The rumoured History Of Rock project

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I've been VERY intrigued by this "history of rock & roll" concept that we understand Melvins are currently planning or have already recorded. Since im totally fascinated by this idea i wanted to make a thread to revel in some of that. To provide a few clues the band have offered up so far, to ponder what and how it might be unleashed. To, as fans, be able to discuss some of this.

The first we heard about this potential project was way back in November 2016. Steven was ranking the Redd Kross records for an online interview feature and when discussing the covers album 'Teen Babes From Monsanto', he mentioned...

"Buzz Osbourne recently asked Jeff and i if we'd take part in a history of rock 'n' roll concept record that he and Dale want to make. So the four of us perhaps will record a history of rock'n'roll as according to the four of us. Maybe it will be the sequel."

When Steven said "Jeff" did he mean his brother Jeff McDonald or Jeff Pinkus? Then what of the songs themselves too? When i first heard of this project i just imagined it would be fairly straight covers of the songs they chose. But then i wonder if it could potentially be original material intentionally created to ape the different eras of rock. Melvins songs done in the style of those times. Unlikely i suppose but possible. But even more fascinating to me is that Melvins may hybridize these songs. We all heard their Pink Floyd cover of 'In The Flesh' right? The music covered Pink Floyd but the lyrics were from The Blonde song of the same title. Resulting in a weird, new type of song.

Tellingly they did something similar with their cover of 'Black Sabbath' on the Sabbath EP with Al Cisneros. That track ventured off from how the song actually is into incorporating a middle section lifted from 'Laguna Sunrise' on Sabbath's Vol 4 record. Then now we see that this upcoming new acoustic cover of 'Halo Of Flies' is 12 minutes long. Almost double what one might expect! Could this also feature more twists and turns and incorporations to the basic song than what we expect? In a way that is a much more creative idea for Melvins to play around with. The band have done plenty of cover songs before. 'Everybody Loves Sausages' was a covers record. They have already done that. So another set of fairly standard cover records doesn't make too much logical sense knowing the bands desire for experimentation and outside of the box choices. What is new or novel about this? Buzz seems to like to do the unexpected and to challenge himself.
 
Anyway as a sort of pre-empt to what we might expect to see i compiled a list of cover songs that could potentially feature somewhere on this project. All ones that Melvins have either played live over the years and never recorded or ones that have been already released on various EP's and singles that haven't had the "proper" album treatment. Im fairly sure that at least some of these will surely turn up represented in some form with this project.


1958   Tequila (The Champs)
1966   Hang Up (The Wailers)
1966   (Theme From) The Monkees (The Monkees)
1968   Suspicious Minds (Mark James)
1968   Parchment Farm (Blue Cheer)
1969   Rocket Reducer No. 62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa) (MC5)
1969   I Want You (She's So Heavy) (The Beatles)
1970   Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath)
1970   Saviour Machine (David Bowie)
1971   Halo Of Flies (Alice Cooper)
1971   Sway (The Rolling Stones)
1971   Brown Sugar (The Rolling Stones)
1973   Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Black Sabbath)
1974   Deuce (KISS)
1975   Drive Back (Neil Young & Crazy Horse)
1976   Detroit Rock City (KISS)
1976   In The Flesh (Blonde)
1977   Pinhead (Ramones)
1979   Mr. DNA (DEVO)
1980   Standing In Front Of Poseur (Redd Kross)
1980   Ambition (Iggy Pop)
1981   Ghost On The Highway (The Gun Club)
1982   Charlie (Redd Kross)
1982   Moon Over Marin (Dead Kennedys)
1982   I Am The Owl (Dead Kennedys)
1984   Leech (Green River)
1984   Cherub (Butthole Surfers)
1984   My War (Black Flag)
1987   With Yo' Heart, Not Yo' Hands (Malfunkshun)
1987   What They Say (Redd Kross)
1987   Frosted Flake (Redd Kross)
1987   Janus, Jeanie And George Harrison (Redd Kross)
1993   Rebel Girl (Bikini Kill)
1994   Spoonman (Soundgarden)
1997   Bacon Industry (Karp)

[WGB]

I remember reading something about them doing something with Kid Congo, so maybe some Cramps or Gun Club

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I remember reading something about them doing something with Kid Congo, so maybe some Cramps or Gun Club

Ah yeah, i had forgot about that. After all, they have already put out a recent cover of 'Ghost On The Highway'. I suppose the same goes with Jon Spencer being mentioned previously before too. If this is as epic in scope as it appears, i wouldn't be surprised if quite a few contributors (familiar and new!) feature across this one.

[WGB]

Also Promise Me on the HAT b-sides

[cooter]

With four CD's at 45 minutes each, that would equal 3 hours of melvins. 

[Garnz]

Interesting idea to look forward. But they will surprise us anyway with what they come out next.

[amazonAMAZON]

Pull "Leech" from that list and add "Tattooed Love Boys"- Pretenders (1979)

I'm totally on the same wavelength, though. I think these covers have something to do with this project.

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With four CD's at 45 minutes each, that would equal 3 hours of melvins.

I know, total overkill!!!! Although i would STILL love it! It's interesting in a way since Buzz has said a good few times how he feels bands are good to see for about 35 minutes and then that's it. With the recent Melvins releases getting shorter lately i think they like that notion. So a multiple CD release seems bombastic to the extreme. But then can we imagine them releasing them one by one? That might kill the overall statement/story that way. Either way it's going to be interesting to see how they handle it. Would Ipecac sanction a 4 CD album release?? After all it's going to be, i imagine, quite pricy to purchase. Especially if it went to vinyl!!! Im almost as excited to see what Mackie would do with the art though. I imagine she could really go to town on something like this.

Interesting idea to look forward. But they will surprise us anyway with what they come out next.

You are so right. I suspect that there may be another twist/concept in this that we don't see coming.

Pull "Leech" from that list and add "Tattooed Love Boys"- Pretenders (1979)

That's a good shout actually. I didn't include them on my list but i'll eat my hat if there isn't a cover of a track by The Who as well.

I'm totally on the same wavelength, though. I think these covers have something to do with this project.

For such a vast project i can totally imagine that quite a cast of people might feature on this thing too. To enhance proceedings and add variety. Like with 'Basses Loaded' or '...Sausages' probably lots of different incarnations of the band. Melvins 1983, Melvins Lite etc.

[dirtmerchant]

I know there is already an Alice cooper cover thing coming out, but after that, Please for the love of god not four albums worth of covers. If that's what it is, I don't care what the spin is, no. It's lazy, Write a new album,  Something with some substance, not a double album, one just noise and then call it a soundtrack to a movie either 😂. I love the Melvins just as much as anyone else on here but come on, it was a record of noise, I don't care how hard Buzz claims he worked on it. As much as I don't like Steven I did like the other record in AWWLAD. They've been coasting long enough, do another record with big biz or Kevin or something. They seem to have somewhat mended things with Kevin. Shit I'll take an original album with Pinkus at this point over another cover thing.

[Bigval]

Shit I'll take an original album with Pinkus at this point over another cover thing.

I agree I wouldn't be interested in this at all. Covers albums (let alone four of them!) are usually either contractual obligations or for bands that have run out of ideas.

[Dumpster D]

Shit I'll take an original album with Pinkus at this point over another cover thing.

I agree I wouldn't be interested in this at all. Covers albums (let alone four of them!) are usually either contractual obligations or for bands that have run out of ideas.

covers are good, they get your name out there to a wider audience.

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Shit I'll take an original album with Pinkus at this point over another cover thing.

I hear ya on everything you said in your post. I always get excited about new Melvins releases whatever they are. Im always intrigued by what they will sound like and what happens this time. Yet like yourself i feel they have completely overdone the covers thing the last few years. As you put it, i'd much rather prefer an all original record. Something like (A)SA would be great - just a tight collection of kick-ass original songs with no joking around present. I agree too that 'A Walk With Love & Death' was quite a let down. I don't mind 'Love' in and of itself but it just didn't work for me as a double. A new record with Kevin or Pinkus would be A-Okay with me.

I don't care how hard Buzz claims he worked on it.

That's something that Buzz often mentions when talking about the joke tracks or 'Love'. As though it vindicates those things. Im in complete agreement with you too there. Just because someone worked on something for a long time doesn't mean that equates to quality.

I agree I wouldn't be interested in this at all. Covers albums (let alone four of them!) are usually either contractual obligations or for bands that have run out of ideas.

In a way i like to see something than nothing. If it meant no new Melvins record to talk about or investigate while waiting for a "proper" album then i'd take a record of covers. For instance i thought '...Sausages' was patchy in part but on the whole fairly decent and im glad it exists. More is MORE as Buzz says!! Even if i don't quite consider it a true Melvins album. But yes, putting out covers records does dilute one's standing in the grand scheme of things. Although weirdly i don't think that with regards to something like Fantomas' 'The Directors Cut'.

[the bloat]

I know there is already an Alice cooper cover thing coming out, but after that, Please for the love of god not four albums worth of covers. If that's what it is, I don't care what the spin is, no. It's lazy, Write a new album,  Something with some substance, not a double album, one just noise and then call it a soundtrack to a movie either 😂. I love the Melvins just as much as anyone else on here but come on, it was a record of noise, I don't care how hard Buzz claims he worked on it. As much as I don't like Steven I did like the other record in AWWLAD. They've been coasting long enough, do another record with big biz or Kevin or something. They seem to have somewhat mended things with Kevin. Shit I'll take an original album with Pinkus at this point over another cover thing.

This.

[Bigval]

In a way i like to see something than nothing. If it meant no new Melvins record to talk about or investigate while waiting for a "proper" album then i'd take a record of covers. For instance i thought '...Sausages' was patchy in part but on the whole fairly decent and im glad it exists. More is MORE as Buzz says!! Even if i don't quite consider it a true Melvins album. But yes, putting out covers records does dilute one's standing in the grand scheme of things. Although weirdly i don't think that with regards to something like Fantomas' 'The Directors Cut'.

I thought as far as covers albums go that Sausages with all the guests was actually quite decent. Some songs I didn't care for but some I really liked, the Bowie cover is fantastic and the Roxy Music one with Jello too. They've already done a covers album I just don't see the point of doing more.

[kingdiamond]

I could do without another covers record but if they're going back and covering songs from every era in rocknroll history that might be interesting as long as they Melvin-iize em. I'd love to hear them take on Lil Richard and Check Berry then move on to the Beatles and Stones then prof rock and 70s hard rock then early punk. That'd pretty much sum up rock n roll up in till they started playing. As far as spanning 4 albums, I'd rather just listen to the original songs and hear some new Melvins. If they throw in some unexpected or obscure covers it might be interesting.