Mudhoney Defined Grunge
This video of Mudhoney, circa 1990, was shot by Krist Novoselic on a Fisher-Price PXL-2000, and is being seen here for the first time. Clip includes "In and Out of Grace,” “You Got It,” and “Come to Mind.”
Congratulations to Sub Pop records for their 20 year anniversary.
Of all the Sub Pop bands I must say that Mudhoney are my favorite. In the beginning days of the label, it was Mudhoney who led the charge. Mark Arm, Steve Turner, Danny Peters and Matt Lukin were a group that defined the term Grunge.
Touch Me I’m Sick was the tune that blew the walls out for the band, the music scene and the world. Like Seattle’s Space Needle or the St. Helens volcano Grunge was on the map.
Mudhoney picked up where NW bands like The Sonics and Kingsmen left off. They conjured the Stooges wrapped in the sensibilities of American Hardcore of the early 1980s.
I first met Mark Arm at the Metropolis punk club in Seattle’s Pioneer Square around 1983. Buzz Osborne and Matt Lukin from Montesano’s Melvins took me to my first punk show. The first stage dive I ever witnessed was performed by Mark Arm!!! He was studying english at the UW and was in the band Mr. Epp and the Calculations. They had this weird song called Mohawk Man. Matt, Buzz and I would go to partys and shows in Seattle and we’d almost always see Mark. The man had a biting wit that he took with him to front the twisted Glam ensemble Green River. At a Green River show in Tacoma, Mark came out in a dress with his long black hair done in high-set pony tails, looking like some kind of nightmare chick.
Eventually Buzz and Dale moved to San Francisco. I left Aberdeen for a job painting factorys in Tacoma. Matt stayed in Aberdeen and was asked to join a new band. Mark and Steve from Green River got together with Dan Peters who drummed with Bundle of Hiss.
The new Mudhoney started playing shows and were a sensation right from the start. The shows were beer-soaked, sweaty, and driving. It was the sound of vintage guitars and Peters' solid kick drum and signature snappy snare sound. In fact, the old Hagstrom guitars and Electro-Harmonix effect pedals were part of the lore. Marks wry wit tied together songs with great hooks.
Everett True from the Melody Maker came from London to check out the rumblings in Seattle. That’s when the term Grunge entered the lexicon meaning more than something you find on a shower curtain. Mudhoney toured Europe and broke ground for Nirvana and other Seattle bands to follow.
Like most bands, Mudhoney went on to the major labels. Their music evolved but they always kept that sound. The group also collaborated with artist Ed Fotheringham for great album covers.
Eventually, Matt left Mudhoney to be replaced by Guy Maddison. Flipper played with Mudhoney and the Melvins in Los Angeles last September. I hadn’t seen the band in a long time and it was good to see another great Mudhoney show. Congratulations on 20 years of never falling out of grace.
Thanks to commenter "Ben Dyment" for pointing out this picture of the author videotaping a show in 1990, the year he shot the Mudhoney footage above. Photo is courtesy of LiveNirvana.com, which has loads of other shots of the band as well.
22 comment(s)
Ben Sironko says:
I love Mudhoney. I actually owe you Nirvana guys. I'd never have checked out Mudhoney if I hadn't got into you. I actually really like Green River also.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 8 2008 @ 9:56AM
Ben Sironko says:
I love Mudhoney. I actually owe you Nirvana guys. I'd never have checked out Mudhoney if I hadn't got into you. I actually really like Green River also.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 8 2008 @ 9:56AM
Ben Sironko says:
I love Mudhoney. I actually owe you Nirvana guys. I'd never have checked out Mudhoney if I hadn't got into you. I actually really like Green River also.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 8 2008 @ 9:57AM
Ben Dyment says:
Hey Krist:
http://www.livenirvana.com/pics/var90/1990.jpg
Pixlvision!
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 8 2008 @ 10:49AM
Hindu Mexican says:
I saw Mudhoney live, for the don't-know-how-many-th time just a few weeks ago and they sound better than ever.
Afterwards I drunkenly complimented Mr Arm on the softness of his band's t-shirts.
It was a dumb drunk comment, but I mean it, the red t-shirts they've been selling are really soft. As soft as their music ain't.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 8 2008 @ 12:47PM
coyler says:
my favorite band of all-time easily; wish i coulda seen them in the late 80s (but i was only 4).
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 8 2008 @ 3:55PM
Andrea says:
Mo, Mo, Mo, Mother Lovebone!
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 8 2008 @ 5:28PM
Revolution Books says:
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Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 8 2008 @ 9:07PM
Steve says:
Hey Krist, crazy spam above! Love Mudhoney and it's great you've done a post on them.
You must have a hell load of footage from loads of bands recorded by yourself.
Nice job getting it uploaded
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 9 2008 @ 12:51PM
Aaron says:
Hey great to read this! I like mudhoney a lot too! Thanks for writing about them because even though I love Nirvana mudhoney definitely need a lot of credit too, hell mark basically invented grunge. Oh yeah and I love the pic, you look like your having a blast.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 9 2008 @ 5:15PM
Taryn G. says:
Thanks for sharing about Mudhoney...I too am a fan of them...although one of my worst band experiences happened when Mark Arm showed up at a gig for a former band I was in (the old toe truck tavern in Seattle). Our P.A. was late so unfortunately, the band was so shit faced by the time we got to play that I was mortified...hee hee...I think the small gathering of folks still enjoyed the "music". It was our first and last gig after months of practicing in a basement on Capitol Hill. It was cool to see Mark Arm in the audience though. I remember seeing them play many times back in the day and also remember how they would be at many of the parties around Seattle just hanging being folks. It meant alot to folks that musicians were still not to proud to come to parties (usually warehouse type stuff) and just have a good time.
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 10 2008 @ 10:14PM
AstralAstray says:
Hi Krist - This has nothing to do with your mudhoney subject but i dont no where else to write you. (Agree with your posting though i've loved them for years).
I am writing this in the hopes you find time to read and possibly respond to this complete douchebag who claims kurt stole SLTS from him. I normally wouldnt waste my time with shit like this but this douche pisses me off to no end, especially when the writers not here to back himself up. The sad thing too is there are people who believe his racist, contridictory crapOLA. Maybe you can help set the record straight..even pass this along to the Buzz because he says he "thinks" kurt was a roadie with the melvins in canada when he pilfered this genius' song.
Thanks for your time and if you read be sure to have your pepto handy.
AA (Jared)
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 15 2008 @ 9:17AM
AstralAstray says:
Hi Krist - This has nothing to do with your mudhoney subject but i dont no where else to write you. (Agree with your posting though i've loved them for years).
I am writing this in the hopes you find time to read and possibly respond to this complete douchebag who claims kurt stole SLTS from him. I normally wouldnt waste my time with shit like this but this douche pisses me off to no end, especially when the writers not here to back himself up. The sad thing too is there are people who believe his racist, contridictory crapOLA. Maybe you can help set the record straight..even pass this along to the Buzz because he says he "thinks" kurt was a roadie with the melvins in canada when he pilfered this genius' song.
Thanks for your time and if you read be sure to have your pepto handy.
AA (Jared)
LINK http://www.topix.com/forum/who/nirvana/TAP8NSTHB7L2O1R6T
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 15 2008 @ 9:18AM
AstralAstray says:
Yes i forgot the link from above..here it is.
http://www.topix.com/forum/who/nirvana/TAP8NSTHB7L2O1R6T
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 15 2008 @ 9:20AM
Kroms says:
I LOVE Mudhoney, but "Piece of Cake" is probably my favourite, not "Touch Me I'm Sick." I dunno, the songwriting just seems...stronger.
Posted On: Saturday, Jul. 19 2008 @ 9:59AM
JohntheS says:
Mudhoney. My first love.
Great video too. Thanks for the upload!!
Posted On: Saturday, Jul. 19 2008 @ 10:03AM
keith says:
yep Mudhoney rules. and they will do so again today.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 23 2008 @ 2:58PM
msr says:
Cool video. "Come to Mind" is a great song. Too bad so much of it was missing.
Posted On: Monday, Aug. 18 2008 @ 8:24PM
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Posted On: Thursday, Sep. 25 2008 @ 10:56PM
Windsor Exports says:
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Posted On: Thursday, Sep. 25 2008 @ 10:58PM
josh says:
I think Mark and Steve understood perfectly well that the only way to survive is to remain true to themselves and selling out like many of their contemporaries. And maybe it's only me, but Mudhoney seems as one of the few bands out there that musically actually getting better and more interesting over the years. There's still something magically fresh about their music, and that speaks volumes of their true love for music... they still have a lot to offer...
Posted On: Thursday, May. 7 2009 @ 10:59AM
mike from sydney says:
huh, mudhoney are selling hex bolts or what?
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 29 2009 @ 10:16PM