09/22/2024 Sophia
I see you been stopping at Buc-ee’s, do you agree it’s the best gas station ever? I prefer the sliced brisket over the chopped brisket, they used to come with pickles and onion. I hope you got a Buc-ee’s onesie in addition to the pajama pants.
I love Bucc-ee’s in all it’s uber Capitalist, processed marketing obesity. I’m quite fond of the fried chicken sandwich. Coffee’s not bad either.
09/21/2024 Wilson (Take 3)
A few questions:
Why is the mix on Chemical Marriage much more quiet than the rest of the album? Was this intentional? (I guess yes because it made it onto the record).
What is the harmony going on in Vanity Fair? I'm a Bass player and I always listen to the harmony. I think the chords go C#maj Bbmin Dmaj6, then ??? It sounds like it goes to Ab so it rounds off with a 5 to 1 back into the C#, but it also sounds like it's some A chord as the 5 of the D part. The bass part is where it's hard for me to tell. I feel like it's in-between the two root notes, sorta microtonally. It sounds like the bass and vocal bass are blending the two, but I'm not sure. The melody is an Ab, so it hints that this is what the root "should be", yet the bass note itself is note just sounds and feels different.
Whatever it is, I've always loved this track because of this specific occurrence in the bass. It's very unique, never heard it in anything else.
I've read some random comment that Frank Zappa was to produce Mr. Bungle's first album but he didn't due to the state he was in. Is this true? If so, what was the correspondence between him and your group like? How did y'all communicate? I am a fan of Bungle's work, and a massive fan of his work, and I hear a connection between the works, intentional or not.
If you have read this, thanks! I know the musician grind is tough, so if not, I get it.
I don’t remember exactly but that record was a bitch to master— maybe ask Bernie Grundman. There are a lot of dynamics going on in that disc.
You’re really testing my memory, but I think you may have hit this one on the head. I could be wrong—-but I wrote it so I can re-write it haha—-I think the concept was a very basic chord progression ( I vi ii V I ) with a minor 9th or some other horrendous harmony in the bass — a note that would properly belong in the upper structures of the chord. It’s low enough to be just disconcerting enough.
It’s true about Zappa. We knew someone who was dating Moon Unit at the time and had access to Frank via our manager. We never spoke to him directly. We put out a request and he gracefully declined. I think he passed about 2 years later. Supposedly he eventually heard that record and said he’d wished he’d been responsible for it. Not sure if that part is true, but I’ll just believe it regardless.
09/20/2024 Blake
Fellow punk here. Heard from a Wikipedia thing that you and Patton were branching into the subculture in the 80s. Is that true?
If I’m interpreting your question correctly you’re asking if we were branching into punk in the ‘80s? Yes, absolutely. Our high school was very divided, as probably most were back then. The punks and metal heads did not mingle. We never understood why. The back of my green canvas jacket had a COC Pushead skull and a Possessed logo, so there ya go.
09/15/2024 Sarah
Are you still working (do you even have the TIME???) in your collages? What kind of music do you listen while working (worked…) on them?
I still love making paper collages, sometimes for myself, sometimes for others. I usually listen to whatever is in my “haven’t listened to yet” pile. Could be just about anything.
09/11/2024 Rich walker
Whassup
Hi Trev what’s your favourite Stephen king book?
And do you have a favourite Dario Argento movie?
What do you think of John Williams music? he’s a bit of a genius, I think.
Not a huge fan of any of these to be honest. Although I will say, I love the soundtrack to The Fury. In general I think Williams, as great as he is, is borrowing a lot from many 19th & 20th century European composers. The literary genre of horror doesn’t really do it for me. That said, have you read Geek Love? Probably my favorite “horror” novel. And Argento…hm, I dunno, kinda dated. Best horror movie ever is The Thing (1982).
09/09/2024 Cleft_of_venus
Just saw you in Pittsburgh on the King Dunn tour. I was struck by the perfectly toned muscles in your left forearm (yep, paying attention to the important things). What strength exercises do you do, outside of exercises on the instrument itself? No matter the hours I spend on my bass, I don't seem to be getting stronger. Need tips to get some Popeye arms.
Gross. I keep in “shape” at the gym but do zero work on my forearms. That is all from wrestling with the beast of the contrabass for close to 40 years now. Try eating spinach.
09/07/2024 Paige Omidi
Hey Trevor, as a big fan of Zorn's music (I think of him as a modern Ellington), I was curious what you've perhaps learned about process or an approach that gives rise to his unique sounds/aesthetic?
I'm aware you were familiar with his music far before you played for any of his projects, and now have had the chance to see his methods first hand for some time. I do read the liner notes for his records, so I have a general impression of some particularities he has, but was wondering if you think there's anything that truly differentiates him, from other great artists--in your vast experience.
Also, I once sat by you having a beer in a bar off Valencia, in the Mission, and we had a good chat--that was a cool memory. And I still haven't repeated the secrets you told me. :)
The first thing that comes to mind is his knack for knowing and writing for the musicians he has hired. He hires them for a reason and when they can execute what he wants he pushes them further. But also his foresight into what the combination of musicians can give him.
09/04/2024 sdgdsagdahdahdaag
Have you ever watched any films by Konstantin Lopushansky? I have been thinking about his films Letters From A Dead Man and Visitor To A Museum a lot lately and they kind of remind me of (God in Heaven, forgive me for saying this) a more industrial Tarkovsky. (Which isn't too surprising because Lopushanky worked on Stalker.)
I have not. Sounds right up my alley. Thanks!
08/24/2024 12:18:58Brian
1. i'm a drummer so theres something i cant help but wonder. Sorry to bring up Dead Goon, but do you remember in the studio who played the multiple auxiliary percussion instruments on that song? I know Winant wasnt on that record, but i Love the percussion!! Maybe its Danny playing All the overdubbed percussion instruments, some you? some Zorn?... but theres an Excellent mix of bongos, shaker, maybe claves? Probably my favorite song on the album. Such an impressive composition, where i dont quite know who to credit for throwing all that together but i know its partly Danny...Brilliant
2. I also love horns. Any details about Luke Miller are almost nonexistent. I think he did a great job on the really hip/jazzy horn parts of the Goddamnit tape, but obviously Bar is a much better player. ( I know that Luke is trumpet and Bar is sax/keys etc though.) Trey said Luke was "a flake" and i dont know if he quit to go to college in Seattle...I also dont know if Luke was much of an inspiration to the band... Can you elaborate a little on the end of 1988, when the band dropped Luke and Hans and added Danny and Bar?
1.Definitely Heifetz and Bär.
2. I remember Luke being pretty great, but yeah, he went off to college and we lost touch. In the meantime we had no drummer but were soliciting Heifetz. Essentially the stars aligned when we met the multi-instrumentalist Bär whilst our singer was off gallivanting with some SF indie rock band. Trey & I pooled our sources and reignited things just in time to put together what would become OU818.
08/23/2024 Cheese and Crackers-Eating Fan
How would you like it if I came to YOUR house and ate cheese and crackers right in the middle of your living room, and got crumbs all over your rug?
Ha, I don’t have a rug in my living room so you are fabricating this whole assumption that we are somehow familiar. Hypothetically, however, I would not be happy as, presumably, being a stranger, you would not be invited into my house in the first place. If you somehow managed to get in anyway I would not be pleased.
08/20/2024 TheWentIsDue
What was the significance of the "civil war casualty" photo being used on the back of the "sad clown" MB shirt from the early 90s? Anything existential about it or was it just a goof?
No significance as far as I remember. Shock value probably.
08/20/2024 Lessy poo
What are some of your favourite early bass lines that you've made in Mr Bungle? (from first demo to first official album time period)
I'm aspiring to become a half decent bass player and I always wonder what you're particularly fond of
Hmm, kind of a gross thing to answer. At the time I was quite proud of some bass lines in Waltz For Grandma’s Sake. But in a more general scope, I like the nuances that I added to other people’s bass lines; adding the little things that bass players do best while maintaining the composer’s idea.
08/14/2024 Chris P
Gratitude as always that you take the time to answer questions. Just wondering, do you like Charles Ives? Listening to his 4th symphony and it has a touch of the demented to it (possibly projecting and lack of vocab on my part, let's say "for want of a better word"), wondering whether it would be up your alley. Cheers.
Ives is one of my all time favorites. I wrote my music history paper on the 4th Symphony partly because I was so baffled by his technique of layering. Used a damn typewriter to write that dissertation.
08/14/2024 Tomek, Warsaw
Hi Trevor, I think the period when you had time to answer those questions 'en masse' is over, looking at your touring schedule, but it can wait for some other nicely boring itmes. I got two:
1. How do you feel having so many gigs with Buzz? You play the same material each night, is there gonna be a moment when it becomes boring and samey? Do you even have something to talk about, when you spend so much time together?
2. To me "Disco Volante" is somehow omnipotent, if that's a right word (probably not), just transcending lots of other stuff, seems like an opus magnum and something that would be hard to beat, in terms of experimenting and putting so much crazy but quality ideas together. Looking at people getting that tattoo of the cover art, I can totally understand it. There's just something hypnotazing in that one. Feels like you allowed yourself to do anything you ever wanted to do that... to be honest I still relate to that album when I think I could ever do a "Crazy opus" type of album. Do you ever think that way? Or is it just one of them, like any others?
much love dude! hopefuly see you in Warsaw
1. Your first question is three questions; you need to calm down. Playing the same set every night is a vibe and not always what I do. After a week or so, confidence is high and you’re ready for anything. A string breaks? Someone throws a bottle at your head? Forget it, show goes on. Sometimes towards the very end of a long tour the sameness can start to get to you, but every venue looks and sounds slightly different. There’s always variation. We talk about whatever, or don’t. It’s like being married, I would assume.
2. We certainly never thought of it as anything but trying to make an interesting record. Our hearts were in it for sure, and we spent several years honing our ideas, throwing out A LOT. I have no answer as to why it is received the way it is, though I certainly appreciate it.
08/08/2024
What is with the high-octane flurry of noise in the middle of "Merry Go Bye Bye," and the fragmentary snippets of musique concrete debris throughout? Can you remember the band's reaction when Trey revealed his grafting-in of those elements to the piece--was it one of bewilderment or did you all just take it as it was?
That was all Trey, concocting his wizardry at home then bringing it in piecemeal. We had no idea what we were recording with those little trio snippets to be later adorned and annihilated. Often taking it as it was with each other was our general modus operandi.
08/08/2024 Tim
There’s so many bands I’d be interested to know your opinion on. I’m sure you get asked about this all the time, so I apologize if it becomes monotonous. I’ve just been on kind of a prog kick lately, so I’ll just ask: have you listened to much King Crimson, Opeth, Camel?
I was really into King Crimson’s Discipline, which is not what prog fans wanna hear. Haven’t spent any time with those others. I’d say, when I was paying attention to some prog and fusion in the ‘80s it was Mahavishnu, Brand X, Rush… are those prog bands? What IS prog?
08/08/2024 Ryan Murphy
How do you feel about Lalo Schifrin you magnificent bastard
Are you kidding? He’s amazing. One of the greats.
08/04/2024 Gnous
hi trevor! got a bunch for ya:
1. are you familiar with a Soviet animated short film The Glass Harmonica (1968)? since a couple of questions back you've said that Schnittke is one of your favourite composers, I was wondering if you'd seen it. something tells me that it may be very much up your alley. am I wrong?
2. wah-wah pedals used with bass\guitar - sexy or not?
3. is there any chance that the recorded videotape material from the s\t bungle tour will be released in the near future? since RWOTEB got a revival from the archives of the past, this seems like an appropriate time for some unreleased-never-seen-before-stuff babybungle nostalgia. maybe a DVD? I personally would even watch the whole thing uncut. I figure this question probably pops up from time to time in your inbox, so I bet a bunch of fans are still very eager for this stuff to come out. pls give us some hope......
4. what is your biggest turn-on appearance wise? mind wise?
wishing you all the best <3
1. Gorgeous film. Love it.
2. Sexy? Maybe. I like wah wah in the right places. It’s great on upright bass, too! I think Charlie Haden was the first to do it. I used it on my first trio-convulsant CD.
3. Remains to be seen. I’d love to at some point. A lot of work is involved.
4. A confident gait; a sense of humor.
07/28/2024 David Taylor
Dear Mr. Dunn,
I am sure you are asked about these things on a more regular basis than you’d like, so please forgive my intrusion, but is there ever a chance of good quality versions of Coldsore, Lemmy Caution, the re-recording of Mr. Nice Guy, Thunderball or any other unreleased recordings getting an official release of any sort? Maybe a good quality unofficial release? I’ve become a lover of hi-resolution audio in the last decade, but I wouldn’t have an issue with high quality MP3s if that were all that was available, nor would I think anyone else would.
For the record, I don’t have as close a relationship with Mr. Nice Guy or Thunderball as I do Coldsore and Lemmy. Rough mixes of the first album leaked forever ago, and they’re fascinating to see what was done where and such. Honestly, that’d be the kind of thing I’d love to see happen with a lot of my favorite albums, post the rough versions so we can compare them with the finished products. But Lemmy and Coldsore are very engaging. Lemmy, in particular, reminds me a lot of Zorn’s Spillane, which I know you’ve mentioned may have been a clear inspiration on Mike’s part.
Anyway, thank you for doing the things you do and making the music I love and enjoy. The sounds that you and your compatriots made have brought me unbelievable amounts of enjoyment, while disturbing many around me, which also brought me enjoyment. Thank you.
I won’t say there’s not a chance. It would be quite involved—finding the tapes, buying time in a studio that still has tape machines, transferring, etc. Personally I’d love to put those low quality re-posts to rest.
07/24/2024 Shane Rightley
Hi Trevor! You rock. No, you jazz. No, you... whatever.
What's your favorite Tarkovsky? Do you draw any influence from Eduard Artemyev's scores?
It’s probably controversial, but I think my favorite Tarkovsky is Mirror. They’re all great and he’s my favorite director, but that one has a certain charm an magic that I like. In terms of Artemyev, I wouldn’t say I’ve been directly influenced, maybe because I haven’t dove in that deep.