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===Self titled debut===
===Self titled debut===
Their debut, ''[[Mr. Bungle (album)|Mr. Bungle]]'', was recorded a year after Mike Patton was recruited into Faith No More and was produced by jazz experimentalist [[John Zorn]]. Released on August 13, 1991 The album contained several new songs but the sound was in a similar style as "OU818", normally described as "[[funk metal]]" by music critics.<ref name="bunglefever"/> However, the content is very hard to pin down using specific [[genre]]s, and the structure and musical style of any single track can dramatically alter anywhere in a song. The album featured numerous samples including items from the videogames "[[Super Mario Bros]]”, "[[Smash TV]]”, and “[[RBI Baseball]]" the movies [[Blue Velvet]] and Sharon's Sex Party, and the pinball games "Cyclone," “Earthshaker," and "Haunted House." Almost all the members went by obscure aliases in the album credits. To promote the album in some stores, a Mr. Bungle bubble bath was given away with copies of the record sold.<ref name="MrBungleFAQ"/>
Their debut, ''[[Mr. Bungle (album)|Mr. Bungle]]'', was recorded a year after Mike Patton was recruited into Faith No More and was produced by jazz experimentalist [[John Zorn]]. Released on August 13, 1991 the album contained several new songs but overall the sound was in a similar style as "OU818". The record mixed metal, funk, ska, carnival music, and free jazz, but was normally described as "[[funk metal]]" by music critics.<ref name="bunglefever"/> The content is, however, very hard to pin down using specific [[genre]]s, and the structure and musical style of any single track can dramatically alter anywhere in a song.<ref name="McGaughey"/> The album featured numerous samples including [[Kentucky Fried Chicken]] commercial outtakes, items from the videogames "[[Super Mario Bros]]”, "[[Smash TV]]”, and “[[RBI Baseball]]" the movies [[Blue Velvet]] and Sharon's Sex Party, and the pinball games "Cyclone," “Earthshaker," and "Haunted House." Almost all the members went by obscure aliases in the album credits and to promote the album in some stores, a Mr. Bungle [[bubble bath]] was given away with copies of the record sold.<ref name="MrBungleFAQ"/>


The first track on the self-titled recording was originally called "Travolta"({{audio|QuoteUnquote sample.ogg|sample}}), however, the actor [[John Travolta]] took issue with this title and threatened [[Law|legal action]]. With the encouragement of Warner Bros the song name was changed and on later pressings of the album was called "[[Quote Unquote (song)|Quote Unquote]]", which is also the title of an unauthorized John Travolta biography by Bob McCabe.<ref name="MrBungleFAQ"/> They created a video for "Travolta" and submitted it to [[MTV]]. However, the station refused to air the video because of images of bodies dangling on meat hooks.<ref name="McGaughey">{{cite web | last = McGaughey | first = Scott | title = The Unclassifiable and Ever-Evolving Music of Mr. Bungle | publisher = |date=September 1999 | url = http://www.furious.com/Perfect/mrbungle.html | accessdate = 2007-05-05}}</ref>
The first track on the self-titled recording was originally called "Travolta"({{audio|QuoteUnquote sample.ogg|sample}}), however, the actor [[John Travolta]] took issue with this title and threatened [[Law|legal action]]. With the encouragement of Warner Bros the song name was changed and on later pressings of the album was called "[[Quote Unquote (song)|Quote Unquote]]", which is also the title of an unauthorized John Travolta biography by Bob McCabe.<ref name="MrBungleFAQ"/> They created a video for "Travolta" and submitted it to [[MTV]]. However, the station refused to air the video because of images of bodies dangling on meat hooks.<ref name="McGaughey">{{cite web | last = McGaughey | first = Scott | title = The Unclassifiable and Ever-Evolving Music of Mr. Bungle | publisher = |date=September 1999 | url = http://www.furious.com/Perfect/mrbungle.html | accessdate = 2007-05-05}}</ref>


The album sold well and they toured North America successfully building a large and loyal cult following. Their popularity was mainly due to unique stage shows where they often performed with masks to hide their identities and played unlikely covers during their set such as [[Billy Squier|Billy Squier's]] "The Stroke," "The [[Star Wars]] Theme," and [[John Sebastian|John Sebastian’s]] "Welcome Back".<ref name="Allmusic"/>
The album sold well despite MTV refusing to air their video and a lack of radio airplay. The band also toured North America successfully building a large and loyal cult following, their popularity was mainly due to unique stage shows where they often performed with masks to hide their identities and played unlikely covers during their set such as [[Billy Squier|Billy Squier's]] "The Stroke," "The [[Star Wars]] Theme," and [[John Sebastian|John Sebastian’s]] "Welcome Back".<ref name="Allmusic"/><ref name="McGaughey"/>


===Disco Volante===
===Disco Volante===
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{{sample box end}}
{{sample box end}}


''Disco Volante'' included influences from [[contemporary classical music]], [[avant-garde jazz]], [[electronic music]] pioneer [[Pierre Henry]], [[Edgar Allen Poe]], [[John Zorn]], [[Frank Zappa]], and European [[Film score|film music]] of the 1960s and 1970s such as those composed by [[Ennio Morricone]] and [[Peter Thomas]].<ref name="McGaughey"/><ref name="DV Rev"/><ref name=" Joost"/><ref name="CMJ-NMR REV"/><ref name="Eichler DV Rev">{{cite web | last = Eichler | first =Bob | title =Disco Volante Review | publisher = Ground and Sky | date = 27 February 2004 | url =http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mb-dv| accessdate = 2007-05-29}}</ref>
''Disco Volante'' included influences from [[contemporary classical music]], [[avant-garde jazz]], [[electronic music]] pioneer [[Pierre Henry]], [[Edgar Allen Poe]], [[John Zorn]], [[Frank Zappa]], [[Penderecki]], and European [[Film score|film music]] of the 1960s and 1970s such as those composed by [[Ennio Morricone]] and [[Peter Thomas]].<ref name="McGaughey"/><ref name="DV Rev"/><ref name=" Joost"/><ref name="CMJ-NMR REV"/><ref name="Eichler DV Rev">{{cite web | last = Eichler | first =Bob | title =Disco Volante Review | publisher = Ground and Sky | date = 27 February 2004 | url =http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mb-dv| accessdate = 2007-05-29}}</ref>


The album notes also contained an invitation to participate in an "unusual scam", where if $2 was sent to the bands address, participants would receive additional artwork, lyrics to the songs "Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz" and "Chemical Marriage", and some stickers.<ref name="bunglefever"/> Mr. Bungle supported this record with extensive tours through the United States, Europe, and Australia during '95 and '96. In 1996 Theo Lengyel retired as Bungle's original sax player and keyboardist due to [[Creative Differences|creative differences]].<ref name="BungleGrind"/>
The album notes also contained an invitation to participate in an "unusual scam", where if $2 was sent to the bands address, participants would receive additional artwork, lyrics to the songs "Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz" and "Chemical Marriage", and some stickers.<ref name="bunglefever"/> Mr. Bungle supported this record with extensive tours through the United States, Europe, and Australia during '95 and '96. In 1996 Theo Lengyel retired as Bungle's original sax player and keyboardist due to [[Creative Differences|creative differences]].<ref name="BungleGrind"/>



===California===
===California===
[[Image:MrBungle99.JPG|thumbnail|Mr Bungle live in 1999]]
[[Image:MrBungle99.JPG|thumbnail|Mr Bungle live in 1999]]
With another 4 year break between albums, the band's third album, ''[[California (Mr. Bungle album)|California]]'', was released on July 13 1999.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | title =Mr. Bungle, California | publisher = Warner Brothers Records | date = 1999 | url =http://www.wbr.com/mrbungle/index.html | accessdate = 2007-05-22}}</ref> ''California'' is said to be Mr. Bungles most accessible<ref name="Eichler">{{cite web | last = Eichler | first = Bob | title = California Review | publisher = Ground and Sky | date = 4 April 2004 | url =http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mb-cal| accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref><ref name="Wu">{{cite web | last = Wu | first = Brandon | title = California Review | publisher = Ground and Sky | date = 12 April 2004 | url =http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mb-cal| accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref> and while the genre shifts are still present, they are less frequent, with concise song formats giving the album a less chaotic and more stable feel.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web | last = | first = | title =Mike Patton: A Singer With Energy | publisher = CNN.com | date = 13 October 1999 | url =http://www.bunglefever.com/interviews/cnn.html | accessdate = 2007-05-23}}</ref> Whereas ''Disco Volante'' was a dark, brooding work, ''California'' has a much lighter tone, although it continues their musical, lyrical, and thematic experimentation.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web | last = Kurutz | first = Steve | title = California Review | publisher = All-Music Guide Expert Review | date = | url =http://nirrosive.tripod.com/articles/article15.txt | accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref> The album displays numerous influences including [[exotica]], [[Burt Bacharach]], and [[The Beach Boys]], while blending lounge, pop, jazz, funk, thrash-metal, along with Hawaiian, [[Middle Eastern music|Middle Eastern]], [[kecak]], and avant-garde soundscapes.<ref name="Eichler"/><ref name="Wu"/><ref name="AMG"/><ref name="Paluzzi">{{cite web | last = Paluzzi | first = Nick | title = California Review | publisher = Ground and Sky | date = 27 April 2004 | url =http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mb-cal| accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref><ref name="Huey">{{cite web | last = Huey | first = Steve | title = California Review| publisher = All Music | date = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3d87gjlr26ix | accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref> The band did 5 tours to support this record. For the most part, perhaps with the exception of the Sno-Core 2000 tour where they were often booed, the band did have success attracting an audience.<ref name="BungleGrind"/><ref name="Fong">{{cite web | last = Fong | first = Erik | title = Trey Spruance Interview| publisher = Perfect Pitch Online | date = July 1-14 2003 | url = http://www.perfectpitchonline.com/v01i07/trey_spruance.php | accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref>
With another 4 year break between albums, the band's third album, ''[[California (Mr. Bungle album)|California]]'', was released on July 13 1999.<ref>{{cite web | last = | first = | title =Mr. Bungle, California | publisher = Warner Brothers Records | date = 1999 | url =http://www.wbr.com/mrbungle/index.html | accessdate = 2007-05-22}}</ref> ''California'' is said to be Mr. Bungles most accessible<ref name="Eichler">{{cite web | last = Eichler | first = Bob | title = California Review | publisher = Ground and Sky | date = 4 April 2004 | url =http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mb-cal| accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref><ref name="Wu">{{cite web | last = Wu | first = Brandon | title = California Review | publisher = Ground and Sky | date = 12 April 2004 | url =http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mb-cal| accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref> and while the genre shifts are still present, they are less frequent, with concise song formats giving the album a less chaotic and more stable feel.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web | last = | first = | title =Mike Patton: A Singer With Energy | publisher = CNN.com | date = 13 October 1999 | url =http://www.bunglefever.com/interviews/cnn.html | accessdate = 2007-05-23}}</ref> Whereas ''Disco Volante'' was a dark, brooding work, ''California'' has a much lighter tone, although it continues their musical, lyrical, and thematic experimentation.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web | last = Kurutz | first = Steve | title = California Review | publisher = All-Music Guide Expert Review | date = | url =http://nirrosive.tripod.com/articles/article15.txt | accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref> Additionally, the recording process for ''California'' became much more complex with some songs requiring several [[Multitrack recording|24-track machines]] while utilizing more than 50 analog tracks.<ref name="CNN"/> As a result each song contains detailed layers of original samples, keyboards, percussion, and melodies.<ref name="McGaughey"/>


The album displays numerous influences including [[exotica]], [[Burt Bacharach]], and [[The Beach Boys]], while blending lounge, pop, jazz, funk, thrash-metal, along with Hawaiian, [[Middle Eastern music|Middle Eastern]], [[kecak]], and avant-garde soundscapes.<ref name="Eichler"/><ref name="Wu"/><ref name="AMG"/><ref name="Paluzzi">{{cite web | last = Paluzzi | first = Nick | title = California Review | publisher = Ground and Sky | date = 27 April 2004 | url =http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=mb-cal| accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref><ref name="Huey">{{cite web | last = Huey | first = Steve | title = California Review| publisher = All Music | date = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3d87gjlr26ix | accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref> The band did 5 tours to support this record. For the most part, perhaps with the exception of the Sno-Core 2000 tour where they were often booed, the band did have success attracting an audience.<ref name="BungleGrind"/><ref name="Fong">{{cite web | last = Fong | first = Erik | title = Trey Spruance Interview| publisher = Perfect Pitch Online | date = July 1-14 2003 | url = http://www.perfectpitchonline.com/v01i07/trey_spruance.php | accessdate = 2007-05-16}}</ref>
=== Mr. Bungle's end ===
=== Mr. Bungle's end ===


Revision as of 06:10, 30 May 2007

Mr. Bungle

Mr. Bungle were a influential avant-progressive experimental rock group formed in Northern California in 1985. Created while the members were still in high school and named after a children's educational film, they released three demo tapes in the mid to late 1980s, before being signed to Warner Brothers Records, who subsequently released three full-length studio albums between 1991 and 1999. Mr. Bungle have not been active since touring in 2000 to support their last album, a recent media interview has confirmed the group is now disbanded.[1]

Mr, Bungle was known for their distinctive musical traits, often blending and cycling through several musical genres within the course of a single song fusing radically different musical styles together. Many of their songs had a non-conventional structure and utilized a wide array of instruments and samples. Distinguished by their live shows, which often featured members dressing up and an array of unlikely cover songs, they had a characteristic style which in turn has influenced many recent funk metal bands. During the course of their career the band also had an ongoing feud with the Red Hot Chili Peppers' frontman Anthony Kiedis, which escalated in the late 90s with Kiedis having Mr. Bungle removed from a number of large music festivals in Europe and Australasia where the Chili Peppers' were headlining.

Although signed to a major record label, Mr. Bungle never had significant commercial success and only released one music video. They did, however, gain a reasonable amount of worldwide popularity due to a large cult following.[1]

History

Early days

Mr. Bungle formed in 1985 in Eureka, California while the members were still in high school; initially consisting of Trevor Dunn, Mike Patton, Trey Spruance, Theo Lengyel, and Jed Watts. Watts was subsequently replaced by Hans Wagner, and he by Danny Heifetz, while Clinton "Bär" McKinnon joined in 1989.[2] The band's name was taken from a children's educational film devised to teach children good manners and hygiene, which was featured in a Pee Wee Herman HBO special in the early '80s. A puppet named Mr. Bungle was the main character, who represented the kind of person no clean, polite child would wish to be. Subsequently, in 1989 Faith No More bassist Billy Gould told Patton about a pornographic video called Sharon’s Sex Party, which also starred a character known as Mr. Bungle.[2]

Soon after forming, the band's first demo, The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny, was recorded during Easter of 1986, generally featuring a fast, low-fi, death metal style, though it also utilized a trainwhistle, a saxophone, bongos, and a kazoo. The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny was followed by the demo Bowel of Chiley in 1987, the music on this demo was completely different than that of "The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny," incorporating the sounds of ska, swing, and funk. In 1988 Mr. Bungle released Goddammit I Love America!, which was musically similar to Bowel of Chiley. Mr. Bungle’s final demo tape was OU818, released in 1989, this demo was the first to feature tenor sax player Clinton "Bär" McKinnon and drummer Danny Heifetz. OU818 combined songs from the earlier demos along with some new tracks having a heavier overall sound than Mr. Bungles previous releases.[3][4][5] In 1988 Mike Patton landed the lead vocalist slot with San Francisco's Faith No More, getting the job after Jim Martin of Faith No More heard him on a Mr. Bungle demo.[6] Patton decided not to break up Mr. Bungle, and continued to be a member of both bands simultaneously. Having established a strong following in Northern California and due to the success of Faith No More’s 1989 album The Real Thing, Mr. Bungle was signed to Warner Brothers, who released their self-titled debut in 1991.[4]

Self titled debut

Their debut, Mr. Bungle, was recorded a year after Mike Patton was recruited into Faith No More and was produced by jazz experimentalist John Zorn. Released on August 13, 1991 the album contained several new songs but overall the sound was in a similar style as "OU818". The record mixed metal, funk, ska, carnival music, and free jazz, but was normally described as "funk metal" by music critics.[3] The content is, however, very hard to pin down using specific genres, and the structure and musical style of any single track can dramatically alter anywhere in a song.[7] The album featured numerous samples including Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial outtakes, items from the videogames "Super Mario Bros”, "Smash TV”, and “RBI Baseball" the movies Blue Velvet and Sharon's Sex Party, and the pinball games "Cyclone," “Earthshaker," and "Haunted House." Almost all the members went by obscure aliases in the album credits and to promote the album in some stores, a Mr. Bungle bubble bath was given away with copies of the record sold.[2]

The first track on the self-titled recording was originally called "Travolta"(sampleⓘ), however, the actor John Travolta took issue with this title and threatened legal action. With the encouragement of Warner Bros the song name was changed and on later pressings of the album was called "Quote Unquote", which is also the title of an unauthorized John Travolta biography by Bob McCabe.[2] They created a video for "Travolta" and submitted it to MTV. However, the station refused to air the video because of images of bodies dangling on meat hooks.[7]

The album sold well despite MTV refusing to air their video and a lack of radio airplay. The band also toured North America successfully building a large and loyal cult following, their popularity was mainly due to unique stage shows where they often performed with masks to hide their identities and played unlikely covers during their set such as Billy Squier's "The Stroke," "The Star Wars Theme," and John Sebastian’s "Welcome Back".[4][7]

Disco Volante

Due to the band members having a multitude of side-projects and artwork delays it was another 4 years before Disco Volante was released in October 1995.[3] This, their second major release, has a completely different tone to earlier Mr. Bungle recordings. While the self-titled album was described as "funk metal" with Disco Volante this was replaced with the label "avant-garde" or "experimental."[7] The music was complex and unpredictable with the band continuing with their extreme shifts of musical style during songs. Some the tracks were in foreign languages and would radically changing genres mid-song, arguably making it Mr. Bungle's most difficult and inaccessible release.[7] Featuring plodding death metal, deranged children's songs, and a Middle Eastern techno number, the album was described as having a totally original musical style, sounding like nothing that currently exists.[8]

Template:Sound sample box align right

"Desert Search For Techno Allah" (1995)
30 second sample from Mr. Bungle's "Desert Search For Techno Allah".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Template:Sample box end

Disco Volante included influences from contemporary classical music, avant-garde jazz, electronic music pioneer Pierre Henry, Edgar Allen Poe, John Zorn, Frank Zappa, Penderecki, and European film music of the 1960s and 1970s such as those composed by Ennio Morricone and Peter Thomas.[7][8][9][10][11]

The album notes also contained an invitation to participate in an "unusual scam", where if $2 was sent to the bands address, participants would receive additional artwork, lyrics to the songs "Ma Meeshka Mow Skwoz" and "Chemical Marriage", and some stickers.[3] Mr. Bungle supported this record with extensive tours through the United States, Europe, and Australia during '95 and '96. In 1996 Theo Lengyel retired as Bungle's original sax player and keyboardist due to creative differences.[5]

California

Mr Bungle live in 1999

With another 4 year break between albums, the band's third album, California, was released on July 13 1999.[12] California is said to be Mr. Bungles most accessible[13][14] and while the genre shifts are still present, they are less frequent, with concise song formats giving the album a less chaotic and more stable feel.[15] Whereas Disco Volante was a dark, brooding work, California has a much lighter tone, although it continues their musical, lyrical, and thematic experimentation.[16] Additionally, the recording process for California became much more complex with some songs requiring several 24-track machines while utilizing more than 50 analog tracks.[15] As a result each song contains detailed layers of original samples, keyboards, percussion, and melodies.[7]

The album displays numerous influences including exotica, Burt Bacharach, and The Beach Boys, while blending lounge, pop, jazz, funk, thrash-metal, along with Hawaiian, Middle Eastern, kecak, and avant-garde soundscapes.[13][14][16][17][18] The band did 5 tours to support this record. For the most part, perhaps with the exception of the Sno-Core 2000 tour where they were often booed, the band did have success attracting an audience.[5][19]

Mr. Bungle's end

Following the 2000 tour the band again went on hiatus, rumors circulated that the band has dissolved with some members stating that the band was “over” while others insisted it was just "in limbo".[3] In 2003 Patton alluded to the fact that the band would probably not record any more albums stating "I think it is over. The guys are spread all over the world and we don't talk to each other. I have not spoken to a couple of the guys since the last tour, years ago."[20] While no official break-up announcement ever materialized, a 2004 Rolling Stone interview with Patton confirmed Mr. Bungle had disbanded with him revealing “We could have probably squeezed out a couple more records but the collective personality of this group became so dysfunctional, this band was poisoned by one person's petty jealousy and insecurity, and it led us to a slow, unnatural death. And I'm at peace with that, because I know I tried all I could."[1] When asked about a possible reunion, Mike Patton said, "It could happen, but I won’t be singing. Some bridges have definitely been burned. It was a fun time and sometimes you just have to move on. I’ve got a lot on my plate now."[21] Trevor Dunn adds, on his website, "Bungle is dead and I'm happy about it" and that "the members of Mr. Bungle will never work together as such again".[22] Spruance,[23] Heifetz, and McKinnon[24] have been more optimistic; to quote Spruance, in response to the standard 'Mr. Bungle regrouping' question: “I hope so because that band could take over the fucking world if it wanted to."[23]

After the dissolution of Mr. Bungle the members have gone on to numerous different projects. Mike Patton co-founded the record label Ipecac Recordings[25] and is involved with several other ventures, most notably the bands Fantômas,[26] Tomahawk,[27] and Peeping Tom.[28] He also acted in the motion picture Firecracker.[29] Trey Spruance is involved with various bands, including Secret Chiefs 3 and Faxed head. Trevor Dunn joined Patton in Fantômas as well as forming his own jazz band, Trevor Dunn's Trio Convulsant; he also occasionally played bass with Secret Chiefs 3.[7][30] Danny Heifetz’s projects included playing with Secret Chiefs 3 and in a country/punk band called Dieselhed,[7] he now resides in Sydney, Australia, and plays in outfits such as The Tango Saloon and The Fantastic Terrific Munkle.[31][32] Clinton McKinnon also played with Secret Chiefs 3, he now lives in Melbourne, Australia, and plays with The Ribbon Device.[33]

Style and influence

Mr. Bungle’s style is difficult to categorize, described as ‘unclassifiable’ by some; or as a band which felt comfortable in all genres, yet fits conveniently into none.[7] They were generally regarded as an experimental rock or avant-progressive rock group. Distinctive features of Mr. Bungle’s music were the utilization of numerous different instruments, distinctive vocals, and the use of unpredictable song formats and numerous different musical genres. Along with the normal instruments of a rock band, Mr. Bungle would also incorporate additions such as bongos and woodblocks to more elaborate tools like the tenor sax, Jews harp, xylophone, glockenspeil, clarinet, piano, and organ.[10] Overlaying this was Mike Patton’s vocals, who often used death metal growls, crooning, screeching, gurgling, or simply whispered. The structure of their songs was also unique, normally displaying a total lack of any structured song format and rotating through numerous genres ranging from slow melodies to thrash-metal.[15][34][35] Some of the notable genres they utilized include heavy metal, rock music, funk, free jazz, surf rock, hardcore punk, Klezmer music, ska, reggae, hip hop, avant-jazz, noise rock, funkcore, dub music, folk music, contemporary art music, pop, doo-wop, progressive rock, ambient music, funk metal, psychedelic rock, electronica, exotica, swing music, space age pop, soul music, death metal, rockabilly, bossa nova, and even video game and cartoon music.

Mr. Bungle’s style has influenced many recent funk and metal chart-toppers, most notably Korn, whose guitarists utilize what they've dubbed the "Mr. Bungle chord".[1] Brandon Boyd of Incubus also cited Mr. Bungle as an influence.[36]

Stage shows

Mike Patton in costume live in 1991

Mr. Bungle were well-known for their stage shows, where all of the band members would dress up in outrageous costumes and masks, often wearing a uniform of mechanic's jumpsuits along with masks such as Madonna, Nixon, Darth Vader, an executioner's hood, or plastic clown or gimp masks.[9] Such antics were particularly felt at the live shows during the Disco Volante era.[37]

The shows for the California tours, while still involving various members dressing up, were largely devoid of the trademark masks and outfits due to the increased demands of the music.[15][38] Often the theme was related to California with palm tree props and the band members wearing beach party outfits including Hawaiian shirts and khaki pants.[15][39] Occasionally, the band would simply appear in black suits with white dress shirts, or dress up as the Village People.[40]

Throughout their career Mr. Bungle also performed numerous covers in their live shows, ranging from tiny snippets to whole songs. The covers were by a wide variety of artists and genres encompassing movie scores by Ennio Morricone, Henry Mancini, and John Williams, pop songs by Elton John and Jennifer Lopez, hip hop by Public Enemy and Ol' Dirty Bastard, to punk and metal songs by the Dead Kennedys, Metallica, and Slayer.[2]

Anthony Kiedis and Mr. Bungle feud

Mr. Bungle is known to have had a bad relationship with the Red Hot Chili Peppers' frontman Anthony Kiedis.[2] The feud began when Kiedis saw singer Mike Patton performing with Faith No More and accused him of imitating his style. Mike Patton and Mr. Bungle took offense to Kiedis' comment sarcastically threatening Kiedis in the press. In the early nineties, Patton did met up with Kiedis; the two were polite to each other and the feud seemed to have ended.[2]

However, in 1999 Mr. Bungle's album California was scheduled to be released on June 8, but their label, Warner Bros. Records, pushed it back so as not to coincide with the Red Hot Chili Peppers similarly titled album, Californication, which was to be released on the same day. This appeared to reignite the old feud with Kiedis having Mr. Bungle removed from a series of summer festivals in Europe; as the headlining act at the festivals The Chili Peppers had final word on the bands that would appear.[2][20] As a result, Mr. Bungle parodied the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Detroit, Michigan on Halloween of 1999. Patton introduced each Mr. Bungle band member with the name of one of the Red Hot Chili Peppers before covering the songs Give It Away, Around The World, Under the Bridge and Scar Tissue, with Patton deliberately using incorrect lyrics. Mr. Bungle also satirized many of the mannerisms of the band, mocking their frequent heroin injections and on-stage antics. Kiedis responded by having them removed from the 2000 Big Day Out festival in Australia and New Zealand.[2][20] It appears the rest of the Chili Peppers have no problems with Mr. Bungle, though Trevor Dunn has ridiculed the Chili Peppers' Flea.[22]

Quotes

" OK, here's what happened, 'cause I know he has his opinion, now here's mine. In that interview the writer said, 'Are you guys sick of people ripping you off?' I said, 'Who are you referring to?' and he said, 'Well, Mike Patton in Faith No More.' So I told him what our drummer said, and yeah I watch that 'Epic' video, and I see him jumping up and down, rapping, and it looked like I was looking in the mirror. The thing is, I had no problem with him personally. I mean, I love 'The Real Thing,' and I liked his vocals on that record. I mean, when I heard the record I noticed subtle similarities, but when I saw that video it was like, 'Wait a second here, what the fuck?"

- Anthony Kiedis[2]

" I mean, the Chili Peppers is something I hadn't really thought of in years. And I'll go ahead and tell you this. Why not? I haven't told anybody else yet. We were looking at booking some Mr. Bungle shows in Europe this past summer, some big festivals, which is something we'd never done before. We figured it'd be a good thing: We'd get to play in front of a lot of people who wouldn't otherwise hear us. Our agent was in the process of booking these festivals, and it was becoming apparent that we'd landed some pretty good ones—one in France, another one in Holland, some big-name festivals. Turns out someone's holding a grudge! We were booted off several bills, including a really big festival in Australia, specifically because Anthony Kiedis did not want us on the bill. He threatened to pull the Chili Peppers if Mr. Bungle was on the bill. Now, rationalize that one! That's so fucking pathetic! I mean, this guy's selling a million records! We are not even a speck of dust on this guy's ass! What's the fucking problem? It's unbelievable."

- Mike Patton[2]

"We were booked, months in advance, to do eleven festival dates in Europe. Come Summer, we get a call from the three biggest of those festivals, all of them the same day, saying that we can't play, because the headlining band retains the right to hire and fire whomever they wish. We found out it was the Red Hot Chili Peppers, so our manager called their manager to find out what the hell was going on, and their manager was very apologetic, and said, 'We're really sorry, we want you to know this doesn't reflect the management's position, or the band's for that matter, it's Anthony Kiedis who wants this."

- Trey Spruance[2]

"I would not have given two fucks if they played with us there, but after I heard about some Halloween show where they mocked us and read another interview where Patton talked shit about us, and I was like, you know what, fuck him and fuck the whole band."

- Anthony Kiedis[2]

Discography

Main article: Mr. Bungle Discography

Demo tapes

Studio albums

The four early pre-Warner Bros. cassettes are not part of the band's official catalogue and are considered almost impossible to find today. The songs are, however, downloadable from a ftp-server.[41]

Band members

Line-Ups

(1985-1987)
  • Mike Patton - vocals, keyboards, samples
  • Trey Spruance - guitar, keyboards
  • Trevor Dunn - bass
  • Jed Watts - drums
  • Theo Lengyel - saxophone, keyboards
(1987-1989)
  • Mike Patton - vocals, keyboards, samples
  • Trey Spruance - guitar, keyboards
  • Trevor Dunn - bass
  • Hans Wagner - drums
  • Luke Miller - horns
  • Theo Lengyel - saxophone, keyboards
(1989-1996)
  • Mike Patton - vocals, keyboards, samples
  • Trey Spruance - guitar, keyboards
  • Trevor Dunn - bass
  • Danny Heifetz - drums
  • Clinton "Bär" McKinnon - reeds
  • Theo Lengyel - saxophone, keyboards
(1996-2000)
  • Mike Patton - vocals, keyboards, samples
  • Trey Spruance - guitar, keyboards
  • Trevor Dunn - bass
  • Danny Heifetz - drums
  • Clinton "Bär" McKinnon - reeds

Martin Fosnaugh and Scott Fritz made brief appearances as Jew's harpist and trumpet player on the first demo tape; Scott Fritz also played trumpet on Bowel of Chiley. Additional musicians often performed and recorded with them, percussionist William Winant toured with Mr. Bungle in 1995 and 1996 and again in support of California, in 1999. Ches Smith, filled in for William Winant at a few shows. The first leg of the California tour also included keyboardist Jeff Attridge, who was later replaced by James Rotundi. Ches and James toured with the band full-time for Sno-Core 2000 and the Australian tour in support of California.[2]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d Prato, Greg (8 December 2004). "Mr. Bungle Go Kaput: Patton blames California rockers' split on personality clashes". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Negele S, Don S, Scott H, Fogel C, Wall Sl, Kennedy HL. "Mr. Bungle FAQ". Retrieved 2006-09-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c d e "Mr. Bungle". www.bunglefever.com. 2004. Retrieved 2007-04-28. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  4. ^ a b c Prato, Greg. "Mr. Bungle Biography". All Music. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  5. ^ a b c Fernandez, Roger. "Bungle Grind". Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  6. ^ "Faith No More Biography". www.fnm.com. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j McGaughey, Scott (September 1999). "The Unclassifiable and Ever-Evolving Music of Mr. Bungle". Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  8. ^ a b Prato, Greg. "Disco Volante Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
  9. ^ a b Joost, Wesley. "The Bungholes Of Mr. Bungle". Goblin Magazine. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
  10. ^ a b "Disco Volante Review". CMJ-NMR. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  11. ^ Eichler, Bob (27 February 2004). "Disco Volante Review". Ground and Sky. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  12. ^ "Mr. Bungle, California". Warner Brothers Records. 1999. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  13. ^ a b Eichler, Bob (4 April 2004). "California Review". Ground and Sky. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  14. ^ a b Wu, Brandon (12 April 2004). "California Review". Ground and Sky. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Mike Patton: A Singer With Energy". CNN.com. 13 October 1999. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
  16. ^ a b Kurutz, Steve. "California Review". All-Music Guide Expert Review. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  17. ^ Paluzzi, Nick (27 April 2004). "California Review". Ground and Sky. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  18. ^ Huey, Steve. "California Review". All Music. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  19. ^ Fong, Erik (July 1-14 2003). "Trey Spruance Interview". Perfect Pitch Online. Retrieved 2007-05-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ a b c Canak, Danny (2 July 2003). "Bungle No More? Mike Patton Interview". Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  21. ^ Lasik, Brett (17 November 2005). "Rocker Mike Patton Explodes In Firecracker". Giant Magazine. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  22. ^ a b Dunn, Trevor. "Your Questions/ My Answers". Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  23. ^ a b Canak, Danny (2004). "Trey Spruance of Mr. Bungle interview". Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  24. ^ Buttfield, Brett. "Bar McKinnon interview". dB Magazine. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  25. ^ "Ipecac Recordings: About". Ipecac.com. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  26. ^ "Fantômas Biography". Ipecac.com. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  27. ^ "Tomahawk Biography". Ipecac.com. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  28. ^ "Peeping Tom Biography". Ipecac.com. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
  29. ^ "Firecracker Official Site". Dikenga Films. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  30. ^ "Trevor Dunn's Trio Convulsant Biography". Ipecac.com. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  31. ^ "The Tango Saloon Biography". Ipecac.com. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  32. ^ "The Fantastic Terrific Munkle". Sydney Morning Herald. July 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  33. ^ "The Ribbon Device Biography". Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  34. ^ Agbuya, Ernest (1999). "Mr. Bungle do their own thing". Chart Magazine. Retrieved 2007-05-23.
  35. ^ Macdonald, Cameron (2005-11-30). "Mr. Bungle - Disco Volante". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  36. ^ Azerrad, Mike (March / April 2002). "Mike Patton Interview". Revolver. Retrieved 2007-04-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ Samudrala, Ram (November 29 1995). "Melt Banana with Mr. Bungle". Music ram-blings. Retrieved 2007-05-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ Gadino, Dylan. "Leap From Faith: Mike Patton strikes again with Mr. Bungle". Rockpile Magazine. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  39. ^ "Mr. Bungle, California Tour Concert Review". Metal Judgment. 11 August 1999. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  40. ^ Joost, Wesley. "Bungle-icious: Mr. Bungle live at Sno-core". Goblin Magazine. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
  41. ^ "Mr. Bungle FTP". www.bunglefever.com. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
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