sidewinder

Yeah I've heard both Stag and Lysol, I like Lysol especially.

Haven't really been able to get into Bullhead, but (A) Senile Animal is probably my favorite.

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I'd love to see your signature/links too, but the huge and obnoxious ones have caused me to block all signatures.

James

highlydope

I like the Melvins but theres no way their music could have ever catapulted them to rule the world status.

They really just have a few tracks that appeal to me, Civilized Worm, A History of Bad Men, and The Kicking Machine. Probably in that order as well.

James

The Melvins could very easily have ruled the world. One of the first bands with a "Grunge" sound. Altering their music a little bit could have made them the Grunge posterboys instead of Nirvana, but The Melvins aren't like that.

Unknown Soldier

The point is, if they had dropped a lot of their experimental edge and stopped being themselves and put out more accessible stuff they could`ve have had a good crack at it, as the talent was there to do whatever they wanted.

Unknown Soldier

Hey........ posted my response after not seeing yours there but you`ve summed it up even better.

highlydope

I dunno. I'm always wondering how much of becoming a more popular band has to do with some sort of formula, vs skill, timing, or even just luck.

Take the Pixies for example, there's an example of a skilled band who had an original formula that appealed to a wide audience, yet they never hit it big back in the day. Maybe it was just timing considering how popular they seem to be today.

My point is, there's many variables to why a band "makes it big" and in many cases I think accessibility is not necessarily the highest priority on the list.

Unknown Soldier

Accessibility very much so, if you want to appeal to a world wide audience and to as many types of music listeners as possible. Nirvana are the perfect example and equally appeal to metal heads and popsters. If on the other hand you just want to break through into the mainstream like the Pixies, then accessibility helps but certainly not essential.

As you said variables such as formula, timing and luck also play a big part in it as well. I know a number of potentially big bands that fell by the wayside because they lacked some of the above factors. One band that comes to mind are probably Diamond Head back in the late 70`s and early 80`s one of the most talented English metal bands ever but variable factors eluded them and the only reason they are now remembered is that Metallica have always covered their music.

Back on topic though, the Melvins are special and were extremely experimental in a genre that back in the 80`s wasn`t anywhere near as flexible as it is now, so maybe not ruling the world was their decision or just timing.

Public Enemy

Kurt Cobain (a good friend of Crover and Osborne since high school) was a huge Melvins fan and helped them transport their equipment to a few shows. Cobain also auditioned to join the band on bass, but he didn't make it, reportedly because he was so nervous that he forgot all the songs. Later he produced and played on some songs (guitar on "Sky Pup", percussion on "Spread Eagle Beagle") on the band's major label debut, Houdini.

The Melvins are awesome and although they didn't become the poster boys of Grunge or The Alt-rock nation, they influenced all that did.

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The Gambler, a greater master he is in his art, the worse man he is.

James

Yeah, I do know that. The Melvins also covered Smells Like Teen Spirit, and I think they did a split too.