How old are you?

42 (43 in February)

What was your first "favorite band" when you were a kid?

Probably either Three Dog Night or CCR. The first single I bought was "Seasons in the Sun" by Terry Jacks. Years later, the first album I bought, when I was finally able to save the $3.75, was Desolation Boulevard by Sweet.

How did you lose your virginity? Do you remember her name?

I didn't lose my virginity, I was giving it away. Her name was Kim and she was the little sister of a High School pal and Gary Numan aficionado named Tom.

What did you do for New Years? Did you go off?

Emily and I went off to Myanmar. We got into Yangon on New Years Eve and after two days of planes and a severe time zone change, we fell asleep at 10pm. We found out the next day that there was nothing going on in town as they celebrate New Years in the Chinese style.

Fuck. It seems like yesterday My Brother The Cow came out and "1995" seemed so NOW and now that was a decade ago. Does that mean we're old?

Yes, but you're still younger than me.

What's up with a new Mudhoney record? When's it coming out?

We'll probably start recording after we get back from Australia in March.

Are you going to re-record the song "Hard On For War" that was on Gimme Skelter?

Yep.

How fuckin rich did you get when you signed to Warner Brothers?

I think our advance was for 150,000. Subtract 20,000 for recording, 10,000 for the lawyers (I really have no idea how much they made, I'm probably low-balling here), divide that by five (our manager was getting an equal share) and we each walked away with a cool $24,000.

Did you get a lot of free dinners and records from the other labels that wanted to sign you?

A couple. When we decided to leave Sub Pop the first label we approached was Caroline. They were a bigger indie that distributed Sub Pop then. We had a meeting with the president of Caroline, Keith something or other. I wish I could remember his full name because people like this deserve to be raked through the coals whenever possible.

Keith took us to a nice dinner at the Pink Door here in Seattle. He told us if we want to sign to Caroline that we wouldn't be able to do side projects (Steve & I had just done the first Monkeywrench album), that we would have to tour 9 months out of the year like their flagship band the Smashing Pumpkins, and that we would have to "sweeten up" our guitar sound.

At that point we decided if we were going to get a fucked up line of shit like this from an indie, we might as well talk to the majors. None of the majors we talked to said anything nearly that ridiculous.

What's the A&R dude who signed you to Warner Brothers doing now?

David Katznelson signed us to Reprise. He's one of my favorite people in the world. He moved back home to San Francisco and he runs a couple of labels, namely Birdman, which deals with current bands and Sepia Tone which is a reissue label.

Ok, this is probably something you're totally bored talking about... But can you answer it just one last time for Buddyhead? Over the course of your "musical career" you've been signed to an independent label, a major label and now and independent label again (same one even). What exactly is the difference between being signed to a major label vs. and independent label? For better or for worse?

In non-music entertainment businesses, like the movie industry. The creative people: the actors, the writers, directors etc., get paid and the movie companies, or investors take the loss if the movie doesn't sell.

In the music biz, the "artist" is the one who gets fucked. Despite the fact that the "artist" writes and performs the music, he is the last one, after the lawyers, managers, producers, engineers, soundmen, publicists, etc. to get paid.

The music biz is essentially the same on the major and indy level. There are a handful of independent labels which are very cool and on the level. Majors are insidious, but on the level. You're going to get fucked and they tell you exactly how you're going to get fucked. Their promises are spelled out in the giant contract, which if you have any bargaining power you might be able to tweak a bit towards your favor (it'll never be in your favor). Some will fuck you completely. They'll never pay one dime in royalties. The worst label I was ever on was Homestead. That was run by Gerard Cosloy at the time. He runs Matador now. He must've gotten things straightened out for Matador because bands are pretty loyal to that label. Homestead, on the other hand was a nightmare. Promises were made and never kept and royalties were not paid.

Speaking of musical careers, have you ever looked at your band and the music you make as a career?

No. I guess it became one for awhile, but I work these days.

If for some reason or another Mudhoney wouldn't have worked out or one of your arms got chopped off in some freak accident, what career field (i.e. what job dude) do you think you would have end up in?

Modeling or actressing.

Have you ever been in a porno?

That all depends on what you define as a porno.

Was it rad?

It didn't pay as much as I hoped and the residuals are small, though a couple of unexpected dollars every quarter comes in handy. Whenever I call to complain about the small checks they remind me that it's a "specialty film" designed for a small, but fiercely loyal niche market.

Did you get to bone some chicks?

In a shit-eating video?

What other movies have you been in?

Black Sheep, Singles. I've got an agent and he swears I'm poised to break into the "legit" biz.

Did you get to bone any chicks on those movies?

David Spade.

Did you get to hang out with Chris Farley on the set of Tommy Boy?

No, but we did hang out with him on the set of Black Sheep. Which, despite taking place in Washington State, was filmed in LA.

Did you do blow with him?

Not me, man.... That was not me.

Have you ever been in a fight? Did you win or lose?

I was a scrawny kid. I tried to avoid fights, but I did get my ass kicked on occasion.

Cats or dogs?

Dogs, big time.

Do you think Iggy Pop looks like you or that you look like him?

Let's just say that we're the two closest mortals to the Platonic ideal.

What are five of your all time favorite records that you think our readers should check out?

I hate questions like this. How do you expect me to limit myself to 5 all time favorite records. I'm going to assume a few things that may or may not be true. I'm going to assume that your readership is smart and is familiar with the history of great rock bands and that they are already well versed in the classics like the MC5, the Stooges, Captain Beefheart, Discharge Black Flag, Devo, Can, The Byrds, The Rolling Stones, Bo Diddley, Funkadellic, Pere Ubu, Black Sabbath etc.

Given that, here are 6 more favorites of mine:

Charles Mingus - Ah Um
Hawkwind - Space Ritual
Amon Duul II - Tanz Der Lemminge
The Flesh Eaters - A Minute To Pray A Second To Die
Jon Wahl - Sour Suite
Red Kross - Born Innocent

Have you heard any new bands or any good records that came out this year?

I haven't heard too much, but I like the Comets on Fire album and the upcoming A-Frames record is great.

When you hear Flipper at age 43, does it still make you feel good?

Yes! We played 3 Northwest shows with the Melvins on their 20 th Anniversary tour. I sang "Sacrifice" on the last show in Olympia. That was a blast.

Have you checked out that Stooges Funhouse Sessions box-set yet? It's like nine fucking hours of Funhouse!

Yes it is. It's worth it for the other versions of "Fun House" "Dirt" and "1970"

What do you think set Mudhoney apart from other Seattle bands like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden & Nirvana?

We like and play more fucked up music.

Were you bummed they didn't ask you to be in Temple Of The Dog?

Very.

Is it raining in Seattle?

Nope. It's an El Nino year. It's warm and there's no snow in the mountains which means there'll be a water shortage this summer and everyone will have to drain their pools and we'll crash people's backyards when they're not home and skate their pools. Wait, people don't have backyard pools in Seattle.

On an average day, how many cups of coffee do you drink?

I don't drink coffee. I never got into that ugly habit.

What do you think of when you hear the word "Grunge" in 2005?

My eyes glaze over and I get an erection. It's the same reaction as when I hear the word "crack".

Can you believe even Tad got signed to a major label? That dude is gynormous.

Can you believe Geffen re-released the Raincoats and put out a Pere Ubu box set?

When you see Courtney Love on the news these days, what goes through your mind?

At first I feel pity and kinda sorry for her, then I remember that she's Courtney Love.

Do you have any kids?

Nope.

For the most part, do you think acid has a positive effects or negative effects on most people?

Positive, up to a point. It's a good eye opener. I recommend it to anyone who isn't about to go schizophrenic.

What about cocaine?

Cocaine is the worst drug there is. It's totally disappointing. It's a big tease that takes you nowhere. People on it are the most irritating people out there. At least junkies shut up and go to sleep.

Is The Monkeywrench ever gonna make another record?

Yes. I think it's almost done actually.

Did you audition for the frontman position in Audioslave?

Those fuckers wouldn't audition me. I went down there, to LA, on my own dime and hung out in front of the Rehearsal Studio on Lankershim where someone told me they rent a room. They never showed. I hooked up with these guys Wayne, Michael and Dennis so it wasn't a total loss.

How many shows did it take with the MC5 dudes before it wasn't totally tripping you out that you were singing for the MC5?

That was tripping me out to the very end of the four month tour. It still trips me out. That's the kind of thing you never get over.

What's your favorite Mudhoney album? And least favorite?

I can't pick one favorite, sorry. The albums I like best, in chronological order are: Superfuzz..., Every Good Boy..., Tomorrow Hit Today, and Since We've Become Translucent.

My least favorites are: Five Dollar Bob's Mock Cooter Stew and Piece Of Cake.

What's up with you and Hagstrom guitars? how many do you have?

I have 3 now. I use them mainly for slide. I got my first one in '87 for $80 from a friend who needed drug money. It was baby blue and beautiful. I hadn't played guitar during the three years I was in Green River. The super thin neck of the Hagstrom made it easy to get reacquainted with the instrument. I'm so used to playing a Gretsch these days that my fingers seem way too fat for a Hagstrom.

I got a back up Hagstrom III just before our second time down the West Coast. I smashed that $80 baby blue one during "In & Out of Grace" at a show in Berkeley. I felt sick immediately afterwards. I haven't intentionally broken a guitar since.

On "The Year Punk Broke" you are shown blowing snot outta your nose. Are you stoked people can see you blow snot outta your nose whenever they want now?

I've never seen that movie. Emily and her boyfriend at the time, walked out in the middle of it. That's the only movie she's ever walked out on. I don't think my snot scene had anything to do with that, though.

But what about the snot?

What about it?

What's your opinion of Spacemen 3's Mudhoney cover?

I think it's fantastic.

What was their official statement on Mudhoney's Spacemen 3 cover?

I don't know, I'll have to check their website. I know Sonic Boom was really pissed at me for changing the words. I thought I was being funny, but he took it personally. We buried the hatchet a long time ago though.

What's your take on modern "independent underground" rock music?

I know precious little about it.

It seems in this day and age, bands play 1 show and then expect a record deal, hot shot manager, booking agent, and their face on the cover of NME.

That's funny. There are always assholes who act like they're really important. They are the most pathetically insecure chumps around. It's an inverse proposition: the larger the ego and sense of entitlement the smaller the talent and creativity.

Also, did it bother you when certain sub pop bands, and Mudhoney in particular were blamed for being "overhyped" back in the salad days of the sub pop era?

Mmmm, salad.

Is Steve gonna make another solo record?

Yes.

Bob Dylan pre-electric or post?

It's not an either or proposition.

Favorite Beatle?

Charlie Watts

Quit beatin around the bush, yer talking about Courtney Love on those songs, right?

Sure, but I'm not beating around the bush when I say that the sentiments in those songs are equally applicable to dicks like Lenny Kravitz, Bono, Sting, those brothers in Oasis, Lars Ulrich, Axel Rose (although he just seems kinda sad and pathetic these days), Steve Albini, Ryan Adams and probably hundreds of others whose names I'd know if I read more entertainment publications.

The examples of Layne Staley and various people orbiting the Nirvana/Hole axis circa 1994 that I used in "Into Yer Shtik" are just those I was most familiar with. Things had gotten pretty ugly and had hit frighteningly close to home at that point. Usually that sort of ugliness congregates in far off media centers like NY, LA & London.

If you could pick an all star "most irritating band ever" (both in musical terms and if they held a press conference), what would the line up be?

Vocals: Bono
Lead Guitar: Dave Navarro
Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals (although he'd never admit they were just backing vocals): Lenny Kravitz
Bass: Sting
Drums: Lars Ulrich
Backing Vocals & Dancing: Michael Stipe