Kevin Rutmanis
Kevin Rutmanis Bio/Info
Kevin Rutmanis was bassist from 1998 - early 2005 joining after Mark Deutrom exited the band. Before joining the Melvins he was in the Minneapolis based 'noise-rock' band Cows from 1985 to 1998, breaking up just prior to him joining the Melvins. Their last album Sorry in Pig Minor was produced by Buzz Osborne. He is also in another project along with Mike Patton (ex-Faith No More, Fantômas), Duane Denison (ex-Jesus Lizard), and John Stanier(ex-Helmet) called Tomahawk, there has been no word whether his leaving of the Melvins also affected his status in this band. According to Mike Patton the next album is in the planning stages but no mention of lineup beyond himself and Duane were mentioned.[1]
Rumor and speculation abound as to the reasoning behind the departure from the band, however the results of the fallout included the cancelling of many tour dates in 2004. The addition of Kevin to the band was marked by Buzz as the definitive lineup of the Melvins (at that time). In a December 2006 interview with Wire Magazine, it was mentioned that Kevin was fired due to his increasing unreliability, but no further details were given.
This was posted on the Melvins listserv on August 16, 2005:
I just got back from the Dinosaur Jr show here in San
Diego. We walked in around 7:30 to see a shit band called Alaska! playing. They sounded like U2 doing Pearl Jam covers. First thing I notice after looking at them, THEIR BASSIST IS SPINNING AROUND DROOLING ON HIMSELF, DOES THAT GUY THINK HE'S KEVIN? OH SHIT, IT IS KEVIN!!! After the song ended I yelled, "MELVINS" and the singer said "Hey Kevin, did you just tell me to fuck off?". Tried that again after the next song and Kevin looked down and the singer said "Kevin, I think that guy's trying to start a fight with you". Kevin didn't seem to mind but the singer was obviously getting pissed. After their third song I yelled "BORIS!!" and
KEVIN STARTING JAMMING THE BASS LINE TO BORIS!!!
Kevin Rutmanis Gear/Setup
- Custom Made Bass, looks just like a DANO longhorn, but longer scale he has two, orange and green both sparkly, courtesy of Eric's Guitars in Van Nuys, CA
- 2 or 3 mid 60's or 70's fender P basses
- Fernandes Atlas Standard Bass
- Ampeg SVT Head
- Ampeg SVT 8x10 Cab
- Sunn Beta Bass head
- Sunn Model T Guitar head
- Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler w/ Line 6 EX1 Expression Pedal
- Boss Noise Supressor
- Ernie Ball Volume Pedal
- Dunlop Crybaby 105Q wah pedal
- Boss ODB-3 Bass Overdrive
- Crowther Audio Prunes and Custard
- Boss Tuner
- Disco Stu said this:
I've seen Ass use different distortion box's, but he seems to rely on Tech21 equipment. At one time I know live, he would run a Sansamp DI driver first, sending a clean DI signal to the board, (to get that punch) and stage sound would then go into a Sansamp GT2, (that and other delay's etc, which lately I've noticed to be Line6) and mic that through the board as well. I know in the past, for recording, one of the bass tracks would be mixed down with a subharmonic synthesizer.
Kevin Rutmanis/Melvins Discography
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