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Interview with
TREVOR DUNN
from
MR. BUNGLE

(24th January 2024)

Interview with Shaquira Hobbs and Dave Bruce

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Dave: Hi Trev. How are you?
Trevor: I’m good. How you doing? 

Dave: Good. Meet Shaquira. Together we will interview you.
Shaquira: Hi Trevor
Trevor: Hi Shaquira

Shaquira:: Starting off, your journey began in the eighties in Humboldt County. How did the band come together?
Trevor: I started playing bass when I was 13 and immediately got into bands usually with guys who were older than me. And at one point we needed a new singer and Patton was my friend in junior high school when we were 14 years old. So he joined that band, even though he’d never sang before. And then eventually that band evolved and then broke up. Next, we met Trey in high school and we got together with him and he was playing with his drummer Jed and we started jamming. This was probably in 84 or 85, I guess. Metal was a huge thing that was happening then that we were all listening to and we started playing metal together. That was basically how the band originated. 

Dave: Were you always Mr. Bungle?
Trevor: Yeah, that was the four of us, me, Trey, Mike, and our drummer, our original drummer Jed. I think the first time we got together, we played Whiplash by Metallica and Chemical Warfare by Slayer, and started writing our own original metal stuff. But it was always Mr. Bungle. One of the reasons we chose the name Mr. Bungle was because it was one of the most un-metal names we could think of. And even though we were really into metal and we’re metal heads, for sure, we also were kind of taking the piss out of it just because that’s how we are. Basically, we’re essentially taking the piss out of ourselves. You know, people think we’re always pointing a finger and ridiculing everyone else but we’re looking right in the mirror. Like this is ridiculous. Heavy metal is ridiculous. But it’s really fun too.

Shaquira: How did the local environment influence your music journey in the early days?
Trevor: Well, there wasn’t a lot to do where we grew up. Luckily, I think one of the reasons that me and Trey and Mike kind of converged was because we all had a certain curiosity about the world and about music that we weren’t getting in our local environment. It’s a very small logging kind of fishing town.There was a good record store there and once in a while some bands would pass through, but it was kind of rare. So we started venturing out to drive five hours down to San Francisco to shop at big record stores and to see concerts and stuff. I feel fortunate that we had this curiosity and this drive to reach out and just try to find stuff. We’d hear something on the radio or on TV. We’re like, what is that? How come nobody else has been talking about this? Where can I find it? And then we’d go search it out. And then that’s how all of us just individually behaved. And luckily we all had supportive parents that let us do music and didn’t force us to get into construction or whatever.

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Shaquira:With such a diverse musical background, how do you approach the challenge of seamlessly blending genres within a single song?
Trevor: We never thought of it that way. We were just trying to create music that we were interested in. So if there were two ideas that happened we would think “how does the one phrase connect to the next phrase?” I think a lot of people say we do this genre shifting kind of thing, but I think that there’s not a lot of that. I mean, there’s a lot of the metal influence. Like, if we’re playing some song that’s influenced by Romanian gypsy music and we wanted to get heavy then we’re gonna do that. Our language about heavy is to power chords and up to Faster tempos, so it’s really not necessarily about the genre, it’s more about the phrasing and how can we make this heavier or how can we bring it back or give contrast. We’re thinking about contrast. A jazz musician might use a chord in reference or in a reaction to another chord but we just happens to be listening to a lot of different kinds of music and being influenced by different things. We weren’t necessarily thinking this song needs a Hindi or Bollywood reference or something. It wasn’t like it was that premeditated.

Shaquira: The band has a reputation for pushing musical boundaries. Are there any specific influences or experiences that have inspired your experimental and avant-garde approach to music?
Trevor: Everything, everything. I don’t know if I’d call myself a film buff, but I love film. I love getting into different directors. I know that Trey and Mike are too. I mean, it all influences everything. I love going to a museum and checking out different painters and sculptors, whatever, any dance performances, any of that, and it helps feed, inform me and feed what I’m trying to convey. Dance is a medium that I was kind of late to, but I try to check more of it out now. I feel like I’m starting to understand it more. Maybe that’s a maturity thing or something. I don’t know. But I look at what’s going on physically and I think, wow, how can I translate that into music? I might even consciously think that, or at least the general idea. Everything influences me, cartoons, walking around in trees, everything. I think that having curiosity is… I mean, somebody asked me once, what’s my greatest fear? And I think my greatest fear is losing curiosity because I’m constantly, still to this day, I’m almost 56 years old and I’m still learning,, I’m still learning, even from people younger than me, Some new band will come out and I’m like, wow, what the hell are they doing? How does that work? 

Dave: You don’t look 56.
Trevor: I went to the gym today and sat in the sauna afterwards. I also meditated this morning. I try to meditate every morning. It’s so newish. I started about four years ago, so it’s still relatively new to me. 

Shaquira: Any new music on the drawing board?
Trevor: I’m writing some new music for a project of my own. I put out a record, Trevor Dunn’s Trio Convulsant. I also put out a record called Seances in 2021. And I’m writing some new music now. It’s a septet with viola and cello, flute, clarinet, bass, guitar, and drums. Me and Buzz Osborne have a big tour coming up in the fall. And we’ll probably write some new stuff for that. I’m not exactly sure yet. It is still a few months off. 

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Shaquira: Talking about the tour, it marks your return after two decades. What sparked the decision to tour again?
Trevor: Well, the idea came up to redo this demo that we made in the 80s, and since Dave Lombardo became our friend, we thought, well, this music was written with him in mind, so let’s re-record this demo. We put out the record and touring just seemed like the most logical thing to do. It’s also a good way to make a living, lol. Not always the easiest way. It’s not the glamour that a lot of people think it is. Originally, the record came out in 2020 and the idea was to tour that year and of course we weren’t able to. So just earlier this year, we kind of started getting going again.

Shaquira: The tour includes dates with the Melvins. How did the collaboration come about and what can fans anticipate from this pairing?
Trevor: We’ve been friends with the Melvins forever basically because we were fans, you know. And I mean, I used to go see Melvins live in San Francisco in the nineties before I knew them. I used to go see them live all the time. Blew my mind every time, you know? And anyway, Mr. Bungle have always been fans and we’ve always liked doing shows with them. So this kind of seemed like a no-brainer, you know? Let’s just do it again, 30 years later or whatever, however it is. And I don’t know exactly what is in store with them. I know that unfortunately, Dale Krover’s not gonna be playing drums because he had some spinal surgery last year and he’s still kind of recovering from that. But he’s on the mend and he’ll be out there eventually. Iif you’ve ever seen the Melvins before, you’re gonna get your teeth kicked in as usual.

Shaquira: And your live performances have been characterized by unique costumes and stage antics. How do these elements contribute to the overall Mr. Bungle experience?
Trevor: Well, we’re not doing that anymore, unfortunately. So you’re going to have to look at our old withering faces. But you know, back in the day, it was a way of poking fun at ourselves and also kind of the rock ethos. Like being on stage, being a performer, being supposedly like, what’s that? Being like this or that band. And we just thought it was ridiculous. We’re just playing music, like why? And it also was nice to be anonymous for quite a while. Iin the early days, we’d get off stage. We didn’t really have much of a road crew. So we’d get off stage, change into our street clothes and then run out there and take our gear down. Everybody thought we were the roadies. It was great. Nobody talked to us, you know, and nobody bothered us. We could just get in the van and drive off. Nice. 

Shaquira: Touring has been a big part of Mr. Bungle’s history. What do you enjoy most about being on the road and how has it shaped the band’s growth and identity?
Trevor: I think one of my favorite things about being on the road is experiencing different cultures, different food. Whatever city we go to, there’s kind of this collective thing, what are we gonna eat that day? Oh man, there’s this famous seafood place. Oh yeah, of course I’ve been there. We have to go there, it’s the best. But also meeting different people from different countries. I’m totally grateful for that experience. I don’t know, if I wasn’t in a band, I kind of feel like I’m too lazy to travel that much, so I probably wouldn’t have seen it if it weren’t for being forced to go on tour. 

Dave: If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?
Trevor: It would be that musicians would get paid. Paid more probably, or paid at all. Especially music that’s on the fringes, music that isn’t that popular. There’s countless musicians out there who are amazing and struggling, you know.

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Dave: What piece of advice would you give to an artist starting out?
Trevor: Be true to yourself. Do what you want to do. Don’t listen to …  I mean, take advice, but do what you want to do artistically. All the time. 

Dave: What’s the best thing about performing to a live audience?
Trevor: I think the positive reaction from music that you’ve written makes you think, wow, I wrote this in my room how many years ago, and now people are actually responding to it in a positive way. 

Dave: Finally, some quick answers to some quick questions. Favorite album?
Trevor: The band Stump, ‘A Fierce Pancake’

Dave: Favorite artist?
Trevor: Prince. 

Dave: Favorite movie?
Trevor: Splendour in the Grass. 

Dave: That’s a great movie. Favorite place to visit?
Trevor: Tokyo. 

Dave: Favorite venue to play?
Trevor: Irving Plaza in New York City.

Dave: Favorite food?
Trevor: Mexican. 

Dave: Favorite drink?
Trevor: Bourbon. 

Dave: Favorite person in history?
Trevor: Ooh, my late great friend,  Sannety (aka trumpeter and electronic experimentalist Sanne van Hek). Check out our website, S-A-N-N-E-T-Y, sannety.com.

Dave: Favorite tattoos?
Trevor: I think I have five. Here’s my latest one. This was a stick and poke that cost me $30. 

Dave: Wow, how long ago?
Trevor: Just a couple months, it’s pretty new. 

Dave: Wow, and what is it?
Trevor: It’s a stick and poke and so it’s not done with a gun, it’s done with like a piece of bamboo or something. Supposedly they don’t last as long. 

Dave: Great, and just to finish, what do you reckon your highlight is? If someone said, what’s the thing that you think about if you think about your last 40 years?
Trevor: The interesting people that I’ve met and learned from. 

Dave: Great. Thanks a heap from Shaquira and me. Have a great tour.
Shaquira: Yeah, thanks and enjoy yourself in Oz.
Trevor: All right. Thanks to both of you. We’ll have to do this again one day. Bye for now.

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Tickets for all shows HERE

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MR BUNGLE
THE RAGING WRATH OF
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
2024

WITH FELLOW POP STARS MELVINS

SUNDAY 3 MARCH
TOWN HALL, AUCKLAND

WEDNESDAY 6 MARCH
FESTIVAL HALL, MELBOURNE

THURSDAY 7 MARCH
HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE

SATURDAY 9 MARCH
HORDERN PAVILION, SYDNEY

SUNDAY 10 MARCH
FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE

TUESDAY 12 MARCH
METRO CITY, PERTH

For complete tour and ticket information visit livenation.com.au & livenation.co.nz.

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Follow MR BUNGLE
Website – Facebook

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Press Release 16th January 2024 (below) HERE

MR. BUNGLE

‘THE RAGING WRATH OF
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND’
Tour with fellow pop stars
MELVINS
this March

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AMNPLIFY – DB