Melvins' Buzz Osborne on 'Houdini' at 30: Nonsense lyrics, all-time riffs, firing Cobain and more
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Melvins' 'Houdini,' we caught up with the one and only King Buzzo to look back on the sludge-grunge masterpiece - from writing the nonsensical opening line of "Hooch," to firing Kurt Cobain as a producer.
Video produced by Christina Rowatt for REVOLVER.
CONTENT GUIDE:
00:00 Introduction
00:48 The first songs Buzz ever wrote, Ozma’s success
01:29 A punk rock gold album and quitting the day job
01:51 What happened when the Atlantic deal came around
02:27 The untold stories of “Hooch” and Cobain’s input
03:03 Night Goat’s mighty riff and its birth
03:57 Working with Kurt Cobain, heroin & fame
05:05 The catalyst moment for firing him
05:38 Kurt’s manager, crazy stories and why Buzz never needed anyone to write for him
06:48 The musical roots of bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden and understanding Melvins
07:52 Underground music changed Nirvana
07:52 What Buzz felt was missing from music
08:26 “Hag Me” and Houdini’s filthiest review
08:59 Not doing what they were told by the record company big wigs
09:23 What Nirvana and Motley Crue shared
09:46 The tragedy & not being over it
10:21 “Honey Bucket” and why its back in the live set
11:03 Buzz’s anti-song-writing formula
12:22 “Spread Eagle Beagle” and who did what
12:56 “Lizzie” and disappointment
13:30 A passionate defence of KISS
14:35 The iconic artwork & Frank
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#melvins #grunge #kingbuzzo #nirvana #dalecrover #themelvins #soundgarden #sludgemetal #kurtcobain #cobain #aliceinchains #buzzosborne #punk #doommetal #stonerrock #seattle #grungerock #houdini - Hudba
Here in New Orleans the heavy bands 100% credit the Melvins as the biggest inspiration to the sludge sound we're known for now. Thanks Buzz
They're one of only a tiny handful of bands that can lay claim to creating grunge (and also "sludge" in Melvins case). One of the least known, most influential bands of all time. All modern heavy music stems in some way from something Melvins did.
Any sludge + bounce fusion in the bayou?
Slow Southern Steel and Jimmy from Eyehategod, playing the hell out of the first three records. Loved that bit.
I definitely thought about the Melvins when I saw Eyehategod down in NOLA, good call
@@MaxWhiteArabiLouisiana I know a few people, (myself included), who enjoy No Limits artists such as Soulja Slim, bounce artists like Mr. Ghetto, and bands like Thou and Eyehategod.
The Melvin's will always be the most underrated band of all time.
Killing joke
Fair@@imgahey
Acid Bath@@lennyghoul
Ive seen the melvins live a few times. Sold out shows. Buzz has played live with Tool. Adam Jobes has played shows with the Melvins. Im not sure The Melvins could be underrated
Melvins are huge relative to other bands in their genre
Melvins was the Pacific Northwest version of Velvet Underground. They may not have sold a lot of records on the corporate scale, but people they influenced did sell a lot of records and sold out tours.
Ya, Danny Carey is always wearing a Melvin's shirt
Queens of the mother fuckin stone age
The only difference is the Melvins are good
@@punklover99 🤣🤣
@@punklover99 yes they are very good
I absolutely love this album. "Honey Bucket" is one of my favorite songs of all time. Kurt Cobain actually plays on the album as well. I have to say the Melvins with Down was the loudest show I have ever seen at the Emerald Theater here in Detroit. And that's saying something.
Woah Kurt plays on the album? Thank you music history oracle!
Honey bucket is so great, the one riff sounds like negative creep but then gets even more layers , alwsys thought tad and Melvin’s had great sound
@@broadcastdeez Kurt plays guitar on Sky Pup and drums on Spread Eagle Beagle
I saw Down, Melvins and Weedeater in Indianapolis in 2009 and can confirm it was a seismic event in both volume and excellence!
would love to see them in detroit, must be awesome!
Buzz Osborne is one of the most interesting musicians of all time. I saw them in Huntington, WV last year. I had to go alone because none of my friends or family knew who they were. "Who's The Melvins?" It was crazy.
I've been to a couple of concerts alone from different bands, no shame brother!
I was at that show too! Huntington, WV July 2022, with Helms Alee and Harsh Mellow. And my first time seeing them ever! Even got to see Dale drum twice that night! A real treat - and yes, I went alone also. 😂
Whats interesting about him, his quirky hair? Or his stories that never end?
Im really glad Buzz was asked about his gibberish lyrics, ive always wanted to know what the deal is with the lyrics, every fan points it out but it never gets asked. So thats awesome.
Thank you! Me too :)
I've also heard him say that you shouldn't be listening to lyrics but the sound of the voice.
@@BobSacamano666 that's what Ive always done because I'm not good at understanding lyrics well in general, and most lyrics are terrible. Except Buzzo's, his insane/gibberish ramblings end up sounding awesome.
Same. Maybe it's a grunge, rock thing 😂
@@Windavinci lol I'd say it's common with noise rock/am rep bands, which the melvins were a part of. Cows and The Jesus Lizard often have really cryptic, weird lyrics that don't always make sense.
I used to ride my bike around replaying "Lizzy" over and over. The chorus riff is so heavy and satisfying. Night Goat is the perfect closer live. It has the same tension building and crushing heavy release every time that makes the audience get the most hyped of any song on the setlist.
So good!
I’m a “Texas Blues” musician, a guitarist, BUT I’M A HUGE MELVINS FAN! At 23 in Austin, my pals opened for em WOW my jaw hit the floor, man that was 30yr ago, great video
I remember when The Melvins opened up for Helmet in St Louis. They did an in shop gig earlier that day at vintage vinyl. My friends and I we're asking them to play honey bucket. Buzzo said come to the show. We already had tickets, so when we were at the show, they played honey bucket even faster than the studio and the pit went nuts. One of the many good times at Mississippi Nights.
Buzz is a very gifted and unique artist. Every day I am thankful for his artistic contributions. I am also thankful for the bands that he helped inspire.
I think people should ask Buzz / Dale less about Nirvana, if at all lol.
They've paved their own career, pre-dating, and obviously outlasting the band.
I love Nirvana. LOVE Nirvana, but The Melvins are their own band with their own legacy, putting out a thousand albums, singles, still cutting vinyl, doing countless shows. Ask them questions about what they're doing now.
This is obviously more relevant considering the connection of Cobain and Houdini, but I mean in general lol
Honestly, even--despite the relevance of the connection, in this interview alone, there are just so many random inserted questions about Nirvana lol. You're interviewing BUZZ OSBORNE, of the MELVINS.
Such an underrated & influential band. Most people's favourite bands owe their living to the Melvins.
hahahaha not a chance
Gotta love Buzz! Honesty is super rare in the entertainment biz. Mad respect.
He truly never gave a fuck about a public image or PR
15:22 "I trust the artists, when I work with artists I trust their vision. I've already hired them to do this, so let them do their job." Hell yes to that. Saw these guys with Boris a few weeks ago, Melvins was always a blind spot for me but after that show I fixed that real quick. This was the first one I bought.
Get Stag, next. Then Stoner Witch.
Besides being a riff lord, and a phenomenal singer the most admirable thing to me about Buzz is his working man approach and the fact that some of Melvins best work came after they’d already been playing 25+ years. Dare I say role models for youth?
riff lord...lol
Do some homework, this guy shits out distinct guitar lines and shaped modern genres
I'm surprised nobody talks about how influential these guys are, too
What a great interview - it is rare that we get to hear about how Buzz approaches song writing! I just wish this was an hour longer!
Actual chat was 80 minutes! Such a hard edit.
Post the whole thing
I love the 2 drummer era of this band! Great songs and devastating live
I love the live footage from that era! That’s what got me into The Melvins to begin with.
@@johnnugent6242 watch melvins live
Hellfest 2011
Apparently they still use 2 drummers while touring but both times when they came to my hometown (small venue) they just had Dale with an epic kit. Still sounded like 2 drummers, to be fair. Loudest shows I've ever been to!
Buzz is one of my musical heroes.
The Night Goat riff is so good they've remade it like 10 times. One of my favorite bands of all time
King Buzzo is one of the nicest, and smartest dudes in underground music.
I like how his cam is angled to focus on his hair
Great interview! Thank you for sharing.
Killer interview of a legend, chock full of great bits thank you both!!!
That's a GREAT Interview! It's great!
Buzz is a down to Earth straight shooter that just happens to be an innovative Genius.
Remember always thinking the album was skipping and pulling over on the side of the road to wack my car stereo before realzing it was the beginning to Pearl Bomb💛
I love how invested this inviewer is with him here and in the previous interview, buzz seems alot happier and enjoying interviews these days
You see european interviews from the 90s and the interviewers are always so oblivious and rude. There are some great ones of buzz just seething and glaring at them haha! Or a weird clip i saw of chris cornell at a festival the other day with the german interviewer asking "why is your music so loud!" And chris' retort "yeah! Its great isnt it!" And the guy replies "yes. But why is it so loud!" Haha! So glad the internet has cleared the way for sincere interviewers to carry it into a conversation
Houdini forever! Forever now, forever then💛
What a great interview! Christina has great flow with her questions and kept Buzz thinking and talking. It cracked me up how punk Buzz is with his camera angle. Damn it, are we getting old?
I love that bass line to “Night Goat”. It’s so nasty.
Fun interview! Buzz is endlessly fascinating.
All respect to Buzz, this interview was awesome!! It was also relieving on a specific level to hear he isn’t over Kurt. All my love to him.
This record has been a major force in my life for almost 2/3 of it's entirety. I'm gonna pump it loud today.
The best
I remember riding around as a teenager in my small town in the summer time and absolutely cranking "Hooch". So crushing, so life-changing.
my story with this album it starts when a sophomore old friend challenged me to play the honey bucket intro (i play drums) when i first listen that i went speechless. I really didn't understand how it's possible play an intro for a song like that and at that moment i accpet the challenge, for almost a month i get stuck on the kit of school and the one's i have at home
Later in a band rehersal with him in the room
i played the shit out of that intro and now he went speechless, i earn his whole respect as a drummer after that
Then i start to listen the whole fking album and the riff tones, the tough hits on drums and sludge atmosphere (the lyrics not so much cause i get it more like internal jokes around the band or something) got me through a endless spiral, even i tattooed the two headed dog on my right arm cause it's just something that i can't just get out of my body. It gets stuck forever on my inner core
So i want to thank buzz and dale for making one of the greatest pieces of art and influences on my music taste and sounding
fits so well in every mood or every moment i've going or went through
Great interview! 👍
Buzz is one of my all-time favourite songwriters and Houdini one of my favourite albums. Honey Bucket is just a kick ass song all round! 👌
The Melvins are Kick Ass.
Reason for being here. Love Melvins. Love this Album ❤
My absolute favorite MELVINS album. Great interview
Very interesting thank you both and your coworkers ❤
An absolutely fantastic album! Every song is great and "Going Blind" kicks it over the edge in my opinion. Was the album I discovered the Melvins with. Flawless!
@@J.F.-yy8ji forreal
Thank you so so much, it's not usual to hear Buzz talking so openly about things, but he obviously knew what the interview will be and was up to it, as he always does when he sets his mind on something. It would be great to hear Dale's take as well, not sure if Lori would agree to do any press at this point.
Classic album!!!! Buzz's guitar tone/riffs were heavy as shit. I remember seeing the video to "Honey Bucket" back then when it was released and it floored me. Album sounds just as good now as it did then.
Always refreshing to hear KISS getting some recognition for how good they were. So much people having fun bashing them without even familiar with their music except for the popular songs.
They got really corny after Ace left. Parasite is a fantastic song.
You are correct...people who shit on KISS have never LISTENED to KISS
Saw them for the 3rd time recently (a year ago or so) and Melvins still jam SO hard. So so good.
One of the best albums ever made.. absolutely timeless
Love the Melvins and Christina!
Saw them on this tour. Mind blowing club show.
May 1990, OZMA tour (Nashville, TN)
The Melvins became my favorite band.
Saw them play in Auckland a few years ago, amazing. Houdini is my favourite album of theirs 👍🏻
Got to see them first of this year and they did not disappoint! Still awesome to this day!
Lizzy was theme music of my 1994!
It’s a shame that Lysol can’t get this kinda treatment, bc it’s such a great record and bc of its name is hardly mentioned
It's soooo heavy, dude..... epic!
Just gotta make sure to clearly emphasize the pronunciation of its "real" name, "Lice-All."
Lysol is one of the heaviest records ever..so underrated
@@jeremymcgrath7965 agreed it’s my favorite if I had to pick. Serious question? Why is it not reissued via ipeccac? Or am rep or boner or whatever under a different name If that’s the issue? I still have my cd with that weird piece of rubber over the name.
Lysol is my favorite Melvins. Oppresively heavy.
King Buzzo is one of the most wholesome guys in heavy music. I love listening to him talk.
TEET, there isn't a stereo loud enough in the world for this song, i crank that song as loud my speakers will hold and i just could never get enough of this song, it sets me off on an adrenaline rush every time, love would be an understatement!!!!!
Great interview 👏👏👏👏
Thank you
.
Buzz & Dale frequent the antique mall my wife works at here in Tucson, Arizona and they are genuine, delightful people to be around.
This album was my first intro to the Melvin’s. It was just so damn heavy!
A close friend of mine best described Buzzo's vocals as like a mix of Captain Beefheart and Gene Simmons
This made me go listen to night goat, thanks
I love their music since 91.
Melvis are top notch highly dedicated to music.
Sheer perfection in those riffs.. damn..
Met Steve, Buzz and Dale two times.. amazin human beings.
Man that sound.. LOVE.
I caught the Melvins in Cleveland back in 2021, or 22? Cant remember Exactly which year, they opened up for Ministry but I absolutely loved their set! THE MELVINS ROCK!!!
Soundgarden and Nirvana fan here, and Buzz, I understand. LOVE Melvins!
Melvins and Tad never got the props they deserve.
TAD. I still always listen to them
Still one of the best
Houdini came out when I was learning guitar and I played it all the way through every single day for about a year. A classic album!
30 years?? Crap, time does fly...
Why so many questions about Cobain and Nirvana? Who gives a shit? I think this interview could’ve been more focused on this great band and album…
Normally I would agree with you, but in this case the guy is credited as the producer of the album, so he's kind of intrinsically tied to any in depth discussion about it.
@@seanmckelvey6618 Sure, but I think it warrants maybe one question, which Buzz has already given a thousand times in other interviews before. Bringing up Kurt and Nirvana so much and referring to him as Buzz’s “child” just seemed really weird to me. Yes, he was involved at some point, then he wasn’t… it’s not that interesting
@@Balloon_86every dumbass is wearing a walmart nirvana shirt. that's why
@@Balloon_86 Sure, it isn't interesting and in most cases when talking about the Melvins it's entirely irrelevant. But Cobain was very much a musical child of Buzz, Buzz introduced him to punk rock. Fact of the matter is, that Nirvana was a massive, massive band and unfortunately it's now nearly impossible to talk about any music from that era and scene, or adjacent scenes, without bringing up Nirvana or Cobain. It sucks, but that's the world we live in now.
And Nirvana fucking sucks shit, they should never be put in the same sentence with Melvins
I absolutly love this album and have a huge velvet poster of the front cover on my wall. HAHA, even had a smaller one in my bedroom in the 90's."I already Hired the artist so let them do their job"! What a great end quote. I also loved how he name dropped Soundgarden.
Will this poor guy ever go through an interview without mentions of Kurt Cobain?
@@swampcrypt and how many times a minor producer being fired gets mentioned in album interviews? It is because they need the clicks that cobain gets mentioned and it’s incredibly disrespectful to Buzz. Second, he gets asked this same questions repeateadly, how many more times does he need to repeat himself?
@@swampcrypt dude there are mentions of cobain from the 03rd to 08th minute, literally half of the interview, I mean come on we get it we all love cobain, but this interview it’s about Melvins music. Of course he’s not gonna deny the interview, in this day and age underground artist need the money more than ever
Why are you booing him hes right
Wrong place to even make this statement.
Yeah you could understand if Buzz no longer wanted to talk about it. Must bore him to tears.
Melvins Lite with Trevor Dunn is just too perfect. Houdini is still a classic (like everything from the Melvins) 🎉
saw them on tour with that album in Missoula. I hadn't seen them live before and I was blown away by the dynamic psychedelic parts of that show . So good .
Houdini is the SHIT. Seriously the best album of the 90's.
A classic case of ‘your favourite bands favourite band’.
"I don't need anybody to write songs for me"
-Buzz Osbourne
Probably the only statement I can agree 110% on as actual truth.
Visiting my cousin in St.Paul, me, my dad, my cousin and uncle saw the Melvins open for Kiss in I think the summer of 1996 at the Rosemont Horizon, we came for Kiss because my uncle and dad were huge Kiss fans we all didn't know who the Melvins were. When they came out and played our jaws fell open, my dad leaned over and said "Man, this band is awesome! Their like a Black Sabbath with shorter songs!" Kiss was cool, the band didn't seem to get along and seemed to be playing for money, the Melvins stood out, all of us that night became Melvin fans.
I saw that show in Memphis. First time seeing MELVINS. I had just become a fan not even 12 months earlier. I've seen them about 2 dozen times since.
Melvins never disapoint. Saw them in mid 90s with White Zombies
Astro2000 tour. Melvins
were perfect live.
Awesome album and interview. One of the best I’ve seen with Buzzo. Great questions. That era seems historic now. Something interviewers never touch on though is what happened to Lorax? She was out, then came Joe Preston, then back in for Houdini? Although I heard she really wasn’t on it. He mentions Kurt being on heroin then, but wasn’t Lorax also? Lots of mystery surrounds the Melvins Bass Players Alumni….
Lorax and Buzz were dating in the 80's. She was in the band Clown Alley with Mark Deutrom ( who replaced her on bass ) before being in Melvins. Read some stuff about her struggles with Heroin. It had to complicated for sure.
She wasn't on the goodship lollipop either
HAPPY 30TH TO ONE OF THE HEAVIEST ALBUMS EVER MADE!!!👍😈💀...................and one of the cutest album covers ever😀
Great album 🖤
Just saw them in Baltimore! They played Hooch! Loved it! Wish they woulda played Lizzie and goin blind too
It sucks that Buzz won’t be fully appreciated until he’s dead. Dude is a goddamn living legend!!!
Real fucking talk there sad to say
Truth
Buzz is so cool!
Dynamite interview.
I need to give this bad boy another listen.
My favorite band
A few years ago I was in the studio with my band recording and when it came time for vocals I was frantically writing lyrics. My drummer asked me what I was doing and when I told him he seemed surprised because we had been playing that particular song live for 2 1/2 years . He asked me what were the old lyrics then . I told him there never were any, I was just up there making shit up the whole time Nobody in the band had any idea and they all started telling me what they each had THOUGHT I had been singing about and to be honest, some of it was pretty good. Love The Melvins, bravest band on the planet. They'll do whatever they want to do and nothing but.
I used to do the same thing, too. Lol
Played songs at practice for months, live shows, etc - with no actual lyrics; just melodies and making stuff up. Then we would get to recording and id have to literally write lyrics after the tracking was done 😂
The riff master himself
Would love to hear Buzz.
Melvins are my all time favorite Band
I saw The Melvins with Ministry in 2022 - One of the loudest concerts I've ever been to. They were just in my city with Boris & Hatebreed/Terror/Jesus Piece played upstairs and saw Buzz & the drummer of Boris standing off the side if the stage watching Jesus Piece tear it up - Got to shake Buzz's hand quickly because he had to perform in the basement in 20 minutes. His hair is HUGE! 😆
This album changed my musical perception; in fact, Honey Bucket was the first song I learned to play on the drums.
Can we get an "at home with the Osbornes" show. Id watch
He would make a great professor
I just bought the reissue on vinyl last month. The original is $100 +. Might be some reissues still available
Nice..
Sick...
He mentioned Throbbing Grisle. Hell yes
Nice
Hes not over his friend guys he is not trying to bash kurt come on
Love Melvins and Tad
I’m so jealous of his hair
I haven't listened to that Kiss album in years. Listened to it all the time when I was 13 in the 70s. He is right about that song, Strange Ways, but my favorite song on that album was always Parasite.
Always loved Got To Choose. Amazing soul jam and Gene’s backups are insane
My favorite KISS studio album. "WATCHIN US!!!!"
Buzzo looking lke a grandma these days. Love the Melvins.