As conducted by Mr. Iann Robinson:
What can be said about The Melvins that hasn't already been said? Geniuses? Musical innovators? A fucking kick ass band? All of that is true and then some. With the release of their latest album Nude With Boots The Melvins prove yet again why they are to be revverd. I got to sit down with King Buzzo and talk about music, Fantomas, and his future as a cop.
IANN ROBINSON: What does the rest of 2008 look like for The Melvins?
KING BUZZO: Well we are in the middle of a world tour so to speak and we will be finishing 08 with the ATP Festival... Lots and lots of shows.
IR: Why the addition of another drummer what does it add to the band?
KB: Why not? More is more bigger is always better. Besides, our new stunt drummer Coady is nice to me. We dig the idea of over doing stuff.
IR: You guys seem to put out an album a year. Why do you do it when so many bands take 3 or 4 years between albums?
KB: Bands are lazy I guess. We still like music and making records and we will continue until the internet destroys it all. Good riddance.
IR: Do you ever feel you get saddled with some expectation of being experimental from album to album? Does it ever make writing music frustrating?
KB: I don't know why it would? Wouldn't writing the same record over and over be frustrating? Maybe not. I just try to make music I like and fuck the rest of it.
IR: You and Dale are the core of The Melvins. What has kept your relationship so strong over the years?
KB: Baseball, lots of baseball. I guess that's as good an answer as any. I don't know really? I suppose we will continue until we hate each others guts... That should be about 10 minutes from now.
IR: Where did the title Nude With Boots come from?
KB: It came from me. As to where it really came from, who knows?
IR: What inspired you to do Dies Iraea?
KB: I thought it was a groovy tune. I figured we could lay our hands on it real good. I think it came out nice.
IR: Did having a more solid line up help when writing this record?
KB: Did we do albums in the past without a solid line up? Not to my knowledge. Kevin was in the band for 7 years.. That's pretty fucking solid. I do enjoy playing with these Big Biz guys a great deal though and it does feel solid as well.
IR: Thus far what has been your favorite Melvins record and which album have you been most disappointed with. Why?
KB: God who knows? I like our new records at the moment more than our older ones. I feel we are at the top of our game right now and I'm having a blast. I suppose I would say the Ozma record is my most disappointing... Don't know why really.
IR: Talk to me a little about the Melvins vs. Minneapolis CD set.
KB: It's a limited edition 3 CD "box" set with a shit load of live shows on it. AND it has really cool hand silk screened covers. And it's all sold out. OX-OP are true kings.
IR: The Melvins have been around for two decades making the music they want to make. How have you done it without catering to anybody in either the music industry or even the genre?
KB: Pretty much by doing just that. Avoiding all sorts of horse shit. It's easy.
IR: How do you keep interested in doing this year after year? Why do you think it hasn't grown old?
KB: We still like playing believe it or not. It's our deal and we are proud of it.
IR: I know this was a while ago but the book The Melvins put out was incredible. Any plans to do something like that again?
KB: Thank you for that. It was a huge task. I need to think of more huge tasks. I'll get to work on it.
IR: What's going on with Fantomas? I know there's a DVD coming out, tell me a little about it.
KB: Nothing as far as I know. The DVD is the Fantomas Melvins Big Band and it's live in London. I think it's really cool. I'm glad it's seeing the light of day. Not an easy undertaking believe me. Danny Devito was a dear.
IR: Do you guys even bother doing videos anymore? Do you think they're a waste of time?
KB: Well we did do the new one with Fantomas but by and large they are just stupid. Am I wrong? No...
IR: Top 5 desert island records?
KB:
ZZTop - Tres Hombres
Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bullocks
Beatles - White Album
Jimi Hendrix - Axis Bold as Love
PIL - Flowers of Romance
IR: How did you get involved with Lustmord?
KB: Through Adam from Tool. Lustmord is a dear as well.
IR: How do you think the Melvins have been able to avoid being pigeonholed into one scene or genre?
KB: We hate all of that kind of crap. It's easy to avoid if you are careful.
IR: What bands are moving you now?
KB: Who knows really... I like Tweakbird.
IR: When The Melvins finally call it a day, what do you want the legacy to be?
KB: I want it all to push me into being a cop in a shit hole town near El Paso.
