Dale's interview on loudmag.com

[black stallion]

http://www.loudmag.com.au/content/melvins

02/08/2011

Melvins drummer Dale Crover is gearing up for his latest challenge when he takes my call on a stinking hot Australia Day. Since the beginning of January, the quartet has been selecting an album from their vast discography and performing it in its entirety at a special show every Friday night at Spacelands in Los Angeles. For this week's show, the group is playing one of their most acclaimed and expansive.

"We're playing Stoner Witch, probably our most adventurous record... actually, I think we've been saving the hardest one til last because it's been hard for us to figure out the songs," Crover says. "There are some songs that have never been played live, or have been, but it's been a long time. We've done a few of them, but there are definitely some that we have never done. Ever."

Stoner Witch is a particular favourite of both fans and scenesters alike, so it's obviously important they don't mess it up.

"We just had a rehearsal today and everything's sounding good. It's gonna be fun. Should be a good time."

Having a good time is one of the only things the Melvins has really cared about. Their quirky humour and laidback attitude seems to have helped them become one of those bands that appear to be universally adored. Even on troll-laden flame-pits like the YouTube comments board it's hard to find anyone with a bad word to say about them.

"Maybe we're just not that popular that we just don't get that kind of comment," Dale Crover says with a laugh.

Of course, Crover is probably only half joking. While they have never attained mainstream success, Melvins have enjoyed a cult status to rival that of anyone. Close friends with Tool, a major influence on Kurt Cobain (who at one stage auditioned as their bass player and went on to produce Houdini), and indeed the entire Seattle grunge movement, they have also inspired bands as diverse as Crowbar, Mastodon, High on Fire, Strapping Young Lad and the Dillinger Escape Plan, and colloborated with Lustmord and Jello Biafra among others. The Japanese band Boris took a Melvins song title as their name, early bassist Matt Lukin was a founding member of Mudhoney, and both Crover and wild-haired singer/guitarist Buzz Osbourne have played in bands like Nirvana and Fant