YOUR QUESTION

05/13/2020 Mike Hi Trevor,
2 multi-part questions I'd be curious to know the answers to:
1) Any plans to write/record/release more MadLove music? My wife and I loved 'White with foam' even had 'absence & noise' as part of our wedding day playlist. I would love to hear how this band evolves on a second outing.
2) During these pandemic times, what fiction and nonfiction books would you recommend to comfort and scare readers with time on their hands?
Thanks in advance for taking the time to write back to these questions!

MY ANSWER

1) No definite plans although that’s a medium I would love to return to. My still unfinished “singer/songwriter” album is sort of fulfilling that role at the moment. Also, sorry to break it to you but Absence & Noise is sort of a break up song haha.
2) I recently re-read Camus’ The Plague which was terrifyingly still relevant to the current pandemic. Bear Attacks by Mike Lapinski is scary AF.

YOUR QUESTION

05/12/2020 Kyle

Hello Trevor, Hope you're well.
Do you produce at all? Working on the productions you have, and the producers you've worked with I'd hazard a guess you've picked up some tricks.
Anyhoo, Hope to see you live in some guise in the future, and stay safe.

MY ANSWER

Other than my own projects (MadLove, Film music, trio-convulsant) and my input with my own sound on others’ recordings I have not produced anyone else’s records. The role of a producer is debatable and the levels vary considerably. I’d be happy to help out anyone who had no idea what they were doing, but in general I tend to leave things up to the engineers. That’s an instrument in it’s own right— one I have not studied thoroughly. Any tricks I’ve picked up have mostly come from engineers. A lot of times, the best role of a producer is an objective and keen set of ears.

YOUR QUESITON

05/12/2020 Godot

Which album you worked on do you find best produced? Perhaps your favourite sound guy?

MY ANSWER

If by sound guy you mean recording engineer, Ryan Streber, Aaron Nevezie & Marc Urselli all come to mind. Bungle’s California, Zorn’s Six Litanies & Interzone, Nels Cline’s Macroscope and Ben Goldbergs Here By Now are probably some of my favorite sounding records.

YOUR QUESTION

05/12/2020 Jon L.

Curious as to the 5 most difficult and 5 most pleasing times you have had during your career. Could you put together a small list (most likely there are plenty of both) while also explaining briefly why? Not asking for specific order with this. Nor do I expect long epic tales. With people spending so much time reflecting figured you had some memories going on you might like to share...

MY ANSWER

Hm, that’s a difficult one to be honest. I don’t think that many stand out either way. Definitely a handful of horribly ill-attended performances that made me question my career. Also, a band leader, who shall remain nameless, gave such negative feedback after a performance that I nearly dropped my upright and walked away from music forever. One the other hand, I played a gig once that was so cathartic that I thought for a moment I might have an orgasm. A good turnout and attentive audience is always gratifying and much more fun to remember than times I walked away from gigs feeling like I played like shit.

YOUR QUESTION

05/13/2020 Rosner

How does a band like Guns N Roses become so popular? I don't get it.
Also, are there any "mainstream" bands you would consider yourself a fan of? Do you rock out to Oasis???

MY ANSWER

I think GNR, as they are commonly referred to, came at the right time for a particular demographic. They filled the shoes of Aerosmith who were sucking at the time, plus they appealed to and L.A. rock crowd that didn’t embrace metal. They filled a void in in a way that was both nostalgic and conservative while maintaining a sense of partying and rebelling. There’s plenty more to not get.

I can’t stand Oasis, but I’m a well-known Britney fan. Also love Beyonce & Rhianna and I’ve been digging Billie Eilish. Can you call Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar or Missy Elliot be considered mainstream? I dig all them as well.

YOUR QUESTION

05/13/2020 JC Thoughts on Primus and the bass playing skulls of one Les Claypool

MY ANSWER

Not particularly.

YOUR QUESTION

05/13/2020 David Hill

Would you be interested if someone asked you to record voice overs for cartoons?

MY ANSWER

Why not? I’d also be interested if someone asked me if I wanted chocolate ice cream.

YOUR QUESTION

05/13/2020 Mr. Doofus

Hi there Trevor! Hope these questions aren't too much of a bother:
1. Back in the day, there was talks of (I believe from Mike) of doing an all-electronic Fantomas record. Did anything ever surface from said idea, be it a demo track or two, or was it merely just an idea y'all wanted to explore but didn't?
2. Did you ever have any interactions with Chuck Mosley?
3. Have you ever had a moment where you were hanging out with Mike & Trey these past few years, and just thought "Fuck, we were some kids in a high school band and now we're highly-regarded"? I imagine the feeling of coming out to an entire audience only to play y'all's first demo was fucking insane.
4. I don't know if you've ever mentioned being a gamer, but if you have, have there been any game soundtracks that wowed you? They certainly have come a long, long ways since the Nintendo days, and I feel like I could hear you doing an excellent soundtrack for a more artsy/indie game
Hope all's well with you, and if you haven't gathered for all the y'all's.. Greetings from Texas, my dude

MY ANSWER

1. Nothing ever became of that. It was Mike’s idea. No idea why it wasn’t realized.
2. Nope
3. I never think to myself “I am highly regarded” and I’m not trying to be overtly humble by saying that. But I do have moments of checking my reality and feeling incredibly fortunate. I think the 17 year old me wouldn’t believe it. At the same time, a lot of hard work went into the whole thing.
4. I’m not a gamer at all and haven’t played anything made after 1990. I can write music though.

YOUR QUESTION

05/09/2020 8:34:38 Jo (again)

As someone who travels widely, have you ever been caught out by embarrassing mis-translations, or by words that have wildly differently meanings in different countries? As a British student visiting friends in Detroit many years ago, I quickly learned that asking whether I might "bum a fag" was not the most acceptable way to ask for a cigarette; just as my American colleague found that complaining that her aeroplane seat was "too small for her enormous fanny" was met with gasps of horror in the UK. Have you ever made any similar faux pas while travelling?

MY ANSWER

Hahaha, “fanny” is worse than “cunt” in the UK? What typically happens to me is I start trying to speak the language of the last country I was in, so I’ll end up saying “Si” to a German, and “Tak” to Dutchie….

YOUR QUESTION

05/09/2020 Jo

Any idea yet when you might finish the singer songwriter record you have been talking about for a while? Is it in a similar vein to MadLove? For me, "Left with Nothing", which you sang on, was a particular highlight of that album, all of which I love. On the subject of singer songwriters: first, is there anyone you are particularly influenced by, or particularly like or would recommend? Second, any opinion on Iron & Wine or Bon Iver?

MY ANSWER

Hi Jo. I’m not really sure when I’ll finish. I chip away at it when I can. Hopefully by next year. It is somewhat similar to MadLove in terms of harmony and song structure. “Left With Nothing” was my first attempt at recording lead vocals and I really enjoyed it. That was essentially the catalyst to do the “singer/songwriter” album. Willie Nelson, Elliot Smith, Judee Sill & Fiona Apple come to mind as influencers. Second, no opinion yet!

YOUR QUESTION

05/06/2020 Rich

Hey Trevor, random questions.
1. Eureka is such a remote town, how did your family end up there?
2. What is your favorite color?
3. Favorite city to play in the US? Least favorite?
4. If you had to live outside the US, where would you choose?
5. Opinion on reggae?

MY ANSWER

1. Both of my parent’s families were involved in the lumber industry in Oregon and migrated South for better work. My parents met at Arcata High School.
2. Black
3. Brooklyn (so I can take a cab home), Cheyenne.
4. Difficult question. So many options: Mexico, Sardinia, Berlin…
5. I dig the Wailers and Peter Tosh. I don’t hate it like I used to in college.

YOUR QUESTION

05/05/2020 Jack

Did Jed Watts ever write any music for Mr. Bungle?

MY ANSWER

No, he did not.

YOUR QUESTION

05/04/2020 Frau Dead Louse

So what Crowded House albums have you been obsessed with these days, Trevor? Take care!

MY ANSWER

All of them! Mostly Time On Earth and Woodface recently.

YOUR QUESTION

05/02/2020 CircusMoth

Hi Trevor,
I was wondering what books, albums and films you liked growing up and in high school? I know you've mentioned thrash metal before but what about things like Star Wars? Science fiction? D&D? What sort of things laid the foundation for who you eventually became?
Thanks!

MY ANSWER

I’ve pretty much named a lot of those in my bio on this site, but Cheap Trick’s Live at Budokan, Kiss’ first few records, Blondie, Elton John’s Madman Across the Water & Goodbye Yellow Brick Road were all big for me. In terms of books I really loved Zilpha Keatly Snyder’s Witches of Worm & The Headless Cupid. Difficult to remember my earliest film affinities but Marilyn Monroe caught my attention at a young age and I think those movies eventually led me to noir. I used to go to the drive-in with my parents and see spaghetti westerns, Bruce Lee, and Clint Eastwood movies.

YOUR question

03/09/2020 Jesse

Hi Trevor.
Thanks for all the tunes over the years. Bungle opened my ears to a lot of different styles of music and I really can’t thank you guys enough.
Anyways, after enjoying many genres and styles of music I’m thinking about diving into Opera. If you’re a fan do you have any recommendations?
I know that’s a fairly generic question - but based on some of the Soundtrack artists such as Mancini/Goldsmith, or John Zorn’s work such as ‘Spillane’ that I have discovered ‘through’ Bungle I’m curious what you would recommend?
Thanks again for all your music.

My answer

I’m not a huge opera fan. I do love Berg’s Wozzeck and Lulu, however. Mostly it’s the style of singing that doesn’t really do it for me. When it comes to classical vocal music some of my favorite pieces are Peter Maxwell Davies’ Eight Songs for a Mad King, Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, Harry Partch’s Barstow, and Schostakovich’s, Hans Werner Henze’s El Cimarrón and Benjamin Brittan’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings

your question

03/07/2020 JohnWayneLaw

Hey Trevor-It was (amazing🤘) seeing you and the gents, putting together; what I have always
held dear to my internal musical pulses (organs, if you will) at the Warfield on Feb. 8th 2020
- THE SHIT! ( That being the Raging Wrath) Up in Humboldt, mid 80’s was groundbreaking on so many different
Levels. Eclectic stylings in the presentation. The Artwork was above and beyond. AND it was just so much fun,
Watching and experiencing all that came with it.... Trevor is one of those rare commodities that can put together
A bulldozer with a serpents kiss and make you want more, more - mort
In the end (this conversation) how did you decide to put this together?
OH! Your thoughts on the passing of Neil Peart?

my answer

Wait. Is this THEE John Wayne Law?? It must be if you are quoting Mort. Dude. I was hoping to see you after the show. It’s been way too long and you’re one of the 3 people I would still want to hang with from back in the Logger days.

We’ve joked and talked about that demo all along. After meeting and playing with Lombardo the idea occurred to me. All due respect to Jed, who killed it that night, and was so much fun to hang with, but I think we were writing above our means. Unfortunately for Jed, in that genre, that demand that puts an insurmountable amount of weight on the drummer. Essentially that music was written with Dave in mind and since we all ended up playing with him it made sense to present it as it was meant. Lets face it, aside from Trey on that demo, we were all sucking all over the place. So, with the means at our hands, I felt we could pull off giving that music the proper packaging that it somehow still holds up to.

I was, of course, saddened by the new of Neil Peart passing. Had no idea. Did you ever read Ghost Rider? Very poignant in it’s own right and his passing just closes the book on all of that.

I hope you and I can hang one of these days.

your question

03/06/2020 Trevor McKormick

What do you think of the band Barenaked ladies?

my answer

I have given that band zero thoughts other than reading the name in the publication BAM in the ‘90s.

your question

03/05/2020 Byron Dunbar

Hiya,
I really enjoyed the reunion shows where you played The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny demo. However, I missed Evil Satan, Grizzly Adams and the ska bits on Hypocrites. What was the thinking behind removing these songs/sections, and if the demo is re-recorded as a professional album (as you've hinted it may be) do we have a chance of hearing updated versions of these non-metal tracks/sections there instead?
Thanks

my answer

The main impetus behind replaying/recording The Raging Wrath was to play metal and to give that music it’s due. Grizzly Adams wasn’t possible for us to pull off live, with limited rehearsal time and production, not to mention it works better as an overly long intro to a metal record. Evil Satan and Hypocrites were sort of reactionary jokes that were hinting towards our amateurish/experimental Bowel of Chiley period. There is an overt goofiness there that doesn’t belong with the rest of the vibe that we were interested in presenting. It was a deliberate choice to exclude those songs from this particular presentation. The “ska” portions of Hypocrites you refer to should not be granted such a revered quality. We were by no means ever a ska band, though we appreciated the masters. Those sections of that song are also extremely unoriginal. I would call them kitsch and for that they would clog the gears of the machine that we consciously and intentionally presented.

your question

03/04/2020 The Bum Tickler

Are you the man behind the machine that is the Bungle Twitter account?

my answer

Who wants to know?

your question

02/27/2020 Sum bitch

Firstly, thanks for the "Mr. Bungle" tour. \,,/ Looking forward to hearing/seeing yourself and King Buzzo's new album/ tour. i have to ask though, is Fantômas in play?
Also, What are the three most difficult years in a bass player's life?
Second grade?

my answer

Fantomas is Patton’s band and I don’t know what plans he has if any. It’s possible that band spoke it’s word. Not sure if I understand your second question. Does it include the years before that person starts playing bass? I certainly can’t speak for them all. Probably the 32-35.