08/11/2019 19:12:43 Scarlett
What’s your poison ? Beer? Liquor ? Specific drink that you always have to have while touring/traveling.
It depends, really. I’m usually a bourbon guy if I feel like actually drinking. But pasta in Italy suggests wine. Frites in Belgium suggest trappist beer. My liver doesn’t discern. More importantly while touring I always try to get my daily allotment of fruits and vegetables — much harder to come by than alcohol.
08/11/2019 17:44:37 Adam
How did you end up on the Honorary Title's Anything else but the truth album? Cats in heat I believe was the track or was this a different Trevor Dunn on upright?
I have no idea to be perfectly honest. Probably through some network of NY musicians, or someone grabbed me as I was passing through a studio one day…..
08/11/2019 15:43:43 -----
Are you aware that a lot of people on the internet fantasize and write stories (fanfiction) about you and Mike Patton as a couple? It's called "Mervor". I know this must be the weirdest thing you've ever heard and I know it's not like that in life, but you guys look REALLY good together. You both are really cute, even as old men.
I think this is super weird and creepy. Fantasizing is one thing, but to publish stories…? What sort of self-centered attention are these people after? I have no desire to research this subject further and will do my best to strike it from memory.
08/11/2019 11:41:14 Anita
Do you really listen to Britney Spears or just wear shirts? Hahaha If you do, what's your favorite song? Haha Btw, I actually LIKE her songs, for real hahaha
I do listen to Britney, although I haven’t much in recent years. In The Zone is what got me hooked (went to sleep in my bunk on the bus in Europe many times listening to that record while on tour with Fantômas) but I’m also into Circus and Femme Fatal. I think Blur, Out From Under and The Answer are particularly good.
08/11/2019 11:15:47 Fenrir
Hi Trevor. Firstly, I wanted to say thank you for all the interesting (and sometimes challenging!) music over the years, and for remining accessible to your fans in a way few others have. My question concerns tattoos - I am interested in them as they seem (to me at least) to be a way of publicly asserting aspects of one's identity . What influenced you to choose the designs that you have? I read somewhere that centipedes represent movement between the worlds of the living and the dead. Does this mean that you are a secret goth?
I have a good friend covered in tattoos that told me none of them should have meaning. When I was first hesitant about my first tattoo and worried that it was a “life altering” decision, another good friend scoffed at that notion, which I found encouraging. I don’t believe there is any rule book on the matter. Representing something to the public is one possible result. Of course, there is the ink that no one can see as well. I chose a centipede because I think they are cool creatures. I’m fond of insects, arachnids, myriapods, and gastropods among others. Centipedes also hark back to the title of my first recording as a band leader — a title borrowed from the great B. Kliban. I may be a secret goth, but I’m probably more of a metal head. Crossover was big for me in the ‘80s.
08/11/2019 6:58:51 Enrique
T-Dog,
Do you enjoy the consumption of peanut butter? I sometimes find myself consuming large quantities of the stuff and am beginning to think I may have a problem. Anyway, in what method do you consume peanut butter? I choose to consume it orally. Much appreciated, enjoy the cello.
Be careful. Over abundance of anything is dangerous. Moderation in everything including moderation —as my college orchestra conductor used to say. I love peanut butter. Right before making coffee with a French press I like to have a spoonful of peanut butter and a couple dried figs. The coffee pairs well. I also enjoy the cello.
08/10/2019 23:33:04 Loki
There is a clip on YouTube of Fantomas playing All Tomorrow's Parties back in 2008 where you appear to be pretty drunk. You tell a funny joke about a library and a chip shop, but mostly look like you're having problems standing up. As soon as the set starts, muscle memory takes over and you seem completely fine. Have you ever been so drunk/under the influence that you haven't been able to play?
It baffles me that people think I was actually drunk. There’s no way I could play that music drunk. That was the joke. Apparently it went over everyone’s head. I have never been too drunk to play. I wouldn’t do that to my band mates nor the audience. I’ve played with people who were too drunk to play and it’s not fun. I like to joke around but ultimately I take music very seriously.
08/10/2019 18:40:3 1Kiernan
Hi Trevor,
Thanks for all the great music over the years. Must be nice to have written music that has such staying power and influences so many different people!
Once a song is published, do you ever go back to it years later and wish you could modify parts of it or rearrange it? Or once it's out there in public, you just learn to live with it?
Lastly, when writing songs, how do you know when a song is finished/completed? I could see it being a never ending process of tinkering, so was wondering if it is usually deadline based or it just clicks when it's complete.
Thanks.
Thanks for listening! Once something is mastered or published there is no choice but to live with it. I certainly hear finished things all the time that I would like to improve on. Probably everything I’ve ever done to be honest. Deadlines are good because they force one to stop. Striving for perfection is the goal but the fact that it is never achieved is the impetus. It is a never ending process but sometimes you just know when something is done. Also giving yourself limits helps, such as only using a certain number of instruments. And then there is the balance with whatever else is on the record. Does it need another dense song or perhaps something thin and simple?
08/10/2019 16:30:02 Keath Graham
It looks like Natalie Wood on the cover of this album. Any idea who the other lady is?
That’s not Natalie Wood. The photo is from a Dutch book I found published in 1957 called Nachten van Parijs with photos by Daniel Frasnay. The two women here are random Parisians.
08/10/2019 13:58:40 Chiara Bazzani
Hi. I met you in Ferrara (Italy) for the Dan Weiss concert. I must admit I went there because of you.. and I'm very happy to have heard the concert for it's been very good and I bought the record afterward. I would have liked to talk to you after the concert and ask you lot of things, but I was worried to tease you so I didn't. But I have a question, just a curiosity. I asked you to sign the Mr Bungle self title album and you just wrote a bar, with few notes, maybe in a bass key. Can you remember what song was it (cos I don't read bass lines and I can't play)? Thanks. And thanks to keep on making music.
Thanks for coming to the show. I’m always happy to hear that people come check out other kinds of music just because I’m there — not for any ego stroke, but because a musician like Dan, for instance, should be heard. Also, thanks for not teasing me. I often sign merchandise with an impromptu “composition”. I don’t think about it much, I just write some random stuff and they are most likely all different. If you learn how to read bass clef you’ll be able to hear it.
08/09/2019 21:51:53 Sasha
So when is the singer/songwriter thing coming out? Can you tell us your influences regarding that? Who do you like to listen? Scott Walker? Nick Drake? Fiona Apple? I like your new site. Love
It will come out when I finish it I suppose. Hard to find the time to do so. All those names you mentioned are influences. Also Elliot Smith, Erik Sanko, Cat Power, Stina Nordstam and Dennis Wilson have had impact. I like good songwriting in general.
08/09/2019 9:59:04
True that You are the missing linchpin that's keeping Mr. Bungle from reuniting? Can't remember where I got that from, only that I got it.
That would be me, yes.
08/09/2019 3:24:57 Gregs
Hi Trevor!
Love your stuff, especially the Zorn and Bungle work. Have you any plans to perform in the UK in the future/next few years?
Thanks for listening! No plans right now, although I was just in Edinburgh last year and London earlier this year. Keep an eye on dates. Maybe something in 2020.
08/08/2019 19:30:48 Rochelle
If you had a time machine, and could travel any direction of time, what would you choose to do with it?
I would go back to the Mesolithic (?) period prior to agriculture and fish along a river bank. Either that or go full Jurassic and hide in the bushes. Would be cool to see something that actually existed that we have no emotional understanding of.
08/08/2019 15:30:22 Mike
If you could only write in or for one genre/instrument/group what would it be? Why?
Probably solo contrabass because it’s the instrument I know the best and has a vast palate of sounds and orchestration within itself. Also, if I had that sort of conceptual constriction I would assume it would mean I lived in confinement and would need to play bass to keep sane.
08/08/2019 15:01:08 Nancy
Hey so uhh I currently just turned 14 and am trying to be good at bass and you’re my inspiration right now haha,, I don’t have a very good question at all because I’m currently pretty tired but do you think I could ever like pursue a career in music because I’m supposed to be like good at art and be an artist or something but idk, I have this idea of being in a cool band and all that but it’s just my brain telling me what I want to hear haha you probably won’t see this but I hope you know that I really love your music :)) also cometotheukpleaseifyouwant
You can do whatever you want. If you want to be in a band then start one. Find a drummer to play with. Learn how to read music. Learn your favorite songs by ear. Write some songs. Start now and don’t stop. If you’re “supposed” to be good (assuming this is what people have told you) then you probably are or at least have the potential to be. Do what you love. Also stay in school, eat your greens and be nice but assertive.
08/08/2019 13:39:04 One Mean Cockfighter
Hi Mr. Dunn. Are there any plans in the work for you and the Melvins to record or release any more music?
Cockfighting is cruel. No plans with the Melvins right now but Buzz and I have done some duo recording and will likely tour in 2020.
08/08/2019 13:26:55 Merv Griffin
Getting tired of all the mr bungle-questions? Yeah? Prepare yourself for a snooze fest.
- I've noticed that the mr bungle-facebook page has been quite active recently. Rumblings of a reunion or just wanting to cream some more dough out of the "brand"?
- I read somewhere that there exists some unreleased songs recorded during the time of the recording of your albums. Any thoughts about releasing them? A more hi-def Mr Nice Guy would be great (the "verses" in that song contains the greatest pop/rnb melody I've ever heard).
- did you earn enough dough during bungles touring/recording-lifespan to get by or was it necessary for you, financially, to stay busy with other gigs as well?
- did you get your share of royalties from avenged sevenfolds cover of retrovertigo? What did you think about their cover?
- do you feel more love now for bungle than you did "back in the day"?
On an ending note, I really appreciate your work. I met you at the stone in NYC a couple of years back. My girlfriend took a photo of me and you where you look really uncomfortable because I held my arm around you. I guess I was starstruck. Sorry about that.
Your name is not Merv Griffin, it’s George. To answer your first question, yes I am. I don’t run or administer the Bungle FB page so can’t answer any questions about that. There are indeed a couple recorded songs from each of our records that never made the cut (lack of room probably the main reason) and yes, there has been thought of releasing them someday. So far, just a thought.
Bungle rarely made any money save for our last couple of tours. Aside from earning a living I certainly had to keep busy when we weren’t. That’s why I played a lot of restaurant and wedding gigs when I lived in SF in the ‘ 90s, and I mean A LOT.
The way the business works is that ideally we will see publishing money from that cover. We don’t get royalties from their record sales, but if the system works we will see something for writing credit. I was super proud to see a band cover a song I wrote.
Not sure about your last question. You mean the love received? That has always been strong, but certainly people want what they can’t have. In terms of people wanting to make money off us now, yes, definitely more love.
I’m not big on being touched by strangers but no worries. Thanks for coming to the show!
08/08/2019 11:48:25 Julien
Hello Trevor,
Thank you for giving us back the possibility to communicate with you. I'm a bit of a completist and make sure your discography is complete on Discogs.
So i was checking these releases:
- https://www.discogs.com/fr/Kevyn-Dymond-Mark-Shafer-Play-Something-Else/release/13828140
- https://www.discogs.com/fr/The-Stand-As-If/release/10053054
Do you remember having played on these recordings?
The first one seems to be one of your earliest recordings as a guest on someone else album
The second one is a Canadian band where you share bass duties with another guy.
By the way I saw two weeks ago with Zorn's Bagatelle. It was a blast! TYVM!
Woah, you have gone in deep. I remember recording with Kevyn Dymond in Arcata, CA when I was in college. He played in a local punk band called R4. I think for that cassette he hired many local musicians to record in weird combinations. I’m on one song if I’m not mistaken, it might be the one called “Not Even A Spatula” but I’m not 100% sure. Patton might even be on that. Danny Heifetz plays on “School Bus Driver” which has some great lyrics I can recall to this day. The other recording I have no idea. It’s possible that’s me. Could have been a live recording, or something I did when I happened to be in Vancouver. It could also not be me…. There could be other recordings I’m on that, for whatever reason, I forgot about or the bandleader never sent me a copy.
08/08/2019 8:41:40 Juan
Do you usually make digital backup of your compositions or transcriptions sheets? or are you from old school using just paper and folders? How you manage the risk of lose written material (if you do)
I’ve been forced to enter the modern world and though I still use pencil and paper and, in fact, handwrite my compositions in ink, I scan them all and keep digital files. I also keep physical folders of originals, scraps, etc.