ALBUM FEATURES SIX BASS PLAYERS INCLUDING NIRVANA’S KRIST NOVOSELIC, REDD KROSS’ STEVE MCDONALD AND BUTTHOLE SURFERS’ J.D. PINKUS

March 7, 2016, Camelback Ranch, Ariz. – The Melvins, who have a history of imaginative line-up changes, feature not one, but six different bass players on their appropriately titled new album, Basses Loaded (June 3, Ipecac Recordings).

The collection features Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover joined by Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic, Redd Kross’ Steve McDonald, Butthole Surfers’ J.D. Pinkus, Big Business’ Jared Warren, Mr. Bungle/Fantomas’ Trevor Dunn (aka Melvins Lite) and Crover swapping the drum kit for bass in the Melvins 1983 iteration. The album’s nod to baseball, and the inclusion of the band’s own version of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” is a natural one, with Buzz and Dale often spotted at games across the country.

Osborne discusses the new album, as well as the band’s forthcoming Mike & The Melvins’ release, Three Men and a Baby (April 1, Sub Pop), in an interview with Rolling Stone (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-a-track-from-melvins-thudtastic-basses-loaded-20160307). New song “Hideous Woman” streams alongside the piece.

Basses Loaded track listing (bass player in parentheses):

1. The Decay of Lying (Steve McDonald)
2. Choco Plumbing (Jared Warren)
3. Beer Hippie (Dale Crover, aka Melvins 1983 line-up)
4. I Want To Tell You (Steve McDonald)
5. Captain Come Down (JD Pinkus)
6. Hideous Woman (Steve McDonald)
7. Shaving Cream (Dale Crover, aka Melvins 1983 line-up)
8. Planet Distructo (Trevor Dunn, aka Melvins Lite line-up)
9. War Pussy (Steve McDonald)
10. Maybe I Am Amused (Krist Novoselic)
11. Phyllis Dillard (Dale Crover, aka Melvins 1983 line-up)
12. Take Me Out To The Ballgame (Dale Crover, aka Melvins 1983 line-up)

Photo credit: Mackie Osborne

The Melvins (Buzz, Dale and Steve McDonald) launch a North American tour, followed by a European outing, later this month (North American co-headlining dates with Napalm Death, and Melt Banana opening, begin March 26). Dates are:

March 12 Las Vegas, NV Neon Reverb Music Festival
March 19 San Jose, CA The Ritz
March 20 Sacramento, CA The Boardwalk
March 22 Pioneertown Pappy & Harriet’s
March 23 Fullerton, CA The Continental Room
March 24 San Diego, CA The Casbah
March 26 Tempe, AZ The Marquee
March 28 Albuqerque, NM Sunshine Theater
March 30 Dallas, TX Tree’s
March 31 Austin, TX Mohawk
April 1 Houston, TX Numbers
April 2 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jack’s
April 3 Birmingham, AL Iron City
April 4 Pensacola, FL Vinyl Music Hall
April 5 Tallahassee, FL Sidebar Theatre
April 7 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
April 8 Orlando, FL The Plaza Live
April 9 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
April 10 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
April 12 Washington, DC 930 Club
April 13 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts
April 14 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg SOLD OUT
April 15 New York, NY Webster Hall
April 16 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
April 17 Montreal, QC Club Soda
April 19 Toronto, ON The Opera House
April 20 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre
April 21 Cleveland, OH Agora Ballroom
April 22 Chicago, IL The Metro
April 23 Milwaukee, WI The Rave II (Downstairs)
April 24 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
April 25 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room
April 27 Denver, Co Ogden Theatre
April 29 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
May 1 Seattle, WA The Showbox
May 2 Vancouver, BC Venue
May 3 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
May 5 San Francisco, CA Slim’s
May 6 San Francisco, CA Slim’s
May 7 Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour SOLD OUT
May 8 Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour SOLD OUT
May 9 Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour (Dead Cross play instead of Melt Banana)

June 3 -5 Bristol, UK Temples Festival
June 17 Clisson, France Hellfest

-30-

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I just got to see the most punk show I’ve ever seen. This past weekend I saw the Murder Junkies at The Foundry in Lakewood, OH (just outside of Cleveland).

We took our time getting to the club—there were 6 opening bands. The Murder Junkies merch table was right inside the door, and Merle Allin was there working it like a boss. I went up and shook his hand, told him that I appreciate him, and that it was my first Murder Junkies show. I’ve been talking with him and buying stuff from him on Facebook for a while now, and he recognized who I was. He was very cool. Here’s the thing about Merle: he’s really nice, and surprisingly normal. Why is it so surprising? He’s the brother of GG Allin . . . enough said, haha.

We ordered burgers from the bar (which were amazing), had some beers and sat through the opening bands. I went up to the bar to get another beer, and there was Murder Junkies drummer Dino Sex. I went up next to him and said, “Dino!” I shook his hand, and he smiled at me. I offered to buy him a beer, but he said, “No, I play sober, or else I’d f**k everything up.” I felt like I could have talked to him for a while, but I didn’t want to interrupt what seemed to be a very peaceful moment for the man.

We hung out for hours, and finally the final opening band finished. That’s when I really started getting excited. During the final opening band, Dino was pacing around the room nonstop. We went up closer to the stage and enjoyed the insanity of the Murder Junkies. They were the best sounding band of the night, and also had the most talent and obvious tenure in the scene.

I was initially surprised that Dino didn’t perform naked@mdash;he was in boxers. But then I realized it was an all-ages show, and there were at least two girls there who might have been 12 years old at the most. I’m sure legal considerations were discussed. However, at the end of the show, the young girls were hurried out as Dino performed his traditional end-of-show antics. If you don’t know what they are, I’m not going to tell you. Look it up.

I can’t wait to see them again.

I shot a couple pics and videos on my phone, but I really wasn’t concerned with doing that kind of thing. Most of the night, I was just enjoying the show. Check out what I got: a pic of the full band, and a pic of Dino during his end-of-set drum solo (which rocked). I also posted a video with a couple clips: a snippet of their opening song “17 Dead,” and a few minutes of the aforementioned drum solo.

I was a huge White Zombie fan in the 90’s. And I still love their music. But when I found out that I could sign up for Psychoholics Anonymous, the White Zombie fan club, I was all for it. And I was hooked up with a lot of really cool swag. I really loved the crazy newsletter they sent me — I present you with scans of the brilliance here (warning: they’re hi-resolution big files!). You’ll see the cover, all the inner panels, the rear cover, and then the full poster on the flipside that it folds out into. An amazing part of my collection.

Thanks to Rob Zombie, who truly understands what fans want.

Even though I recorded and mixed this song within about 2 hours, I’ve been messing with the bass line for years and finally gave it a home. I hope you enjoy.

I wrote an recorded this song in about 2 hours while I was living in an apartment in another city before I married my beautiful bride. It sounds like the theme to an 80’s drama/crime/sitcom or something.

Over three years ago, I recorded this interpretation of a song written by Robbie Robertson, and made popular by the Grateful Dead. It’s “Broken Arrow.”

In my latest random video, I talk about The Amazing Spider-Man Lizard Sewer Speeder from Megabloks.

I’ve posted a couple more random videos recently, and have recorded 2 more that are set to go out soon. I hope you enjoy!

While you’re at it, you could subscribe to my Youtube channel to keep up with all the things that I come up with. I’d appreciate it!

I posted a video last night that is outside my normal horror/music stuff, but fun nonetheless. Some weird toys I picked up at Ollie’s.

This just came out today as I was playing around. Download the mp3.