Melvins

The current Melvins line-up (from left to right): Jared Warren, Coady Willis, Dale Crover, and Buzz Osborne)

The Melvins are a four piece right now. The current members are...

• Buzz Osborne - guitar, vocals
• Dale Crover - drums, vocals
• Jared Warren - bass, vocals
• Coady Willis - drums, vocals

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The Melvins formed in Aberdeen/Montesano, WA in 1983 the founding members were Buzz, Mike Dillard (drums), and ex-Mudhoney bassist Matt Lukin. Buzz, Mike, and Matt all went to high school in Montesano. The name Melvins came from a grocery clerk at the Thriftway in Montesano where King Buzzo served as clerk and vandal. Melvin was the most hated fellow employee and they felt it to be an appropriately ridiculous name.

When Mike couldn't cut it, as rumor has it because the songs were getting too mathematically complex, Dale was recruited out of the Iron Maiden cover band he played in at the age of 15. Matt was replaced by Lori Black (Lorax) (Shirley Temple's daughter) when they left Aberdeen for San Francisco.

The Melvins have had quite a few bass player changes during their tenure. Check out the Melvins Bassist Morgue to learn more. The Melvins live in Hollywood, CA right now.

The Melvins Discography is an exhaustive resource of their many releases. They were on a major label Atlantic Records for three albums, although most would agree they're not the type of band that would appeal to a major label. They are often quoted as knowing this while they were on the label and just took advantage of the drunken blitz the record companies were on in signing any band connected to a supposed Seattle "grunge" sound. Melvins have also released music on Ipecac Recordings, Boner Records, Alchemy Records, Amphetamine Reptile Records, Alternative Tentacles Records, and numerous others in the manner of 7"s and whatnot.

Buzz has a side project called Fantômas with Mike Patton (Faith No More/Mr. Bungle) who is also owner of Ipecac Recordings the label the melvins are currently releasing material through. He also played guitar in the hardcore/grind "supergroup" Venomous Concept, featuring members/former members of Napalm Death and Brutal Truth (also released through Ipecac).

Dale filled in for Nirvana when they were between drummers, he appears on Incesticide and Bleach as a result of those sessions. Dale has two major side projects one called Altamont in which he sings and plays guitar. The other he drums in and is known as PORN (The Men Of) or just PORN.

Melvins have toured with KISS, White Zombie, NIN, L7, Primus, Tool, and Rush, among others and were also on the Ozzfest tour in 98. They toured with a second guitarist at one point David Scott Stone (a great noisician). Former bassist Kevin Rutmanis (1998 - early 2005) used to be in the band Cows, he was also in another Mike Patton project along with Duane Denison of the Jesus Lizard called Tomahawk. If you ever get the chance to see them live be sure to give them gifts, they prefer Cracker Barrel gift certificates.

Songs which the Melvins have covered

A

Artist- The Accused
Song-   Reagan's War Puppets
Album-  (live, 1986)

Artist- AC/DC
Song-   Sin City
Album-  (live, 1985)

Artist- Allman Brothers Band
Song-   Whipping Post
Album-  (live, 2001) [NB: Dale sang some of the chorus after 'With Teeth']

Artist- The Angels (aka Angel City)
Song-   (I) Can't Shake It
Album-  Gearhead #8; split 7" with Cosmic Psychos

B

Artist- Joan Baez; Judas Preist
Song-   Diamonds and Rust
Album-  (live, 19??)

Artist- The Beatles
Song-   I Want To Hold Your Hand
Album-  (live, 2004-05)

Artist- The Beatles
Song-   Medley of 'I Am The Walrus'/'Revolution #9'...
Album-  WMPG Radio show, 1999

Artist- Black Flag
Song-   I've Got To Run
Album-  (live, 1992)

Artist- Black Flag
Song-   Six Pack
Album-  (live, 1986)

Artist- Black Sabbath
Song-   Symptom of the Universe
Album-  H.I.V. Groupie Hits (Melvins/Mudhoney split 7" bootleg)

Artist- Black Sabbath
Song-   Into The Void
Album-  (live, 1993)

Artist- Black Sabbath
Song-   Iron Man
Album-  (live, 1985-86; WMPG Radio show - 1999)

Artist- Black Sabbath
Song-   Tommorrow's Dream
Album-  (live, 1986)

Artist- Blue Cheer
Song-   Out Of Focus 
Album-  (live, 199?)

Artist- Blue Cheer (orig. by Mose Allison)
Song-   Parchment Farm
Album-  (live, 1992)

Artist- Cher; Nancy Sinatra, etc (orig. by Sonny Bono)
Song-   Bang, Bang
Album-  (live, 1985)

Artist- Butthole Surfers
Song-   Cherub 
Album-  (live, 2000+)

C

Artist- John Cage
Song-   4'33 
Album-  Shit Sandwich 7"

Artist- The Cars
Song-   Candy-O 
Album-  Ozma (CD version)

Artist- The Cars
Song-   Just What I Needed 
Album-  (live, 1991)

Artist- The Champs 
Song-   Tequila
Album-  (live - 2000 [NB: They opened every show on the tour with this song, as part of a bet]

Artist- Cheap Trick
Song-   Surrender 
Album-  (live, 19??)

Artist- Clown Alley
Song-   Theme 
Album-  Singles 1-12; Tanx/Tanks bootleg [Peel Session, 1990]

Artist- Alice Cooper
Song-   Second Coming/Ballad of Dwight Fry
Album-  Lysol

Artist- Alice Cooper
Song-   Halo Of Flies
Album-  (live, 2001+); Sieg Howdy [w-Jello Biafra]

Artist- Alice Cooper
Song-   Return Of The Spiders
Album-  HAT Singles [NB: All instruments & vocals on this song by Dale]

Artist- The Cows
Song-   (I'm) Missing 
Album-  Eletroretard

Artist- Cream
Song-   Deserted Cities of the Heart
Album-  (live, 2005+)

D

Artist- Dead Kennedys
Song-   California Über Alles ['Kali-förnia Über Alles 21st Century (live)']
Album-  live; Sieg Howdy [w-Jello Biafra]

Artist- Dead Kennedys
Song-   Chemical Warfare
Album-  (live, 2005 [w-Jello Biafra])

Artist- Dead Kennedys
Song-   Drug Me
Album-  (live, 2002 [w-Jello Biafra])

Artist- Dead Kennedys
Song-   Holiday In Cambodia
Album-  (live, 2002 [w-Jello Biafra])

Artist- Dead Kennedys
Song-   I Am The Owl
Album-  (live, 2002 [w-Jello Biafra])

Artist- Dead Kennedys
Song-   Life Sentence
Album-  (live, 2002 [w-Jello Biafra])

Artist- Dead Kennedys
Song-   Moon Over Marin
Album-  (live, 2002 [w-Jello Biafra])

F

Artist- Fleetwood Mac
Song-   The Green Manalishi (with The Two-Pronged Crown)
Album-  The Maggot

Artist- Flipper
Song-   Sacrifice
Album-  Lysol

Artist- Flipper
Song-   Love Canal
Album-  Love Canal/Someday 5"

Artist- Flipper
Song-   Someday 
Album-  Love Canal/Someday 5"

Artist- Flipper
Song-   Way of the World
Album-  Singles 1-12; Tanx/Tanks bootleg [Peel Session, 1990]

G

Artist- The Germs
Song-   Lexicon Devil
Album - A Small Circle of Friends (Tribute to the Germs); Lizzy CD Single; Singles 1-12

Artist- Green River
Song-   Leech
Album-  Gluey Porch Treatments; Singles 1-12; Tanx

Artist- Gun Club
Song-   Promise Me
Album-  HAT Singles

H

Artist- Merle Haggard
Song-   Okie From Muskogee
Album-  The Crybaby [w-Hank Williams III & Henry Bogdan]

J

Artist- Jesus Lizard
Song-   Blockbuster 
Album-  The Crybaby [w-David Yow]

Artist- Jesus Lizard
Song-   Chrome 
Album-  (live, 2005+ [w-David Yow])

K

Artist- Kiss
Song-   Cold Gin
Album-  (live, 1986)

Artist- Kiss
Song-   Goin' Blind {'Going Blind']
Album-  Houdini

Artist- Kiss
Song-   God Of Thunder
Album-  Hard To Believe: A Tribute To Kiss

Artist- Kiss
Song-   Firehouse
Album-  (live, 1986)

Artist- Kiss
Song-   Makin' Love
Album-  (live, 1985)

Artist- Kiss
Song-   Living in Sin
Album-  Ozma [NB: This is the intro to 'Creepy Smell']

Artist- Kiss
Song-   Love Theme from Kiss ['Love Thing']
Album-  Ozma

Artist- Kiss
Song-   Rip It Out
Album-  (live only, 1985-86)

Artist- Kiss
Song-   She
Album-  (live, 1992)

Artist- Kyuss
Song-   Freedom Run
Album-  (live, The Kennel Club, San Francisco, 7th May 1993)

L

Artist- Led Zepellin
Song-   Dazed & Confused
Album-  WRIU Radio Show Soundcheck, 1995

Artist- Lewd
Song-   Trash Can Baby
Album-  (live, 19??) 

M

Artist- Malfunkshun
Song-   With Yo' Heart, Not Yo' Hands
Album-  With Yo' Heart, Not Yo' Hands 7"

Artist- MC5
Song-   Rocket Reducer #62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa)
Album-  Lizzy CD Single; Houdini LP

Artist- MC5
Song-   Poison
Album-  Singles 1-12; Wayne Kramer - The Hard Stuff

Artist- Montrose
Song-   I've Got The Fire
Album-  (live, 1990)

Artist- Ennio Morricone
Song-   Magic & Ecstasy
Album-  (live, 19??)

Artist- Mott The Hoople
Song-   Rock 'N' Roll Queen
Album-  (live, 1993)

Artist- Mott The Hoople
Song-   Jerkin' Crokus
Album-  HAT Singles

Artist- Mudhoney
Song-   Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More 
Album-  Melvins/Steel Pole Bathtub split 7"/12"

N

Artist- Nirvana
Song-   Smells Like Teen Spirit 
Album-  The Crybaby [w-Leif Garrett]
 
Artist- Ted Nugent
Song-   Stranglehold
Album-  (live, 1994)

P

Artist- Pink Floyd
Song-   Interstellar Overdrive 
Album-  Interstellar Overdrive 10"; Electroretard

Artist- Pink Floyd
Song-   The Nile Song 
Album-  (live only - 1991)

Artist- Pussy Galore
Song-   Adolescent Wet Dream
Album-  Night Goat 7"

R

Artist- The Ramones
Song-   Today, Your Love...Tomorrow, The World
Album-  HAT Singles

Artist- Helen Reddy
Song-   I Am Woman
Album-  (live only - 198?)

Artist- The Ronsons
Song-   Butcher Town
Album-  Sawed Off 7" [w-Pat Fear]

Artist- The Ronsons
Song-   You'll Be Taken Care Of
Album-  Sawed Off 7" [w-Pat Fear]

Q

Artist- Queen
Song-   Now I'm Here
Album-  (live, 2000)

S

Artist- Stooges
Song-   Down On The Street
Album-  (live, 19??)

Artist- Stooges
Song-   Loose
Album-  (live, 1985-92)

T

Artist- Throbbing Gristle
Song-   Dreammachine ['Track 5']
Album-  In Formation: A Tribute to Throbbing Gristle

Artist- (Traditional)
Song-   Amazing Grace
Album-  (live, 1997) [NB: This was hummed at the beginning of every show on this tour]

Artist- T-Rex 
Song-   Buick MacKane
Album-  Great Jewish Music: Marc Bolan Tribute

Artist- The Tubes
Song-   White Punks On Dope
Album-  HAT Singles [NB: They play this after 'Arny' but it's still listed as the same track]

V

Artist- Velvet Underground
Song-   Venus In Furs
Album-  Melvins/Nirvana split 7"

Artist- The Ventures
Song-   Hawaii 5-0
Album-  (live/rehearsal only, 19??)

W

Artist- Warlock Pinchers
Song-   Arnie
Album-  HAT Singles

Artist- The Who
Song-   My Generation
Album-  (live, 2008/09 Tour)

Artist- Hank Williams
Song-   Ramblin' Man 
Album-  The Crybaby [w-Hank Williams III & Henry Bogdan]

Artist- Wesley Willis
Song-   Rock N' Roll McDonalds 
Album-  (live, 2005 [w-Jello Biafra])

Artist- Wings
Song-   Let Me Roll It
Album-  (live, May 2009 - 25th Anniversary Tour)

Artist- Wipers
Song-   Youth Of America
Album-  Electroretard 

Y

Artist- Neil Young
Song-   Rockin' In The Free World 
Album-  (live, 1990ish)

Z

Artist- ZZ Top
Song-   Nasty Dogs & Funky Kings
Album-  Singles 1-12 [Originally recorded live, 1994]