01/25/2023 Meriadock
Was Elliott Smith's "Waltz. #1" in your mind at all when writing/arranging Holy Filament? There's something that binds those songs together in my mind, probably the piano ideas on some parts... Both tracks have some kind of "space opera" vibe to me (which is a crappy, subjective description, but I mean it as a compliment to both).
I wasn’t aware of Elliott’s music until much later. Honestly, I’m not sure what inspired Holy Filament musically.
12/27/2022 Bird
I recently stumbled upon Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant, a positive of the 4th Quarter of 2022, to me - thank you. I have listened, enjoyed and created my own "art" to the latest 2 albums from the trio - and you sent me to a site where I can buy the 1st album. I appreciate you attending to questions as I sincerely get curious and below I'm wondering: (I don't know music jargon, so I hope these make some sense:)
1. Debutantes & Centipedes - It doesn't say, but did you compose this full project as you did with the two to follow?
2. Improv: How (and did you even) allow for improv/solo's? Were there more so on any of the three projects (albums) than the others and if so, was there a particular reason?
3. What's something (musically) that you have opened up to and or have a different perspective on from your trio's and your personal musical growth between your 1996 release to your current 2022? (Is there something you thought you'd never integrate into your work that you now respect and or vice versa)?
Thank you, whether you have time to respond or not. Thank you for sharing your music -- We've been enjoying! My interpretation/ "art" for Debutantes & Centipedes is already very different from the other two, all in great ways - I think it's song #3 that has me currently, I don't like to look at titles until I get a few listens in! Thanks.
1. Yes, all compositions by me.
2. I often write in sections to be soloed over — or leave space for that in the composition, or have someone solo over written parts. There is some level of improvisation on every piece I’ve written for trio-convulsant. How much improv just depends on what I feel the piece needs.
3. I’ve tried to integrate more patience into my work; taking time to let things develop and create more tension. I find abrupt changes to be too easy, but pacing is a difficult thing to harness as a composer, personally speaking. It’s a challenge I want to continue to work on.
12/23/2022 Christian
Hey Trevor,
The new Convulsant album is phenomenal, keep up the great work!
I was thinking to myself as I was streaming it....how do you consume new music these days? I'm sure that I don't need to list all the problems that exist with streaming platforms (for both artists and consumers), but I am less sure of the best alternatives technologically, sonically, spiritually, etc. There also seems to be a lack of representation for experimental music on platforms like Spottily, and so it can be hard to discover new and interesting stuff.
Are you in on the vinyl thing? Do you still buy CDs? Do you have a preference on how I should be procuring / imbibing your own music?
That's technically three (or more) questions, so I'll stop now.
Thanks again!
I still favor CDs soundwise. It baffles me that vinyl made a comeback being an inferior audio experience. But you know, demand, supply, etc. I still buy used vinyl — mostly obscure stuff no one wants in thrift stores like 20th century classical music. I recently bought a bunch of CDs at a TOWER Records in Japan. It was thrilling. I type all this as I listen to the last Little Dragon record on Spotify. I will soon be (should have done it already) switch to Tidal as it pays the artists more fairly. But streaming doesn’t pay shit. I like to use streaming for research and when I find stuff I like, I buy it, which of course, helps to add more plastic to the planet. So, I will be buying Slugs Of Love on CD, then burn it on my ancient laptop so that I can put it on my more ancient ipod. I don’t listen to music on my phone. I still have a fair amount of my own CDs that don’t seem to be selling. I hope I don’t have to throw them in the ocean one day.
12/12/2022Allen
Hey!
I remember reading that Trey had this hilarious music video idea for Desert Search and WB just shot it down immediately. Something about you guys walking out of a flying saucer? Do you think the band would ever independently fund that now you're reunited and more popular than ever?
Make a video for a song we wrote and released 30 years ago? haha doubt it. We had a lot of big ideas that never got realized. But what you heard is a rumor. WB was satisfied with the one video we did make, which MTV rejected. As I recall, it was a collective idea that included camels and UFOs. We also wanted to make a video for Platypus which would have been a hunting safari ending with kicking a platypus off of a mountain top.
12/08/2022 JDopp
Hey Trevor,
There's a compilation album I've seen called The Twist & Shout 6 O'Clock Good News and on TTT, it shows Mr. Bungle as having an untitled, unlisted track at the end of the album that, from the 30 second sample, sounds an awful lot like Nirvana's song Tourette's. Do you know anything about this Mr. Dunn? Is this even Mr. Bungle playing? If so, care to explain what this is?
I just had a listen and I have no idea what that is. It doesn’t sound like us in my opinion. Especially that little octaver part at the end.
12/02/2022 Juuso
Hey, Trevor, I love you.
Has anything ever happened in your life that at the time felt like a horrible experience with no upsides, but in retrospect feels like something that was beneficial for you?
All the best.
Absolutely. I had an experience with a mentor once that almost made me want to quit music. I turned it around though and it made me a stronger person. There are probably more of those than I recall.
12/01/2022 emma
hi do you reckon you'll ever redo bowel of chilley like you did wrath of the easter bunny or is mr bungle dead now
No reason to redo that amateurish stuff.
11/16/2022 John F Kennedy
Thanks for conversing with fans in this manner. I wish more artists did this.
I have seen you play 3 times. Twice with Mr Bungle and once with Mondo Cane at Sydney's State Theatre (I smiled for days after that show). The Mr Bungle Disco Volante Australian tour was something special with William Winant on percussion. I remember you guys did a superb cover of Tower Of Strength.
1. Can you remember which version your cover was based off? ( I hear more of Frankie Vaughan's rowdiness in yours over the smoothness of Gene McDaniels).
2. Whose idea was it?
3. Does a studio recording exist?
Thanks.......
We were covering Frankie Vaughan’s version; definitely the more hammy and kitschy of the two. Can’t remember who’s idea it was, either Patton or Heifetz. There might be some basic tracks on 2” tape in someone’s garage.
11/15/2022 Bud Bundy
Mr Bungles "Squeeze Me Macaroni" bears a striking resemblance to the Red Hot Chili Peppers song "Sex Rap". Are you ready to admit plagiarism. Was that the cause of the whole feud??????
Are we still talking about this shit? “Striking resemblance”? You gotta be kidding.
The cause of the feud was them kicking us off several festivals out of fear.
11/07/2022 JC
You guys have gone out of your way to denounce nu metal and you've all made your opinions on bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit and Slipknot etc very clear over the years. To come full circle where you're now playing shows with Slipknot and doing Sick World which is a nu metal bonanza w the same bands you have reviled for years. What's the thought process there? Were you out voted? Money talks? Have you guys mellowed and now have mutual admiration for other bands that are considered peers in the sense that they are around the same age as you. Can we be expecting a peace offering and tour w the Chili Peppers in the future? Just curious as to how you feel about playing shows with bands you've made no secret of your disdain for. 1 month til those Slipknot shows. Fingers crossed they don't come across any old interviews w Patton where he disembodied them
Firstly, to say that we are “playing shows with” these bands is a stretch. If we get offered to do a massive festival for a bunch of money, we’re not gonna turn it down. We’re not stupid. You actually think that all the bands that play on a festival together all have mutual respect for each other? There’s a big difference between us taking bands we like on tour with us and hopping on a festival bill. Those festivals are about supplying as much content to the audience as their tickets and sponsorships will allow. Also, as a musician I can say those festivals are a clusterfuck. We usually try to get in and out as quickly as possible, and only hang briefly with the few bands that we may know or like. I may have mellowed in many ways in my old age, but I still think a lot of bands suck and I’m still not a fan of NüMetal. We won’t be touring with the Jalepeño Poppers. They wouldn’t dare being slaughtered night after night.
I couldn’t care less what any of those bands read either. No back peddling here.
10/25/2022 David
Of all the projects and recordings you have been involved with, can you list some that are the most similar to Moonchild Trio. That metal jazz fusion thing is the tits
That’s a tricky one, as Moonchild is a specific Zorn project. If you’re not aware, the albums Astronome, Six Litanies for Heliogabalus, The Crucible and Ipsissimus are all Moonchild variants. Six Litanies happens to be my favorite. You might also like Asmodeus.
10/24/2022 Lucas Toro
Just one question.
Who´s singing in the "secret song" from disco volante?
That would be me, you whippersnapper.
10/21/2022 david mirrione
thanks for replying for my 2 year old question LOL,
16 now and i still got more questions haha,
will the unreleased track from the california record ever surface? ive heard it mentioned in interviews i just cant recall the name right now
on a side note, thank you to you and the other bungle members for introducing me to blue velvet, the sample at the end of stubb got me curious and now its my favorite movie ever made
thanks and have a good day!
Sorry, man. I get busy sometimes and answering questions is a duty more than anything.
There are several unreleased tracks from each of our records. It’s a can of worms, especially now, to dig up the tapes, and mix them. Maybe someday. Now go watch some Tarkovsky.
10/17/2022 Toots
10/17/2022 22:19:57Toots
Have you heard this band, Kampec Dolores? I've just found out about them, they're from Hungary and apparently opened for Pere Ubu in the USA for a tour. But this song, Jesus, seems right up your alley. Kinda reminds me of Stump in a way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXqXHyrAuvA What do you think?
Very cool. I like it. Never heard of them. Thanks for sharing!
10/12/2022 theee dunnalinguist
greetings Trevor. long-time fan here. since '91. we have spoken on a couple occasions right here in Ohio.
i recall you taking the time to make a small list of essential listening for me. thanks again for the kind gesture.
here are a few questions. nothing fancy. just some nails i would like to have hammered.
1. my ass is on fire - the video - what is the story behind the bald man in the water when the video first starts?
2. could you please update the hermitage section? (some of us really look forward to reading that)
3. have you seen any impressive horror movies lately?
thanks again for all that you do in the house of the rising Dunn!
1. That’s Heifetz sitting in a hot tub somewhere on tour.
2. Done
3. Talk To Me wasn’t bad. I tend to prefer the old classics. Currently on a DePalma kick.
10/11/2022 Ethan Mason
I'm a big fan of Mr. Bungle and for a while, I've been trying to find the sample at the end of "Dead Goon" with the piano and strings but I can't seem to find it anywhere on the internet. Any chance you could help me out?
That whole outro is an improvisation by David Shea who did some turntable work on that record. I have no idea what vinyl he was using. As far as that whole mashup is concerned, our record is the only place it exists.
09/24/2022 Vrum Vrum
Hi Trev. Was listening to podcast where you mentioned how you like radio shows, live concept of it and how you discover new stuff like that. Can you recommend some station, shows for us ordinary mortals swiming in see of distractions? .
Btw I also had a fantasy to be radio host and I can blame this show for it https://youtu.be/as8Elg9-J00 (I was maybe 6-7) have you seen it?
Looking forward to your singer/songwriter project! Love
I can’t recommend WFMU enough. They archive everything so you can listen on their website as well.
I vaguely remember Midnight Caller. I think more clearly I remember WKRP.
09/21/2022 Kyle
If I ever get married again, would you consider playing the procedure?
Of course. Pay me enough to bring a band..
09/17/2022 Jordan
Hey, Trevor. Hope you've been well. I've brought some jazz-related questions for you today.
1) I've been wanting to learn how to improvise walking bass lines for a while now. What's your best advice on how to get the ball rolling on that? Is there any specific music theory that I should focus on when learning and/or playing them? Are there any books you would advise me getting?
2) Were there any particular jazz musicians that influenced the writing of "Platypus"?
3) Are there any modern jazz artists that you've listening to lately?
Thank you so much for being an inspiration for me and many others alike.
1) Learn all your scales and arpeggios in all keys (start with major, dorian and mixolydian). I learned how to walk by reading chord charts in big band. Get a Real Book and start learning standards. Check out Jamey Abersold’s records, especially the one of the simple Charlie Parker tunes. Ron Carter is playing bass on those and you can get a book of his transcribed lines. That is an essential study. Take lessons with any professional jazz musician (bassist or otherwise) for more guidance.
2) Jaco, Kev Hopper (Stump), Percy Jones (Brand X), probably Weather Report & Return To Forever.
3) Chris Speed, Craig Taborn, Kris Davis, Anna Webber, Steve Lehman, Gerald Cleaver, Linda May Han Oh, Tim Berne.
09/14/2022
Wanted to ask you about Phlegmatics. Being that it’s a tone row, did you have guitar doubling the vocal so that Patton wasn’t on an island alone singing a thorny serial melody, which can be quite challenging for an “untrained” singer, or was that the arrangement from conception?
Also, do you remember where the idea came from to split the drums into two distinct tracks (panned hard L & R) in that short part before the intro beat kicks in again? That effect of two drummers simultaneously playing/improvising different parts is one of my favorite moments on DV. Thanks for the two minute masterpiece, Trevor. Warm wishes from L.A.
It was a choice of orchestration — guitar and voice in unison over an unrelated drum beat.
I believe the idea of the separated drum sets came to me in the studio continuing with the idea of the drums being in their own world (as the bass essentially is in this section, too (at least rhythmically). I don’t remember if it was a forethought or if it came about by “accident”.