Interview by Janel Spiegel
Interview with King Buzzo (Buzz Osborne) (the MELVINS)
Melvins 1983 “Thunderball” will be released April 18, Ipecac Recordings
I cannot quite describe the feelings I had when I found out I would actually be doing an interview for The Valley Ledger with King (Buzz Osbourne) Buzzo of the Melvins. A band that has had a prominent place in music since 1983. Right now the Melvins are the Melvins, and the Melvins of 1983.
King Buzzo worked with the original drummer, Mike Dillard. The Melvins are made up of: Dale Crover, Steven Shane McDonald, and of course the one and only Buzz Osborne. The tour dates feature (all 58 of ‘em) Buzz Osborne, Dale Crover, Steven McDonald, and Coady Willis. The Melvins have a four-decade career, and have inspired many bands. Joining the Melvins on tour will be: Napalm Death, Weedeater, Titan To Tachyons featuring Mr. Bungle’s Trevor Dunn, The Hard-Ons with Jerry A, and Shane Embury’s Dark Sky Burial. There are not enough words to describe the unrelentless feeling of JOY I had to be able to do this interview. I rambled through it, and here is what the one and only King Buzzo had to say for The Valley Ledger.
TVL- Hi Buzz, how are you doing?
Buzz- I’m alright. How about you?
TVL- I’m doing okay. We are having a wild thunderstorm here in Pennsylvania.
Buzz- Oh, that sounds crazy.
TVL- It sounds good though. The thunder and lightning.
Buzz- Pennsylvania… Isn’t that right next to Transylvania?!
TVL- That sounds about right. It kind of feels like that some times.
Buzz- Good deal.
TVL- Do you get excited when you go on tour?
Buzz- I like it. It’s part of the deal. It doesn’t bother me. I like playing music, and making records, and all the aspects of it. Not everyday is fun but mostly it’s fine. It’s a weird way to make a living but I make the most of it, and do my best.
TVL- I saw the Melvins, and I saw you and Trevor Dunn perform with JD Pinkus opening up.
Buzz- Oh yeah.
TVL- It’s an amazing experience to be at a Melvins concert. How do you feel when you are performing? What goes through your mind?
Buzz- It doesn’t matter where I’m playing, I’m thinking the same kind of thing. I’m trying to do the best I can, and I want to get through the songs without making too many mistakes.
TVL- What can you tell us about the album?
Buzz- Well, it’s a record with me and the original drummer, Mike Dillard. We have the regular Melvins, and then the Melvin of 1983, I write songs specifically for Mike Dillard [the drummer] to play. It’s interesting, and it’s fun to come up with stuff that we can play. This is the third album we’ve done with this line-up of new material. It’s always a treat, and I love having the opportunity to do this.
TVL- Every time I see one a Melvins show, it’s like watching a mad scientist at work.
Buzz- Wow. That’s nice.
TVL- I’m rambling… but the music has always meant a lot to me. What would you want to say to everyone that will be coming to the shows?
Buzz- Where are you at?
TVL- Allentown, Pennsylvania, The Archer Music Hall.
Buzz- Oh Allentown, yeah. We will be playing there with Trevor Dunn’s band, and Napalm Death, and I’m looking forward to that. We toured with Napalm Death in 2016, and I think they are a great band… super nice guys. I am also looking forward to having the Hard-Ons with us on tour. We have three different bands that everybody is going to enjoy, and I think it will be a great night of fun music. Exciting stuff happening.
TVL- I love Fantomas, the work you have done with Mike Patton, and Trevor Dunn. Is there anyone you would want to work with?
Buzz- Oh God, I don’t know. That’s hard to decide.
TVL- What is the process for you to make an album?
Buzz- Well, we have a lot of albums, over thirty albums so, I like to change things up a bit if I can. I’ll write songs, and then try and figure out if I have enough to put a record together. I have a lot of riffs but they are not finished. I’m always writing stuff and working on material so; it’s a never-ending process for me.
TVL- Any advice or words of wisdom for fellow musicians and songwriters.
Buzz- Work at least as hard on it as any other job you would do.
TVL- Thank you so much, Buzz. Thank you making music, and taking the time to talk to me.
Buzz- Thanks so much.
https://themelvins.lnk.to/Thunderball
https://www.facebook.com/hardons/
https://www.archermusichall.com/
