Chris Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets Interview December 6. 2016 at Premier Studios in Phoenix, Az.
Summary
TLDRIn this transcript, Chris Kirkwood, bass player of the Meat Puppets, shares his musical journey, starting from his early life in Arizona to his current involvement in the local music scene. He discusses the formation of the band, their influences, and the evolution of their music over the years. Kirkwood also reflects on the impact of their collaboration with Nirvana and their place in the Arizona music legacy, highlighting the significance of home and the enduring love for music that drives him.
Takeaways
- 🎶 Chris Kirkwood, a bass player from the Meat Puppets, shares his musical journey starting in Arizona.
- 🏠 Born in Texas, Chris moved to Arizona at a young age and grew up in Phoenix, influenced by his family's involvement in horse racing.
- 🎵 Chris's early musical interests included the banjo, inspired by the film 'Deliverance', and he took lessons at McLarty's Music.
- 🎹 Despite having lessons in guitar and piano, Chris found his true passion in the banjo and later the bass guitar.
- 🌟 The Meat Puppets' formation was a natural progression from Chris and his brother Kurt's shared musical interests and their meeting with Derek Bostrom.
- 🎤 The band's name, Meat Puppets, originated from a song written by Chris's brother, Kurt, and its open-ended nature resonated with them.
- 📈 The Meat Puppets' musical style evolved over time, influenced by various genres including punk rock, bluegrass, and indigenous musics.
- 🔥 The band gained national attention after being invited to perform with Nirvana on MTV Unplugged, which significantly boosted their popularity.
- 🎷 Chris reflects on the Meat Puppets' longevity and how their music has matured while still chasing the same passion for expression.
- 🏙️ Despite touring and traveling, Chris feels a strong connection to Arizona, considering it home and an integral part of the band's identity.
- 🎖️ The Meat Puppets' induction into the Arizona Hall of Fame is a testament to their contributions to the local music scene and their ongoing influence.
Q & A
What is Chris Kirkwood's role in the Meat Puppets?
-Chris Kirkwood is the bass player of the Meat Puppets.
Where was Chris Kirkwood born and when did he move to Arizona?
-Chris Kirkwood was born in Texas and moved to Arizona around 1965 when he was pretty young.
What was Chris Kirkwood's family's connection to the Thoroughbred circuit in the Southwest?
-Chris Kirkwood's mother's second husband was a furrier by trade and a horseshoeer, and they were on the Thoroughbred circuit in the Southwest, which led them to settle in Arizona near Turf Paradise.
Which school did Chris Kirkwood and his brother Kurt attend from first through eighth grade?
-Chris Kirkwood and his brother Kurt attended Royal Palm school from first through eighth grade.
What high school did Chris Kirkwood start attending in 1974?
-Chris Kirkwood started attending Brophy College Prep in 1974.
What musical instrument caught Chris Kirkwood's interest after watching the film 'Deliverance'?
-After watching the film 'Deliverance', the banjo caught Chris Kirkwood's interest.
How did Chris Kirkwood's early experiences with music lessons influence his approach to learning music?
-Chris Kirkwood's early experiences with music lessons, including guitar and piano lessons, were not very engaging for him. However, these experiences influenced his approach to learning music by making him realize the importance of self-teaching and practice, as he eventually became interested in the banjo and taught himself to play it.
What was the significance of the moment Chris Kirkwood had while practicing the banjo?
-The moment Chris Kirkwood had while practicing the banjo was significant because it was a breakthrough for him in understanding the mechanics of music and realizing his ability to teach himself. It was an eye-opening experience that made him appreciate the creation of music and the instruments used to produce it.
How did the Meat Puppets band start?
-The Meat Puppets band started when Chris Kirkwood, his brother Kurt, and their friend Derek Bostrom began playing music together. They found a unique connection and intoxicating energy when they played as a trio, which marked the beginning of their band.
What was the impact of Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance on the Meat Puppets' popularity?
-Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance had a significant impact on the Meat Puppets' popularity. Kurt Cobain invited Chris and Kurt Kirkwood to perform with Nirvana on the show, which led to increased exposure for the Meat Puppets. After Kurt Cobain's death, the Unplugged performance was released as an album, further propelling the Meat Puppets into the spotlight.
What does Chris Kirkwood enjoy most about playing music?
-Chris Kirkwood enjoys the feel of playing music and the experience of letting the music play through him. He loves the sense of discovery and the joy that comes from playing and connecting with music, which has kept him passionate about his craft throughout his career.
Outlines
🎶 Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Chris Kirkwood, bass player of the Meat Puppets, shares his early life experiences and the journey into his musical career. Born in Texas, Chris moved to Arizona at a young age and grew up in Phoenix. His family's involvement in horse racing led them to settle in the area. Chris attended local schools and was introduced to various musical instruments as a child, including the banjo, which sparked his interest in music. He reminisces about his first banjo and the influence of the film 'A Clockwork Orange' and 'Deliverance' on his musical preferences.
🎸 Transition from Banjo to Bass
Chris discusses his transition from playing the banjo to the bass. Despite initial challenges, he persisted and eventually mastered the instrument, influenced by the bluegrass music he enjoyed. His interest in the bass was sparked by its simpler design compared to the banjo. At the age of 15 or 16, he financed a Fender Jazz Bass through a music store and began taking lessons as part of the agreement. These lessons provided a foundational understanding of the instrument, which he built upon independently.
🎤 Forming the Meat Puppets and Early Influences
The formation of the Meat Puppets band is described, along with the early influences on Chris and his brother Kurt. Through a mutual friend, they met Derek Bostrom, who played drums in a unique style. The trio began playing together, and their chemistry was evident, leading to the official start of the band around late 1979. Chris also talks about his diverse musical tastes, ranging from bluegrass to indigenous music, and how these influenced his approach to playing and the band's sound.
🌟 Encounters with Nirvana and the MTV Unplugged Session
Chris recounts the Meat Puppets' interactions with Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, including their touring experiences and the iconic MTV Unplugged session. He describes how Cobain wanted to perform Meat Puppets' songs during the session, leading to Chris and Kurt joining Nirvana on stage. This collaboration had a significant impact on the band's visibility and popularity. Chris also reflects on the aftermath of Cobain's death and the release of the Unplugged performance as an album.
🎵 The Evolution of a Song: 'Lake of Fire'
Chris discusses the evolution of the song 'Lake of Fire,' from its initial conception by his brother Kurt to its widespread popularity after being covered by Nirvana. He shares his experiences of hearing the song for the first time, recording it, and performing it live. The song's impact is highlighted by the numerous covers and adaptations by fans worldwide, showcasing its enduring legacy in music culture.
🎶 The Origin of the Name 'Meat Puppets' and Early Performances
The story behind the band's name, 'Meat Puppets,' is shared, originating from a song written by Chris's brother Kurt. The name's open-ended nature appealed to them. Chris also talks about the band's early performances, which were mostly at house parties before they played at actual venues. The punk rock scene in Phoenix and Los Angeles played a significant role in the band's early success, with connections made through Derek's networking leading to opportunities in LA.
🎸 Personal Growth and Current Involvements
Chris reflects on his personal growth as a musician and the changes in the Meat Puppets' music over the years. He discusses the band's ability to play a diverse range of songs from their extensive discography and the physical changes that come with age. Chris also talks about his current involvement in the local music scene, including producing for young bands and working with Tom Lopez's label, Slope Records. His commitment to supporting the next generation of musicians is evident, as is his love for his home in Arizona.
🏆 Arizona Hall of Fame Induction and Love for Phoenix
Chris expresses his gratitude for the Meat Puppets' induction into the Arizona Hall of Fame, acknowledging the support of the Phoenix arts community. He shares his deep connection to Arizona and Phoenix, emphasizing the band's identity as an Arizona-based group. Despite the changes the city has undergone, Chris remains rooted in his home, appreciating the local culture and landscape. He also mentions his brother Kurt's longing for Arizona, highlighting the importance of home for both band members.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Meat Puppets
💡Arizona
💡Bass Player
💡Musical Influences
💡Punk Rock
💡Banjo
💡Self-Taught
💡Indigenous Musics
💡MTV Unplugged
💡Kurt Cobain
💡SST Records
Highlights
Chris Kirkwood, bass player of the Meat Puppets, shares his musical journey.
Kirkwood's family moved to Arizona when he was young, influenced by his mother's second husband's trade and the Thoroughbred circuit.
He attended various schools in Phoenix, including Rancho Solano kindergarten and Royal Palm grade school.
Kirkwood and his brother Kurt, the guitarist of the Meat Puppets, both went to Brophy College Prep.
The brothers' musical interests were shaped by their experiences, such as watching 'A Clockwork Orange' and 'Deliverance'.
Kirkwood's initial musical interest was the banjo, inspired by a scene from 'Deliverance'.
He took banjo lessons and eventually developed a strong interest in the instrument.
Kirkwood transitioned from the banjo to the bass, finding it a natural progression.
He bought a Fender Jazz Bass, which became a significant part of his musical identity.
Kirkwood's early influences included bluegrass, indigenous musics, and jazz.
The Meat Puppets were formed in the late 1970s, with Kirkwood, Kurt, and Derek Bostrom.
The band's name, Meat Puppets, came from a song Kirk wrote.
Kirkwood reflects on the evolution of the band's music and their place in the punk rock scene.
The Meat Puppets' music was influenced by a variety of genres, including punk rock and the Grateful Dead.
Kirkwood discusses the band's relationship with Nirvana and their performance on MTV Unplugged.
He shares his thoughts on the importance of music education and the joy of playing music.
Kirkwood expresses his love for Arizona and its influence on the Meat Puppets' music.
He talks about his involvement in the local music scene and his excitement for upcoming bands.
Transcripts
all right uh hello my name is Chris
Kirkwood I'm a bass player of the Meat
Puppets
and uh I'm from Arizona
um
not really from Arizona officially I
wasn't born here I was born in Texas but
wound up in Arizona I think about 65 I
was pretty young when we got here
and we wound up in Phoenix because my
mother Vera's second husband
was uh a furrier by trade a horseshoeer
and
we were on the on the Thoroughbred
circuit in the Southwest
and wound up here pretty much because of
Turf Paradise
in a way and then eventually wound up
with our own thoroughbreds wind up with
a
uh
our own
stalls down there you know had our own
Paddock whatever it's called down there
our own batch of stalls and everything
down at Turf Paradise
and we wound up moving to
Sunnyslope grew up right on the corner
then on the uh
northeast corner of 15th Avenue and
Butler so
so that meant that let's see by the time
I got here I was young enough I actually
went to
Rancho Solano kindergarten up on Dunlap
and then I started grade school and I
went from first through eighth grade to
Royal Palm
on 19th and Butler
and uh
and so did my brother go to Royal Palm
as well my brother Kurt who's the guitar
player in the Meat Puppets and
let's see then
I started High School
in 74 and I would have because of where
I lived gone to Sunnyslope but mom
thought
she would prefer us to go to Brophy so
Kurt and I both went to
Brophy College Prep on Central and both
of us graduated from there
and uh I want to before I actually
started Brophy Kurt at an assignment
to read Clockwork Orange by Anthony
Burgess and right around that time the
film had come out the Stanley Kubrick
film the same name and the uh
the folks at Brophy when it was one of
his teachers his English teacher I would
assume it had
suggested that if everybody wanted to
they could go see
uh the new new clock recordings the film
so Mom took Kurt and I to see A
Clockwork Orange and it was back when
they had double features in the uh the
other film playing along with it was
Deliverance
so
at the time I was about 12 I think at
that point and uh
they had that scene in there in
Deliverance you know speaking of Music
they had the scene in there where the
kid comes out you know the
the the the hillbilly kid you know and
plays little banjo there with Ronnie Cox
you know remember that sequence and and
I was just Smitten by the banjo at that
point you know and I said about getting
a banjo got one
up at uh McLarty music
in Sunnyslope so and I still have that
banjo oddly enough considering you know
how
easy it is to
lose things and I still have that that
same banjo and I wrote on it as a kid
close your mouth because they should sit
there practicing with my tongue hanging
out you know
just kind of charming considering still
have it
um and before that
I'd uh I had guitar lessons as a kid
and the guy would actually come to the
house her instructor and I just didn't
like it it didn't take
you know I wasn't that interested in it
and uh then I took piano lessons and
that was up at mclarty's as well and I
kind of like that a little bit more but
I wasn't you know that dedicated to it
definitely and I liked the instructor
there he was an older gentleman
and uh he would uh
he would kind of get tired during our
lessons you know it actually nod off you
know because he was kind of elderly so
I'd sit there and I'd be playing and I'd
notice it was nodding off so I could
play a little quieter and then I'd stop
you know as you sat there and then you
kind of come to and I'd be like ding
ding you know because I didn't really
practice that that much so that I didn't
take either but the banjo actually
caught my my interest you know I was
taking some lessons up at McLarty and my
instructor whose name I can't remember
unfortunately uh would record
the lessons on cassette and I would take
them home and it was a Bluegrass banjo
that I was playing
you know where you use a thumb pick and
then two two finger picks and there's a
lot of in bluegrass bands there's a lot
of pull-ons or pull-offs and roll-ons
and stuff you know
and the hammer ons that kind of thing
and and then there's also that Grace
note it's five-string banjo you know and
playing it practicing
it was a little difficult you know to
get it to I mean it was just tough but I
I stuck at it
and
you know I listen to his versions of how
the song's supposed to go and then sit
there and do it but plucking along at
first it didn't sound like anything it
was kind of disjointed in a way you know
where you're like I mean I mean it
wasn't quite making sense and then just
one day and I mean I clearly really
clearly remember this moment
because it was just I turned out to be
so influential in my whole life
um where I was sitting there and I'd
been practicing it for a while I've been
playing it for quite a while I mean you
know six months at least or something
and just all of a sudden it went mainly
me you know and the combination of like
the hammer on and the pull-off and the
gray snow and everything went you know
instead of musical and I suddenly
realized okay this is how this works and
it just blew my head open in a way you
know like at that moment it was just
like wow you know it made me realize
so much like about myself you know the
ability to teach yourself things other
you know how your mind works in a way
and about other people you know people's
desire to play music they're
having created these types of musics you
know how musics come out of certain
regions and people needed to make noise
a certain kind of you know certain Noise
music and and actually create these
instruments to do it with and and it was
just a real eye-opener you know really
really kind of knocked my socks off
and
I kept doing that for a while played the
banjo and I still do
for a few more years there
and then at a point
I started thinking that bases look neat
so
um
I said about getting a base I decided
you know that it just seemed like you
know having played the banjo using my
fingers like that that would be kind of
a natural progression to go over the
base playing it like that like a lot of
players do and
and they were only four strings on it
which is a plus
and they were thicker and farther apart
you know just it just seemed like I
would be able to kind of you know pick
it up relatively easily and I just I
just thought they were neat looking I
just thought they were cool looking
you know just kind of taken by that and
uh
wound up getting a base out at Arizona
Music Center on Glendale
and uh
part of the
uh what was it the finance agreement I
financed the thing I was probably about
then I was about 15 I think 15 maybe
close to 16. uh part of the you know
when I finance the guitar through the
through the shop
uh and
it was uh it was a jazz base that I
wound up with I was actually kind of
taken with the music man that had come
out at that point you know Leo Fender's
company that he just gotten off the
ground at that point and I thought those
bases were real neat and I had my eye on
this one Sunburst cool looking guitar
and when I went in to get it the
salesman and you know told me well this
other one's gonna have more resale value
you know and I didn't even click at all
I was like whatever you know like kind
of got bamboos a little bit
guy wanted to unload this jazz bass so I
wound up getting a Fender Jazz Bass
instead
um you know and realize that it waits
resale I mean like I'll stop doing this
and then I can sell it later and it'll
have more you know be worth more but
it you know and that influenced like the
way I play and everything who knows what
would happen if I got in that other
music man instead of that one at that
point I eventually wound up getting one
few years later but so I got this Jazz
base and part of the uh
the uh
finance agreement was that uh I would
take lessons
from an instructor there at the shop
so I did I had and and he still teaches
in town Royal Tapia and uh I think he
still gives lessons over at Ziggy's I
saw him just a few years ago still
around
and it was real real helpful that was
actually really really helpful and it
was kind of like supposedly like jazz
improv lessons or something but I mean
it didn't get that far I didn't you know
to the point that I could improvise on
Jazz other than like you know saying
that I could and but uh
he taught me like the neck you know I
learned all the notes you know learned
like one four five kind of stuff you
know some real simple stuff
that just kind of was foundational
and uh I took that as for that was
probably about I think like maybe three
months that I took lessons and then I
just kind of struck out on my own with
the instrument
and uh
all through all that my brother Kurt had
kind of been playing the guitar
so and we weren't all that close like we
didn't you know I mean we did stuff
together definitely we were close we
shared our bedroom you know but I mean
it was for sure my big brother usually
going to big brother that would like
unscrew the light bulb and then reach
out from under the bed and grab me by
the ankle you know I was just like
horrifying you know kind of a uh big
brother he's 22 months older than me
so we did stuff but we weren't you know
tight and there was never any like you
know we want to be in a band you know we
want to you know let's form a band
together we there was never anything
like that but he'd been playing guitar
kind of all along you know he took a
like Bebop lessons up at mclarty's music
you know and I think uh show McLarty I
think it was well Mr McLarty uh had been
a contemporary of like Barney Kessel and
guys like that you know so Kirk got a
little bit of a background and
and Bebop guitar and stuff and then just
kind of kept playing it and
and uh at a point you know he was going
through what he was going through and
gotten more serious about the guitar in
a way or just you know just grew it was
at that point where he got to a you know
kind of a place with it and through a
mutual friend we met Derek Bostrom
uh
and Kurt and Derek started playing
together and Derek was a real
interesting guy and very influential on
Kurt and I
um and we were influential back on him
you know we're more
musiciany in a way and he was more of a
conceptualist you know an artist even
you know and had set about to become
the world's worst drummer you know when
we met him
he had a kick drum with a cymbal screwed
in the top a rickety hi-hat and he
taught himself to play open-handed you
know rather than you know a lot of most
drummers crossed you know like that and
he taught himself like that you know and
it was just really really simplistic and
it wasn't about like you know being a a
drummer you know and there was a lot of
that back in the 70s with guys like Bill
bruford you know and Billy Cobham you
know guys that are really really
technically accomplished but Derek had
been
you know he was aware of and into the
punk scene that you know from its
Inception really so he turned Kurt and I
onto a lot of stuff that
I hadn't really been exposed to I mean
because the seven inch thing that
happened with the punk rock thing you
know so and after those guys have been
playing for a little while they they
decided to ask me if I'd like to come
over and play a little bit of bass with
them
and a lot of us played you know at that
point you know this is getting into our
late teens you know so we're
experimenting with not experimenting I
mean we're avidly using you know pot and
psychedelics and whatnot you know and uh
so a lot of us played and you know there
were these little
groups that would get together it's just
you know depending on who's there and
playing and whatnot but when the three
of us played
there was just something about it
that was very intoxicating and uh
and that was the start of the band and
that would have been about
sometime in the fall early winter of 79.
and Kurt and I
had different tastes than Derek did so I
mean at that point you know my biggest
influence was my brother and Derek
definitely but having you know come up
as a player
having been from Phoenix you know uh
having been you know I got into it as as
much as anything as a fan of music you
know so I was really into Bluegrass you
know as a kid
and that led me into like indigenous
musics in a way you know kind of figure
out where the Bluegrass come from how
did this happen you know and how the
Bluegrass has
it's like in a like a like an American
instrument one of the few instruments
actually you know
driving out of the states and and part
of that is the the drum you know which
is like the African talking drum kind of
a thing you know has the drum head on
there but then with like European
chromaticism and stuff you know so I
kind of started to dig around into
indigenous musics a little bit and just
realized oh there's a whole world of
music you know just you know I was
pretty young you know just starting to
discover this stuff so I started getting
into like jazz then you know started
getting that out Jazz and kind of
further out stuff and there was a
was his name Charles Byrd there was a
guy
that used to put on shows you know Jazz
stuff and brought neat stuff to town you
know down at like neeb Hall at ASU and
so I got a chance to see
some pretty neat stuff like sun raw you
know all sorts of stuff
like that as a kid you know in curtain
over young we were you know when we're
real young you know I clearly remember
being small enough to be walking between
my grandmother and my mom
holding each of their hands and singing
I Want to Hold Your Hand so I mean the
Beatles were the first you know thing
like there were for so many people you
know
um
and then uh you know
as I got a little bit older and started
to discover stuff some of the rock stuff
that was happening I wasn't that into it
it you know stuff that I eventually came
back to once I got a little more
comfortable with myself but when I was
younger it just seemed you know I just
wasn't that cool you know like you know
to where it's like the rock thing that
was happening at that point in the 70s
so
um but I came to rock and roll through
like uh
through like the Grateful Dead
you know Zappa I think I was kind of a
you know I think I used music
snobbishness as a shield you know kind
of as like you know
to
kind of you know my Identity or whatever
you know I like oh I like this you know
if you like graphic and roll that's you
know I'm in you know loftier things or
whatever you know it's just
uh for whatever
is that uh Kurt Cobain came and saw us
like in the early 80s you know when uh
on one of the tours or several of the
tours
that maybe one of the ones that we were
with Black Flag we toured those guys a
lot because we were on SST their label
uh through a lot of the 80s and we
toured those guys a bunch and we toured
a lot when we were younger you know so
uh just from what I've heard you know
apparently it came to some of those
shows and was into all that stuff you
know the SST stuff just in American
Underground that was happening at that
point but I didn't know him at all you
know then
um I became aware of them when they
started to
you know when they were around as a band
and then saw you know when they
got signed and stuff like that because
friends of mine were really into them
like Sonic Youth was really into them
and
you know be starting to become aware of
Seattle as it started to develop a
pretty vibrant scene and a lot of those
people
we end up playing with I remember Mother
Love Bone open first one time
the precursor to uh Pearl Jam you know
those guys or precursor whatever the
predecessors of or the some of the band
members
of that band went on to start Pearl Jam
uh sound garden opened for us back then
um you know but we never played with
Nirvana before they
got as popular as they did before that
never mind blew up but once that
happened
um we started hearing you know
I'm saying nice things about us and you
know a lot of the guys that we'd come up
with and stuff so and then they just
asked us if we'd like to go out and play
some shows with them so that happened
and we did a couple of different tours
with them
and by then they were you know they were
like the biggest band in the world
pretty much by that point you know so it
was all Arena shows and stuff like that
you know sold out you know just big
timey rock kind of stuff
and uh got to know him then you know got
to know the guys in the band then
and uh I'm one of those one of those
nights somewhere
Toronto somewhere we were just hanging
out after the show and
they were getting ready to do their
uh unplugged MTV Unplugged sessions and
Kirk brought up Cobain brought up the
idea that he wanted to uh
play some of our old stuff on there
uh some stuff offered me puppets too
and you know we were amenable to the
idea you know I was like no go ahead you
know they're pretty easy it's like you
know
so uh
then that led to just he just decided
rather than bother
you know figuring out the guitar you
know it's kind of like well you know
kirkenship my Kurt Arc or whatever can
show you know there Kurt how to do the
guitar stuff and
whatnot and then he just decided
that he would take Kurt and I on there
with him do it like that you know so and
we're happy to do it you know definitely
you know because it was it was Poke
Rocky you know it was cool I mean it's
like rock and roll you know it's like
not that uptight you know it's like you
know music in general you know it's like
supposed to be for you know it's fun
it's like I got into this on purpose you
know I went to Brophy you know it could
have been a dentist
you know so uh you know it it
it was like you know resonated with that
kind of yeah that's cool you know what a
neat idea you know take us on there just
as far as like musically you know
playing with other people is kind of a
cool idea and then
to use you know his Newfound
uh you know popularity
to
you know shove the Meat Puppets down
people's throats pretty cool idea too
you know and and oddly enough the uh the
not oddly enough but you know the the
MTV people weren't into it they didn't
they like tried to have him you know
make him not bring us on TV with him and
he was
you know powerful enough you know
popular enough to force them to less you
know go on there and do it which is very
cool and and that was only supposed to
be um
that was just going to be the uh it was
just going to be the unplugged it wasn't
going to be an album you know at that
point but unfortunately you know Kurt
you know took his life so uh they
decided then after that to release it
you know and uh and then it's incredible
the life that it has it was incredible
Hub you know how far reaching it's
gotten you know I did a thing a couple
of years ago we went to Australia
and they asked me to pick some videos
like pick five videos and talk about
them right and it's like uh you know I
didn't I didn't know what you know it's
promo stuff right
so I decided Well
just talk about me you know talk about
us so I decided to do a little thing is
like the the evolution of a song and uh
talked about the song Lake of Fire which
is one of the ones we played on there
with Nirvana and I said you know like I
think I was probably like the second guy
to hear the song after my brother who
wrote it right heard it first in his
head or whatever and then he wrote the
thing and I remember clearly you know I
got a new song you know him playing it
for me and it's like that's really neat
and then I showed a video uh no I uh
yeah
and I said then we recorded it and put
them you know and I played that played
that video right where they just show
the album cover and the song plays the
album version then I said then we played
it a lot as kids found a video of us
young playing it and then they said you
know the Nirvana wanted to cover it we
went on TV and played that and then I
put that that was the third video
and then because of that the song you
know just went out to the world and all
the you know all the more
and uh I got online and I there's like
like a hundred thousand versions of it
or something or some ridiculous amount
of like people covering the song right
so found a video of these kids and like
you know Lithuania or somewhere you know
those the 12 year old's kid doing kids
doing it you know it said you know now
it's you know it's gone out to the
degree that it's like a Year's worth of
the song on Mt you know on YouTube that
you can you know so many versions of it
and played out as the the fourth reading
and then I said you know we're still
doing the song and played an older
version of it you know so
you know looking back now
uh punk rock definitely allowed
me to
be in a band you know to play live music
you know I think punk you know like in a
broader sense that's what Punk was a
rationed that big time rock you know
which is like I just couldn't envision
myself up there you know like that
um so you know scale it down a little
bit doesn't matter how good you can play
whatever you know punk rock's just like
it's just the doing of it you know it's
like oh and have an outlet for that you
know and so
uh that you know gave me that ability
gave us that ability but then we brought
all this other musicality to it as well
you know so
uh I think
we were kind of especially once we got
out of town sort of get down to the punk
rock scene we started having a little
bit more of a you know a presence or
national you know kind of a thing or
whatever getting out in different scenes
Los Angeles in particular you know
I think we were kind of the guys that
you know made it okay in the punk rock
scene to say that you like the Grateful
Dead kind of you know that kind of a
thing and definitely uh musically we're
affected by it
uh by you know where we'd come from on
our first
album
we
you know we did most of the songs are
our own
um
but we also included on their cover of
uh
the sons of the pioneers
uh
um
tumbling tumbleweeds you know a song
that we've gotten off our mom it's
driving along singing she encourt used
to drive along we'd Drive Long tape road
trips and her mom would sing
and then we also did a walking boss
which we've got enough of Doc Watson you
know and then our second album
me puppets two
definitely heavily influenced by you
know like Neil Young stuff like that you
know and then it was a bit of a musical
departure
from the first album
uh stylistically but it was the next
logical progression for us definitely
and us you know breaking out of that
like you know we're going to be the band
that we want to be you know we're not
going to let anybody else you know
constrict us or Define us and the punk
scene by that point it got to the point
where it was it was getting you know
formulaic or rigid you know there's
these rules you know you had to look a
certain ways sound a certain way and we
weren't interested in letting that you
know dictate our our
our Direction at all so yeah what was
the uh what was the Genesis of the of
the name Meat Puppets
uh that was actually a song originally
that Kirk wrote my brother wrote
um and uh you know we were trying to
figure out what to call ourselves
I uh I wanted to callers I thought the
Mustangs would be a good name because it
was like uh you know
let's see where that came from
um but uh you know we're trying to
figure out what to call ourselves
Derek had come up with the bastions of
immaturity you know and uh
I mean Kurt wrote that song Mead puppets
it's on me puppets one it's on our first
album and it was a
it was a very open-ended song The me the
lyrics are they go Meat Puppets dot dot
dot right you know and so basically we
we would say whatever you know I
remember one of the lines was me puppets
eat hydrogenated animal fat something
you know
um you know you put in whatever there
as far as the lyrics on that particular
song were concerned but it just it's
just kind of seemed to fit you know it
was kind of a cool
you know the idea behind the song what
the what the name means as much as
anything uh it gets back to that like
you know that John Lennon thing what
what are beetles
what does the name Beatles mean means us
we're The Beatles you know same thing
with us the Meat Puppets although at one
point a few years into the band somebody
came up and asked me you know does a
meat puppet mean your dick and I was
like
hey I hadn't thought of that you know
it's like you know you play with it with
your hand and it's made out of meat um
but uh it was that's where it came from
Kirk came up with it where were you guys
playing around town uh at that point
not a whole lot of places really you
know I remember like some of the first
stuff we did were just parties
uh
you know friends parties parents who go
out of town go over and play at a party
um and we did that before we even had a
name I remember we played at a friend of
mine's house from grade school Quinn
the Quarry was his name and uh he lived
up in Sunny Slope we went over and
played with him and at the time we're
doing a lot of punk rock covers because
you're asking like one of our influences
how did that affected one of the things
you found we could learn these punk rock
songs pretty easily and play them pretty
easily so uh and Derek was singing most
of them at that time
and our friend Quinn announces he said
ladies and gentlemen the rash this is a
pretty good name you know it's like not
bad so but so we weren't really doing a
whole lot of gigs
um in town you know uh at that point
there's a
you know parties and I can't quite
recall what the first actual like bar
gig or something like that was you know
I could Kerr would remember Kurt would
definitely remember in people to tell
you but I can't quite recall but it
started off definitely more like kind of
a Punker thing you know there was a punk
rock thing happening in town at the time
you listen to in your life uh there was
the feeders you know definitely the
feeders and before that the the and
Derek was aware of all this stuff you
know what an interesting story kind of
the way we got out of town got connected
with Los Angeles which is where all of
our records came out of you know from
the first seven-ish all the way up until
we got signed to a major label and those
guys were in New York uh in like 1990
but before that all Americans came out
of Los Angeles there was a band called
the consumers here in town
and
they were one of the very first punk
rock bands and then there was the
exterminators you know short-lived punk
rock band as well the Liars crazy
homicide there's just a handful of
things this is going all the way back to
like 76 77.
and uh the consumers had played and
Derek
yeah this is even before you know the
band and everything he you know was up
on what was going on but
uh too young to get into a bar so it was
actually Bart ball who had written
something I think in the new times about
the show and if you weren't there you
weren't cool or something and Derek
struck
uh you know uh communication with him
writing him letters and stuff and said
well what if you're too young you know
and somehow that
that led BART to get Derek in touch with
David Wiley who was the singer of the
consumers and all those guys had moved
out to Los Angeles at a point you know
pretty early on after having played some
shows here they all decided to take off
for LA and uh Derek kept up his his
communication with David and then once
we started playing
uh Derek was sending him cassettes of us
and that led to us going out to Los
Angeles and you know playing out there
and meeting all the folks out you know a
bunch of different excuse me bands that
that uh
David knew and you know kind of getting
into the scene out there including
monitor the band monitor
and it was our relationship with them
that led to our first seven inch so but
but before that uh the first Punk show I
went to in town here was troutarama
it was a thing you know that the bunkers
did and it was up at the hall in
Sunnyslope actually
and
uh
the uh bands that played that night you
know the feeders I think play you know
it was just the the local scene that was
happening you know and it was a real eye
opener the brains played as well there's
another punk rock band and that's kind
of why I wanted to go see it because I'd
heard about this kid Buzzy murder was
the guitar player and and a guy gone to
grade school with knew him
man I was just intrigued by you know
these guys having their own bands being
that young and stuff you know so I went
to the troutarama and you know it was
odd this this happened this was kind of
you know kind of I got a kick out of
this just slightly
um
you know we were in the punk at that
point and suddenly there's a punk show
that we could go to in town
and we've all danced like goofballs you
know and it was before it's kind of like
pogoing you know before like the Slam
Dancing and everything but it was still
physical and fun I was young you know uh
you know and uh
the next week's issue of the new times
came out and you know they had a review
of this or they mentioned that the show
had happened they'd taken a picture like
tell it was like taken from stage or
something and I realized hey look at
there it's me Derek and a bunch of our
you know all of us we're kind of like
squished up against each other in the
midst of all this little dancing thing
you know it's like some of our first
press you know like hey you know
and uh so that was the first show that I
went and saw was the troutarama and then
they had um exorama it was another one
of the same folks that were putting them
on and it was the folks that you know
were in a punk you know you do it
yourself kind of a thing you know find a
hall
and put on a show
you know so if if you could Define the
music you play today in three or four
words
what would it be
um
not too shabby you know that's
you know or
quite shabby it's
somewhere in between shabby and not too
shabby is it much different than when
you started well it's definitely
different in that you know we're a lot
older you know uh so just playing wise
you know the amount of time we've had in
the air instruments uh the change you
know physically
[Music]
um
you know one of the we don't play we can
play stuff from all of the albums you
know I have quite a few albums you know
we can touch on any of them pretty much
except we don't really play anything off
of me puppets one or seven inch so
except the covers will occasionally do
walking boss or something like that you
know but the original is off of those
things we those things don't really get
addressed you know and I think that's
you know
one of the things that's uh you know
that time has rot and we're so young
and uh like when we made me puppets one
we dropped three days in a row you know
we'd wake up
dose and you know we did it three days
in a row so we thought that's what you
know you're supposed to do that's all
the cool guy you know that's what our
heroes do so those songs you know they
were just so visceral you know we were
so young just screaming our asses off
and and I think there's you know
definitely hints of the direction that
we're headed in in that they're not just
straightforward like punk rock it's way
more just you know us expressing
ourselves but just as young as we were
and as
you know physicals who were in a way I
think that's you know a change that's
taking place but conceptually you know
we're still after the same thing it's
that same thing as when I hit that thing
in the banjo you know it's just like
damn that's bitching I want to chase
that you know I want to feel that again
I want to chase that thing I want to you
know and we're still just chasing
something you know where you're trying
to you know
let the music you know play through you
and get off on it you know it's
something I feel really fortunate uh
that you know
I still love the feel of a guitar in my
hands you know I just I just love it you
know as far as doing it professionally I
mean you know four drone paths you know
have fun doing it definitely it's you
know it's tough you know obviously it's
not easy I certainly never thought that
you know
I'll get to the point that I've gotten
to with it although I you know we did
sit around and purposely
you know aim ourselves at being able to
do it for a long time
and we were careful about that you know
careful that the content of the songs
not preparing ourselves into any
particular corner you know so
but to get to the point that we've
gotten to you know like you know it's
kind of
you know it's pretty surprising so
uh you know what will be will be but
definitely music's a blast you know and
I you know
you can't encourage anybody enough to
you know not to pick up a guitar pick up
whatever you know and have that
definitely what did you do right what
did you do wrong I did uh mostly
everything wrong and I did I did write
by sinking my claws deep into my
brother's Cape so that I would be drug
Aloft as he soared Skyward
you know and speaking of new music I
mean that's the cool thing right now
that's going on in the studio here you
know I'm getting ready to work with some
young bands here in town
and you know through uh the new label
that Tom Lopez has started slope records
it's so cool that this circle has come
back you know that that's something
that's happening right now I'm going to
be producing a band called The Line
Cutters in here next week it's pretty
neat so most of your musical Focus local
these days uh I mean this stuff that
he's doing it's his label so you know
he's he's purposely promoting the local
scene definitely you know he and he's
the guy that released that exterminators
record that I did you know uh that those
guys asked me to play bass on because
the original bass players passed away
but Tom was the one that afforded them
the opportunity to do that because they
never made an album back then and you
kind of wanted to document the old
Phoenix punk rock scene his he was a kid
on the punk scene uh it's a little
younger than I am so but he was you know
right there shortly after you know and
grew up into the music and stuff and now
he's a has the ability
uh to uh you know he's gotten himself to
the point where he can start a record
label and he's you know and purposely
named it slope you know after Sunny
Slope and and
documenting the stuff that's come before
you know uh and then now his we're
focusing on
uh you know new bands in town and he's
asked me to help out which I'm happy to
do and it's just cool you know that the
circle will come all the way back around
you know to where I'm in the position to
be able to you know lend a little bit of
my experience my enthusiasm my good
looks you know to these kids you know uh
and uh you know and just to to bolster
the Next Generation you know because
because of the the weird circles I mean
the first live show I ever saw oddly
enough the first one that I took myself
to you know I was like old enough to you
know to I don't know if I was legally
able to drive but I was old enough to
know where mom kept her car keys and you
know it was Alice Cooper so you know
it's just like you know it's a phoenix
thing
so what keeps you in Arizona
poverty
uh you know uh we started touring so
young
and uh
you know part of it we're just so
involved with the band you know we're
really hell-bent definitely you know on
just we just love doing it and we played
all the time
and we're
uh you know so caught up in it when we
were younger and then we started touring
and I started to see a lot of the
country that I'd never seen before I've
never been back to the east coast you
know uh fairly well traveled as a kid
just because Mom like to go
road tripping but you know
got to see a lot more of the country
than I had before and then in the world
you know get out to places I hadn't been
before and
and just realized you know I'm fine here
basically you know I know all the
streets I can make it home practically
in any condition you know uh and uh and
I like it here you know I like it I mean
it's changed a lot Phoenix has
definitely changed it certainly has
grown a lot since when I was a kid
you know
um I mean when I was a kid I was 10
minutes from raw desert you know and
that's the middle of town now you know
so you know that that that's a little
shocking how how much it's grown but but
it makes sense because it's a Trippy
cool place you know and definitely this
place is in my guts it's in my bones you
know me puppets are so much of an
Arizona band so much a phoenix band you
know so much of the Sonoran Desert you
know and of Phoenix you know of Wallace
and ladmo you know of the Coliseum you
know just stuff
the desert and you know the Royal Palm
and the Valley of the Sun you know
you know so I'm just just you know where
I'm at you know and my brother hasn't
lived here for a long time you know he's
lives in Austin his daughter's out there
but he Pines for for Phoenix you know
for Arizona I know he does in a way and
you know just because it's it's just
it's home
thank you guys for you know
inviting us into the Hall of Fame the
Arizona Hall of Fame I learned look Mom
we made it yeah I learned a lot it was
it was fun good good so so did I uh well
had fun I had fun definitely and uh you
know it's neat I'm glad that you know
guys are doing this you know because uh
and it's kind of a one of the things
about Phoenix it's kind of and
supportive of some of the Arts in a way
you know but it's nice to see that you
know you guys are doing this you know
tell Hans I appreciate it as well you
know he says hello good we're looking
forward to seeing you at your induction
cool yeah it'll be fun
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