For over 35 years The Melvins have forged a career as the sultans of sludge metal. With barking lyrics, Earth-rattling drums and guitar tones as thick as molasses, they’ve cranked out a body of work that keeps us discovering new ways to plunge the bass guitar into hellish levels of low. Part of that magic comes from their ability to not only pick the best guest bassists to work with but to also allow their style to permeate the madness of whatever sound they’re working on at the time.
In the case of Jeff Pinkus (of Butthole Surfer fame) they wanted to do more than add him to the framework they created between guitarist/vocalist Buzz “King Buzzo” Osborne, drummer Dale Crover and ongoing bassist Steven McDonald. Their latest album Pinkus Abortion Technician was a tribute and a challenge to rework some of Pinkus’ best material with the Butthole Surfers who we played with on the majority of their albums including their seminal third album Locust Abortion Technician.
In true Melvins fashion, they put their own spin on a few of Pinkus’ songs on that album, as well as daring to make a demonic version of The Beatles classic “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” Before their show at Marty’s on Newport this Sunday, we caught up with King Buzzo to talk about the dynamics of the songwriting process that allows each track to sound like a work of evil genius.
OC Weekly: What were some ways you wanted to rework the songs you cover on the new album?
Buzz Osborne: We wanted to obviously put our own thumbprint on all of them. The only one that’s slightly closest to the original would be “Graveyard”…maybe but it’s definitely pushing it. The rest of them it just made sense for us to do them that way, there wasn’t an overall plan, it just kinda fell into place that way.
How did you choose to cover the Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand”?
Everyone likes the Beatles in one form or another. I like those songs. We’ve done a Beatles cover on a record before and had a lot of fun doing it. I think it came out very good.
How have the shows gone so far with your current lineup?
We did a whole US tour and a European tour. We’ve had a long career over 35 years. So from that perspective, it’s hard to look at it as a new experience. But all those guys are all such unique and talented players that I would never want to pretend that anyone can do it. Steven McDonald might be the most talented bass player I’ve ever played with and he said this is the hardest music he’s ever played. We pick out the people to play with us with a very distinct degree of extreme prejudice. We’re already fans of what they do and I want to bring in what they’re doing and add it to what we’re doing. I feel they really have something to contribute in the bass department and I want that to be an important element seeing as that we don’t have that many elements to begin with. The people we play with are all very talented. As far as who else I’d want to play with, nothing really comes to mind. I know who I wouldn’t wanna play with thought [laughs]. They shall remain nameless. I’ve prided myself on playing with talented musicians and surrounding myself with those people makes me better. I want them to take the stuff that we’re doing and make it better.
How does Jeff Pinkus’ style compliment the band the most?
We were huge fans of his work with the Butthole Surfers and he was in the lineup during the golden era of that band and he went through a lot with them and I wanted that sort of thing to rub off on us. With people like him or Steven, you really don’t have to give too much instruction, you really gotta take them off the leash and let them do their thing. So I knew Jeff could do it and Steven could do it, the problem was convincing them that I was going to be as free and open-minded as I actually am. I think they’re used to people telling them what to do or confining them in some way and that’s not me.
What’s it been like to watch them play together?
It’s great because they’re completely different types of players. It’s been really cool and different than what we would normally do so that’s been kind of exciting. We’ll see what the future holds but at this moment it’s been a dynamic and fun thing to do.
The Melvins perform at Marty’s on Newport, Sunday, Jan. 13, 9 p.m., $25 (Sold Out), 21+. For full details, click here.
