How I Learned to Love the Vaselines - It Wasn't a Tough Sell
Nirvana loved to play Vaselines tunes. It was always fun just to bust out a pop tune, and the songs written by the Scottish duo Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee fit our sensibilities a lot. So much, in fact, that we played them every chance we got. We covered a pair of their songs--"Son of a Gun" and "Molly's Lips"--on our 1992 album Incesticide, and in 1993 we covered their take on "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" on MTV Unplugged in New York. We had enjoyed listening to the Vaselines, and when we'd rehearse we'd bust out some of the band's riffs--and this led us to actually playing covers.
Krist Novoselic's column runs every Tuesday on the Daily Weekly. The Vaselines play Neumo's tonight.
Now the Vaselines are back with a retrospective release and a tour of the U.S. Enter the Vaselines is out on Sub Pop, a deluxe collection of the band's releases, live performances, and demos. Here are my thoughts on their efforts:
Dying for It, 1988: I first heard this EP at this grand apartment Chad Channing had on Bainbridge Island. He had busted out some new releases, and I was immediately drawn to the Scottish duo's basic pop/rock sound, which dominated the Olympia music scene we were a part of at the time. There was punk energy--but also this sweet song with a viola called "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam." "Molly's Lips" even had a cute little horn squeak during the chorus, which cemented the endearing, childlike sensibility of much of the band's sound. Remember, punk rock is basically pop music. Just listen to Never Mind the Bollocks by the Sex Pistols. Kelly and McKee took that and mixed in an almost lullaby-like sensibility, with softer edges. When Chad told me there was a live cassette release of Beat Happening and the Vaselines performing together, I knew I wasn't off at all with my assessment.
Son of a Gun, 1987: This EP was a fun listen. "Rory Rides Me Raw" is about riding a horse through the morning dew --or is it a double entendre? I think the latter, but that's for listeners to interpret. But if you do want overt sexiness, the band covers the Divine tune "You Think You're a Man." (If you don't know Divine, she was the late drag queen Glenn Milstead, who starred in many John Waters films.)
Dum Dum, 1989: I played the heck out of the band's only full-length after recording it on a cassette. It has the sound and the pop hooks that Kelly has a knack for. Again, there were cute songs that had a sexy edge--most notably "Monsterpussy," which is really about a cat, I guess.
There will always be a Nirvana connection with Scotland, and the Vaselines are part of that. Once a magazine erroneously stated that we were from the coastal logging town of Inverness, Washington! Of course there is no such place, but there is an Aberdeen, Scotland. There should be a place for most things, and I'll always hold the Vaselines in my heart.
30 comment(s)
Paul says:
Hi Krist,
Have you ever done much of a tour of Scotland when over to play music? The North West coast is quite possibly one of the most beautiful areas in the world. I would strongly recommend a trip to the Highlands the next time you are over. I would also recommend driving through Glencoe listening to 'In a big country' by Big Country for added effect.
It's cool to hear that the Vaselines are going to tour the US. Are they going to theme the route by only visiting places with Scottish town names? Wouldn't be a ridiculous marketing angle. Actually maybe it would!!
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 2:39AM
liam says:
hi, me and you are pretty similar in some ways, you are a big influence on my life musically and personally, maybe i will be heard or not jus put me down if i am, nice article by the way
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 4:35AM
julia says:
hi Krist,
i quite agree with you about THE VASELINES
Nirvana loved to play Vaselines tunes
my daughter and i love NIRVANA
We are from ARGENTINA
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 11:26AM
kelevra777 says:
Hi Krist.
It's nice to know the perspective of someone in the music industry about their favorite bands... Everytime I hear Son of a Gun, i can't resist to play it...
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 11:33AM
Anonymous says:
If you want to experience real music, go see an underground band. In my mind, some of the best bands out there are underground bands. Bands like Pearl Jam and Guns and Roses are good, but they got so popular that they lost touch with the people. Underground bands don't really have any mega dollar contract to lose if they screw up, so they just let loose and rock out. That's the true freedom of rock!!
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 11:40AM
Kevin says:
If you want to experience real music, go see an underground band. In my mind, some of the best bands out there are underground bands. Bands like Pearl Jam and Guns and Roses are good, but they got so popular that they lost touch with the people. Underground bands don't really have any mega dollar contract to lose if they screw up, so they just let loose and rock out. That's the true freedom of rock!!
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 11:42AM
Edward Allen says:
Thanks for the insight Krist. Nirvana is one of the most influencial bands ever but you know that of course. Are there any unrealsed Nirvana songs under lock and key that could one day be released. "You know your right" is a great song, I sang it at karaoke bar over the weeken badly I must add, the words on the visual where half there, was that the last song recorded by the the band?
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 12:44PM
Ruger Ribeiro says:
Vaselines jelly is an important underground rock band in the world. One of the bands that proliferated in the pop-punk world. Here in Bahia has impressive support in the rock band! I know of three garage bands with strong influence of the group.
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 1:00PM
Jared says:
Mr N
I picked up the new album a few days ago and it hasnt left my cd player. Its great tripping on the orginal versions of nirvanas covers (yes that duckie/clown horn thing on Mollys lips is fucking awesome). I think im stuck on You think youre a man though its hilarious.
Jared
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 1:00PM
EPA says:
This is a great feature! Maybe a focus on the new Meat Puppets next :)
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 2:17PM
sly says:
hi, krist,..
Sans Nirvana, je n'aurai certainement, jamais entendu parlé des Vaselines, Meats puppets,...Et autre Leadbelly...Alors Merci...J'aime bien votre reprise de Seasons in the sun, car c'est une adaptation d'un titre français,...
bye
Posted On: Tuesday, May. 12 2009 @ 2:41PM
liam h says:
If only I was at home in bed listening to the vaselines instead of being at work. I wish I was still at university...
Posted On: Wednesday, May. 13 2009 @ 4:18PM
Aaron Klein says:
Hey Krist,
Cool article, I always loved the vaselines and people should also check out Captain America and Eugenius as well. As far as what Kevin said... We mock what we do not understand I guess. Take care.
Posted On: Wednesday, May. 13 2009 @ 8:36PM
Billy Bob Buckhannon says:
Dear Krist~
I can't beLIEve I actually get to connect with you! Nirvana is the greytest band ever and...... But Im sure you know that. But since KC "Died" I brought him back i.e. numerology, but "zero" can be said about that. My question to you is: if you could have kept Nirvana together forever what would youve done and would you've? Maybe got credit for at least some songs like Lounge Act, my favorite, when you wrote the greatest bass line. Or made Kurt not be so lazy when it came to touring where you had to be to make your money. Definately what Ive heard you say before about not doing heroin because it is rigged up to burn a whole in your brain which causes you to die inevitably. I know you're about to turn 44 the 16th and I congratulate you on that. I wish I could give you something but Maybee that sumthing has been given for you to think about. Check me out on myspace/say10himself. Krist good luck on your career as a politician. Maybe you could come to Arkansas and run for Mayor of my town. I love you man. Happy Birthday!
Posted On: Wednesday, May. 13 2009 @ 9:00PM
R. Noviello says:
Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Krist! I was lucky enough to see the Vaselines live in São Paulo last november!
Posted On: Wednesday, May. 13 2009 @ 9:11PM
Tim says:
The covers of "Son of a Gun" and "Molly's Lips" fit in well with Nirvana's other tracks like "Been a Son". I've always loved the covers and it'll be interesting to see how different the originals were.
Posted On: Thursday, May. 14 2009 @ 12:54AM
joe says:
Has anyone heard the NEW VASELINES SONGS. You will find live performances of it on youtube. Just type in the vaselines new song and you may find it.
Posted On: Thursday, May. 14 2009 @ 11:39PM
pam says:
Krist,
the Vaselines were great, thanks for writing this column. I would recommend everyone to check out the Love Battery when it happens that they play. I saw them twice in Ballard and both times it was a great show, but there wasn't so much support from the public, which is kind of sad because they're a pretty good band.
bests,
p.
Posted On: Friday, May. 15 2009 @ 6:16PM
Komiki says:
Happy birthday,Krist!
I am a high school student in Japan.
I study the politics of Japan because it is very confused now.
Do the world and Japan improve any futher?
Your music always helps me.
Vaselines is also so.
ありがとう！
Komiki
Posted On: Saturday, May. 16 2009 @ 1:23AM
Dagmar says:
Hi Novoselic! \o/
how are you, in a very special day?
1- happy birthday!
2- scottish bands, enjoy: exploited,vaselines, big country, jesus and mary chain, cocteau twins, aztec camera, belle and sebastian,fratellis
3- "I can not believe I actually get to connect with you!"
4- understand me? ";)
Brasília - DF
Posted On: Saturday, May. 16 2009 @ 5:50AM
Thomas Tolo Jørgensen says:
Happy birthday, Krist!
PS, I got one of the biggest Nirvana collections in Europe :)
And thank you for getting me into bands like The Gits, TAD, Mudhoney and so on :)
Posted On: Saturday, May. 16 2009 @ 11:41AM
Charlie says:
I think we all saw some elements of the Vaselines in Nirvana tunes, especialy on Incestcide.
Happy Birthday
Posted On: Saturday, May. 16 2009 @ 4:48PM
Wensdhey says:
Happy birthday Krist !
Great post, by the way. I didn't like The Vaselines until I heard you guys on Unplugged.
Posted On: Saturday, May. 16 2009 @ 5:23PM
aminah says:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! you are the best (and awesomest) bassist in the whole world!
The Vaselines rock, but personally i like the nirvana covers better xD
Posted On: Saturday, May. 16 2009 @ 5:31PM
Jill says:
Hi! I know it's been said in a ton of earlier comments, but happy birthday, man.
A few hours ago on the radio (on the only surviving rock station in all of NYC - isn't that sad?), they announced that it was the birthday of the "lesser-known member of NIRVANA"... and I was like "What? It's Chad's birthday?" (his new band is pretty sweet by the way)... but then they said your name and played "Come as You Are", mentioning "that's him" during the intro. I just thought that was funny.
Anyway, the Vaselines are totally awesome - thanks a million to all of NIRVANA for introducing me to them a ways back. I saw them last summer and am super excited to see them again on Monday. I think Eugene and Frances may just be the best performers I have ever seen.
(And speaking of NIRVANA-induced listening experiences, I saw the Melvins for the second time last night as part of their 25th anniversary tour. It was ridiculously LOUD and spectacular! ...What a weird combo of concerts.)
Do you read these comments? I don't know. It doesn't really matter to me. Have a nice day, everyone. :-)
PS: Frightened Rabbit is also a great indie band from Scottland and they are super nice!
Posted On: Saturday, May. 16 2009 @ 6:03PM
Corey jones says:
i like the Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam in 10/11/1991 at St andrews, in Michigan, "WHEN" you guys played...and i herd you going to relesed more video of nirvana?
Posted On: Saturday, Jul. 18 2009 @ 8:01PM
Mike from Sydney says:
i went to a jam with some punks last night. i jammed out 'mollys lips' - 2 chords, everyone can play it. they loved it. its all in the harmonies man :)
Posted On: Wednesday, Jul. 29 2009 @ 9:13PM
John says:
Carlton hjkhk
Posted On: Sunday, Aug. 16 2009 @ 7:20PM
Ian fae Paisley says:
I saw the Vaselines when they supported the Jesus and Mary Chain at Glasgow Barrowlands (best venue on the planet) in about April 1988. They rocked - noisy and raw, but melodic and with a sense of humour.
Scotland was pretty weird and wonderful musically then - everyone was into noise and melody and textures. Check out Nyah Fearties, Stretchheads, early JAMC, Shop Assistants, Cocteau Twins' "Treasure", Hook'n'Pull Gang...
Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 6 2009 @ 4:09PM
Jorge Loya says:
Hi Krist,
I'm a fan of you, Nirvana and The Vaselins, I love all Nirvana's songs and I started to listen the vaselines as well and they are very Good.
GOD BLESS YOU GUYS
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 11 2009 @ 2:32PM