5 Questions for Buzz Osborne

5 Questions for Buzz Osborne

• by Courtney Devores
• http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/entertainment/15803411.htm

With two new members (Big Business' Coady Willis and Jared Warren) and therefore double the drums, the Melvins sound rejuvenated on the new album "(A) Senile Animal." And after more than 20 years of making sludgy hard rock, they're still hot -- tickets for Wednesday's 8 p.m. show at the Milestone are sold out. Unpredictable Melvins frontman/founder/joker Buzz Osborne tries to explain why, and attempts to prove his claim that he's completely insane.

Your show sold out weeks ahead of time. The Melvins could obviously play a much bigger venue. Did the club's historic reputation have anything to do with the booking? I don't know anything about it. That's the only place we could get a show. We heard it was the place all the cool kids go.

You played here with the Fantomas -- your side project with Mike Patton of Faith No More fame -- but why has it been so long since the Melvins last came through? Our problem is that we don't really like North Carolina. The whole tobacco thing -- we're against it. Nah, North Carolina's great. Tobacco is good as far I'm concerned. If God created anything better than tobacco, he kept it for himself.

"(A) Senile Animal" is more accessible than some of your previous material, with concise songs and crisp production. Were you trying to move away from experimentalism? I don't think about it like that. It's more experimental than the new Madonna album. That's safe to say.

Along with Black Sabbath, the Melvins are regarded as one of the most influential bands in stoner rock. And your impact on Nirvana and the Seattle grunge sound is well documented. Do you hear your influence in bands today? I wish I had Black Sabbath's money. But I'm not the one married to Sharon Osbourne. He signed a deal with the devil. You get three foul-mouthed brats and married to a succubus wife. Look what's surrounding him.

Are you married? Yes. Been married 13 years. Lucky 13. I think our marriage has lasted 12 years longer than most of them do.