"Update" Section (pg. 9)
Dale Crover
"Did you hear the one about the two drummers and Santa
Claus?" asks the
Melvins' dramatic skin basher. It seems this godfather
of grunge is also a
comedian. "The first drummer keeps bad time, the
second drummer keeps good
time, and then there's Santa Claus. They're walking
down the street together
when they find a fifty-dollar bill on the sidewalk.
Who picks it up? The
first drummer, of course - the other two don't exist."
On “Houdini” (Atlantic), this Seattle trio - Crover,
King Buzzo on guitar and
vocals, and Lorax on bass - bring their heavy, slow
grind to a major label
after years of undergroud renown (and indie label
status) as the most
influential group in the metal-punk niche of
alternative music. Tall and
gangly, Crover's grandly visual style is complimented
by his trademark use of
flams, a mastery of sludgy-slow tempos, and a big,
echo-laden drum sound. "We
work as a band on the drum parts," Dale says. "Buzz
often has an idea of
what he wants. That's really helpful, although I think
a lot of drummers are
against that kind of advice. They think, ‘Oh, no. I'm
the drummer, you're the
guitarist.' They can't compromise."
Crover's straighter side appeared on Nirvana's
“Incesticide,” a collection of
old tracks documenting Dale's tenure with that
supertrio. He also released a
solo album in 1992 on which he played everything
including "lead drums,
rhythm drums, and backup drums."
Crover even cuts loose with a drum solo on “Houdini,”
the sculptured-sounding
"Spread Eagle Beagle." Recorded on a borrowed 1948
Gretch three-piece set,
Crover's recorded drum sound is as powerful as his
live Tama setup of 26"
bass drum, 16" rack tom, and 20" floor tom. He also
favors 24" cymbals.
In addition to his musical and comedic skills, Crover
has plans to release a
drummer's fanzine, aptly titled Bongo Lips. "I've
interviewed the drummers
from Hammerhead and Poison Idea. We'll have lots of
drummer jokes and good
clean fun - just talkin' drums with the boys."
*by Ken Micallef