
a great fuckin' song. If you don’t like it, you’re a
fuckin' idiot!" He
made a valid point from where I stood. Before the
night was through,
each member of the band had given the crowd a piece or
two of their
minds. The newest addition to the Melvins, bass player
Kevin Rutmanis
(ex-bass player for the Cows), did everything but back
down from the
action. Ringside at Sudsy's had never been better, and
the crowd loved
every minute of it.
From “Ozma” ('89) to “The Bootlicker” (the second
album of the new
Trilogy), the Melvins rocked for 90 minutes. It was
"experi-metal" at
its best. With clothes full of sweat and a belly full
of Melvins, I
walked out of Sudsy Malone's a content man. It was a
hell of a show. One
of the beautiful things about the Melvins is their
ability to capture
different feels for their albums, while at the same
time, staying true
to their style. They continue to surpass themselves
with each new
recording. Ipecac Recordings is the newest home to the
Melvins,
promoting their new Trilogy starting with "The Maggot"
released late May
of this year. Dale described “The Maggot” as "manic"
and "raw," while
Kevin told me The Bootlicker (due out in August) is
"quiet and kinda
psychedelic." The third of the Trilogy, “The Crybaby”
(due in November),
features an array of artists stringing from Beck, to
Tool, to Skeleton
Key. Also applying vocals on “The Crybaby” will be
Mike Patton (Faith No
More/Mr. Bungle), who, in April, launched a side
project called
Fantomas (also on Ipecac), with King Buzzo and Dave
Lombardo (ex-Slayer
drummer). Since the Melvins formed, the group has
often involved
themselves in such projects. Dale Crover’s side band
Altamont
recently released an album on Man's Ruin Records,
entitled “Civil War
Fantasy.”
The Melvins have plans to return to Man's Ruin next
year to do
an album of cover songs before starting another tour
next April. I had a
"first chance of a lifetime" opportunity before the
festivities to speak
with the Melvins about past, present and future
events, the new albums,
and music in general. It's a little segment I like to
call: 10 Questions
with the Melvins
1. Was there a specific feel you were going for with
“The Maggo” or the
rest of the Trilogy?
Dale: Each one is so different. Like with “The
Maggot” we were trying to go for something real manic.
Kinda like
“Eggnog” [released in '91]. “Eggnog” was like recorded
really quick. I
think we kind of captured it better on “Maggot,”
but...We did Ozzfest last
year.
A supposed heavy metal festival and outside of a
couple bands
there really wasn't anything heavy about it at all.
So, I think we're
takin' the kids to school with this one.
Buzz: Yeah, they all have a specific feel, definitely.
“The Maggot” is...I
wanted it to be more, uh, over the top energy wise,
more of a testosterone
thing. “The Bootlicker” is less of that and more of
a... more of a female
thing [laughs].
Kevin: Um... the second one,”The Bootlicker,” that's
my favorite. I
think that one's really amazing. But I have a feeling
that's the one
people are gonna like the least cause it's the most
unusual. It's really
quiet and kinda psychedelic. It's really good, I
really like that one.
2. [to Dale] Is there any chance that the recordings
of your project
with Jason Newsted [of Metallica] will ever be
released?
Dale: Yeah, I doubt it... I haven't really heard from
Jason in a long time.
You know,
he just kinda does, uh... puts together little
projects with friends of
his and stuff. He's got a home studio, so he just sits
around and
records when he's not working with Metallica. I heard
that... I don't
think the other guys in the band want him to do extra
stuff outside of
Metallica that much. But you never know. Maybe
someday.
3. [to Buzz] How long did it take to complete
Fantomas, and are there
plans for any more live dates?
Buzz: I'm sure we'll be playing live again yeah,
definitely. I'm just not a
hundred percent where. And it took about 10 or 11 days
to record.
4. [to Kevin] How did you hook up with the Melvins?
Kevin: I have known the Melvins at least 10 years.
Cows toured with them way
back when, a few times. We did Lollapalooza together.
And, uh... Buzz
produced the
last Cows record, I guess a year ago. So I've known
him a long time and
he just called me up and asked me if I wanted to do
it. We all get along
real good, so it's no problem at all.
5. What were the circumstances of Mark D stepping
down, and how is Kevin
working out?
Dale: It's pretty simple, I mean... you know... we
fired
him. Things happen. But being in a band is like being
in a relationship.
We were changing and so was he... so he had to go.
But, yeah... Kevin's
great. He's a good guy, good bass player.
6. What is a "Green Manalishi (with the two pronged
crown)?”
Dale: Well... obviously some kind of devil. But, I
think the “Green
Manalishi” is money. They're the words of Peter Green.
He's the guy that
wrote it. Yeah, Fleetwood Mac. Old Fleetwood Mac...
before they had girls
in the band. They're really good.
7. With a song like "Laughing With Lucifer At Satan's
Sideshow" [on
Honky], I have to ask is that an accurate portrayal of
what transpired
with Atlantic/Mammoth?
Dale: Oh yeah...yeah, those are actual quotes
that those guys said to us over the couple years that
we were there. We
actually lasted a lot longer there than most of the
people that worked
there. Pretty much the reason we wanted off the label
was because nobody
there was really doing anything for us. You know? I
mean, being on the
label was really great, the money was great, and I
think we made some of
our best records ever... but, uh... we just kinda felt
after a while it
was kinda pointless if these people don't know
anything about music and
aren't into the band. So we left. I think it was
mutual [laughs].
8. Where do you see underground music in the next ten
years?
Dale: Hard to say. Hopefully somebody will come along
and write some good
songs and
start some good bands up. There sure is a lack of them
now. I think there
always has been.
Kevin: I tend to doubt that it's gonna get good or
anything... but you never
know. Maybe we'll get lucky. Maybe everyone will get
so bored that something
really cool will happen. That's what I always hope
for.
Buzz: I don't know... uh... I don't see a difference
in
underground or overground. I hate underground bands as
much as I hate
overground bands [laughs].
9.You're doing 70 shows this tour, do you have a
favorite place to eat
while you're out on the road?
Dale: Cracker Barrel. Ate there today. There's not a
lot to choose from. Lots
of grease.
Kevin: I love sushi. No doubt about it.
Buzz and I often go get
sushi if we can.
Buzz: "Oh, they all suck. But generally speaking you
pretty much eat whatever
you have to, like a cockroach. It's bad. I don't eat
this bad when I'm at
home... I'll tell you that.
The Melvins remain an enigma of the music industry to
this day. Their
thick, offbeat drums, distorted, crawling guitars, and
growling vocals
have become a Melvins trademark. They continue to
break new ground with
each musical step they take, and although bass players
may come and go
like whores in the night... one thing is for sure the
Melvins are here
to stay. I quote Dale Crover: "We do what we do
because we like what we
do, and we're gonna keep doin' it because it’s all we
can do." Melvins
fan or not, you have to admire that. The fact that
your average Joe
would hear a Melvins song and stare into nothingness
like a deer caught
in headlights is even more reason to respect them.
From small record
labels to big labels, and back to small again, they
never quit doing
what they do best: making their own music on their own
terms. And that's
what it's all about. Many thanks to the Melvins for
their time and
hospitality, and to Jennifer Fisher from Ipecac
Recordings for her
friendly chat and cooperation.