The Melvins sell out!

The Melvins sell out!

Nah, that's a lie. But Buzzo laments that music world's respect takes act only so far

• By WAYNE BLEDSOE
• bledsoe@knews.com
• November 3, 2006
• http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/music/article/0,1406,KNS_349_5110295,00.html

Buzz Osborne, better known as King Buzzo, makes it clear that nothing he is about to answer about himself, or his band The Melvins, is completely trustworthy. "I lie all the time," says Buzzo, not long after taking a moment, he said, because he spilled his bong. "Nobody needs to know personal details. No good thing can come of that. People actually know very little about me, which is the way I like it. Familiarity breeds contempt. The less they know, the better I'm off (sic)."

He estimates that only 20 percent of what is written about the band - or what is in any news story, for that matter - is true.

What is known about The Melvins is that the band is unlike just about any other act in rock. The Melvins formed in the early 1980s and used drummer Dale Crover's home in Aberdeen, Wash., as home base.

The band was one of the first to blend hard-core punk with heavy metal, and grunge took some tips from the band's dark and dirty sound. Kurt Cobain (who once acted as a roadie for the group) was a huge fan of the band. And punk, metal and grunge groups used The Melvins as a touchstone. However, The Melvins' quirky humor and sometimes dirge-like songs are completely unmistakable.

Buzzo says he is not surprised at how influential his group has been.

"We're really good," says Buzzo. "I'm never surprised when people are influenced by us. They should be. I'm surprised when people aren't, quite frankly. I dunno. I would assume that if you're really into what you're doing, you'll assume that everyone should be. If they're not, they're lost."

The band has made the journey from recording for a small independent record label to signing on with major label Atlantic Records and then back to working with the indies. The band's new album, "(A) Senile Animal," is the band's 24th disc, not including collaborations with other artists.

While it's nice to be respected, Buzzo says, he doesn't think too much about the band's standing in the world of music:

"I guess it feels great. It's one of things where you go, 'Yeah, great. Now what?' You have total respect. Great. How do you translate that into groceries? You know what I mean? There's only so far you can take that. Most people don't read press clippings. You know? You can't walk into Home Depot and everybody there is like: 'Wow! Here's a million dollars. Would you like a discount? Here's a discount for being so respected.' It doesn't happen."

And besides that, if the band members were ever tempted to sell out, who would be buying?

"You write down a list of people we could do that with, and we'll take it from there," he says. "Somebody that's ready to give me a bunch of money to sell out. I don't see that happening. I don't look like Justin Timberlake. So selling out is not an option."

While Buzzo says he is having a great time and is appreciative that he's able to make a living playing music, the band has had some tough breaks. The band has gone through more bass players than fictional group Spinal Tap has gone through drummers - although no Melvins bassist has been lost due to spontaneous combustion.

"They all become heroin addicts," says Buzzo. "They can't stand me, so the only thing that will make them feel better is embracing an opiate addiction. That's the way it works. That's life in the big city."

So why has drummer Crover gotten along so well with Buzzo?

"I sell drugs to Dale!" replies Buzzo.

The group recently expanded from a trio to a quartet when Jared Warren and Coady Willis of the band Big Business threw in their lot with The Melvins.

Buzzo can think of few things that would surprise fans about the group, and an interrogation about his record collection reveals a love of Jerry Reed and Buck Owens.

"Buck Owens was great," says Buzzo. "I love all of his stuff. We cried when he died."