Yet another Melvins interview from the holy land...

[Michael Jordan]

Anyone who can read hebrew, here u go:

http://www.nrg.co.il/online/5/ART1/573/506.html

For the rest of you - give me a couple of days and the interview shall be translated. I'll actually start now cause I don't feel like doing a uni assignment that's due in tomorrow. fuck uni, melvins fans come first!

[Idlehanz]

thatta kid!

Thanks

[Michael Jordan]

Ok, before the interview the reporter writes a bit about the melvins. It is pretty much the usual stuff - The seattle scene, nirvana, history, bass players, albums...   stuff that we all pretty much know around here.  I'll just translate a few key sentences:


...  Aberdeen was also the place that gives us The Melvins, possibly one of the most important bands in post-punk, and maybe in music in general. The heaviest band u've ever heard? maybe. The godfathers of grunge? most probably. But it's not enough to acknowledge the Melvins' influence on other bands and their massive contribution to those years. While bands like soundgarden and Pearl Jam are only eventually only bands, the Melvins are a phenomenon with its own rules, with presence and volume like no other.  The Melvins music is a deadly cocktail of late 70's rock such as , combined with stoner sludge and some hardcore. A rich musical library that consists of nearly everything that can bring the house down. From Kiss to Alice Cooper to Black Sabath and AC/DC to Prong and Godflesh. But somehow, the experimental power that comes out is a unique sound that is all Melvins.

The reporter then continues explaining about the early days and how the band got its name. She goes on to talk about Kurt Cobain auditioning for the Melvins and fucking it up and goes on to the various record labels that the Melvins has been signed in.

ok, now the interview part:

Intro

Over the years, the band members have left their mark on a dazzling amount of musical projects outside of the "Aberdeen mothership". Osbourne plays with Patton's Fantomas and collaborated with members of Napalm Death and Brutal Truth to form Venomous Concept. Dale Crover played with Nirvana for a short period, has been on tour with Sonic Youth and regularly plays in Altamont and Porn (the men of). As a band, the Melvins have collaberated with the legendary Jello Biafra continue to release albums in a dazzling rate, sometimes up to 2 albums a year.

The band's last album ( (A) Senile Animal) came out at the end of 2006 and sees hardcore dou Big Business' Jared Warren and Codi Willis (Murder City Devils) join veterans Osbourne and Crover in the band. Together, like siamese twins on a particularly killer drum kit, Crover and Willis manage to break walls of sound and create unique sound and a new and brave "drilling" (Israeli slang for something that "drills" in your head, like loud music or a really annoying person talking to u nonstop. However, there can be a good/positive drilling such as the one applied here).

The Melvins' arrival to Israel is one of the most exciting things that could have happened in our small country of Israel and probably one of the signs of the upcoming apocalypse (as no one really expected the Melvins to ever come to Israel, and lately there are heaps of great bands coming to Israel. Israeli humour... (M.J.)). In the current tour, the opening bands for the Melvins will be PORN and Big Business. In the meantime, it's time to ask them some questions.

Q: First of all, I'd like to thank you for creating such great music consistantly over the years. I remember watching you in the U.S.A in 1999 and I never thought I'd get to see you again without buying a flight ticket overseas.

Thank you. We hope you liked what u saw in 99, and we also hope that the crowd would like what we have to offer today, 2007.

Q: Do u think that the fact that you have never enjoyed the same commercial success as bands like Nirvana and other Seattle scene bands have, has actually helped you to keep a more personal and unique artistic vision?

At least we didn't up as dead junkies...   I (Buzzo) am doubted whether selling millions of records and getting rich by it would have caused a total destruction of my life, but I suppose I don't really have to worry about this option, do I?

Q: With a monsterous discography under ur arms, which albums do u feel reflect the Melvins? do u consider any albums as a "must have" for Melvins fans?

I would say that Colossus of Destiny, Pigs of the roman empire, The Bootlicker, Eggnog, and our last album (a) senile animal are "must have" items, not necessarily in that order.

Q: Like many others, I am a big Kiss fan and I really liked the tribute you paid them. Can we expect any other tributes to other great bands anytime soon?

Different ideas are coming up all the time. A few names that keep coming up include Jimi Hendrix and Judi Garland, but I doubt whether its really going to happen.

Q: With so many changes to the line up it is hard to follow all the different participants in the band. How did the collaboration with Jared and Codi from BB came to life? Do u see it as something that fertilizes your creation, as fresh blood keeps coming into the band?

Of course! Dale and I are like vampires who thrive on that new blood smell. We go through bands and groups in the same way other people use q-tips: we use them and then get rid of them, just because that's the type of people we are.

Q: I recently listened to We reach: The music of the Melvins, the tribute album made for you guys. Did you like the end result? what's ur favourite song?

The truth is that I still haven't really listened to it yet, but I saw Mastodon play "The Bit" live and it was great.

Q: After you have collaborated with so many iconic figures from the music industry, have you found anyone to be completely different from what you might have imagined? anyone you were thrilled to work with? anyone you regret to have worked with?

We have discovered that Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa's legendary drummer) watches more porn than we thought was possible. Dave Lombardo doesn't do anything except talking to his wife on the mobile phone all day, which to us seems a bit weird for someone who sold his soul to the devil...  We were surprised to find out that Jello Biafra doesn't read books, that Maynard from Tool is so deep in the closet he can find Christmas present in it, and Mike Patton is addicted to video games and sending txt messages on his Blackberry. Trevor Dunn likes to pretend he is Norwegian, Leif Garret spent his life on drugs and Dave Grohl is playing sickening pop music and doesn't call me as much as in the good old days. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Q: Which bands from the last 5-10 years did you like or found interesting?

Porn, Kill Me Tomorrow, and of course Big Business.

Q: For the record, and for tour fan base here, what made you come to Israel? what are your expectations from this visit?

It just seemed like a good idea. It is gonna be great (in Israel). Israel is the U.S.A's friend in the middle east so we thank you.

Q: Do you know any bands from the Israeli scene?

Not yet, but it will be interesting to know a few.

Melvins play in Israel tonight, Friday 27.04.07 at the Barbie club in Tel Aviv


Man, translating is hard...  have fun everyone who is going to the show tonight and be sure to post a review, pics, and hopefully an audio or video recording (Aviv I count on you!)

[norecess]

Thanks MJ, nice interview. He mentions Kill Me Tomorrow once again. Does anyone else know 'em here?

[rimb]

Great work again MJ   

Love the bit about "iconic figures from the music industry" !

[Charmerski]

the thread about the radio show got bumped below, so i'm posting here again the link for downloading the 2 hour special that includes the Dale interview:

http://pod.icast.co.il/8a9f5ada-796f-4e53-8457-b01bcdcce83d.icast.mp3

Also, there are at least 2 more interviews with the Melvins in the Israeli press today, so MJ has some more work ahead of him...Thanks

[Erikkerik]

We have discovered that Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa's legendary drummer) watches more porn than we thought was possible. Dave Lombardo doesn't do anything except talking to his wife on the mobile phone all day, which to us seems a bit weird for someone who sold his soul to the devil...  We were surprised to find out that Jello Biafra doesn't read books, that Maynard from Tool is so deep in the closet he can find Christmas present in it, and Mike Patton is addicted to video games and sending txt messages on his Blackberry. Trevor Dunn likes to pretend he is Norwegian, Leif Garret spent his life on drugs and Dave Grohl is playing sickening pop music and doesn't call me as much as in the good old days. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Gold. Pure gold.

[Schnabster]

Thanx again, MJ! 

BTW, Schnabster has gotten a hold of a chinese Buzz-interview. Just wait till I have finished learning mandarine,
and I`ll give you guys all details!

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