In the early days of their career their dark, heavy, oppressively slow sound made them innovators of genres like sludge, grunge, and doom metal. The Melvins' music is influenced by Flipper, Black Flag's My War-era hardcore punk and Black Sabbath-style heavy metal, but their idiosyncratic approach, bizarre sense of humor, and experimentation make neat categorization difficult. Singer/guitarist Buzz Osborne (aka "King Buzzo") and drummer Dale Crover are constant members while several bass guitarists have cycled through the group. The Melvins usually performed as a trio until 2006 when two members of Big Business became permanent members of the band.
The band was named after a grocery clerk at the Thriftway in Montesano, Washington where Osborne was employed. Melvin was the most-hated fellow employee and the band felt it to be an appropriate name. Like SF noisenik predecessors Flipper, their love of slow tempos and sludgy sound were a strong influence on grunge music, especially Nirvana and many other bands from Seattle. Their protegÃĐs, however, tended to use more conventional musical structures with this sound.
Though the group has received mostly positive critical notice, Crover's drumming has been especially praised; Patrick Kennedy describes his work as "astonishing, powerful, and daring."
While never finding and most likely never even seeking great mainstream success, the Melvins maintain an impressive schedule of new albums and tours, including a collaboration with FantÃīmas in The FantÃīmas Melvins Big Band, two releases with former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, and in 2004 the Melvins collaborated with ambient artist Lustmord for Pigs of the Roman Empire. In appreciation of their devoted fans, the Melvins have released various collectables through the years that have included two-headed dolls, an eight-track tape, and a plastic fetus in a jar.
Fellow Aberdeen resident Kurt Cobain (a good friend of Crover) 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. Cobain maintained his relation with the band. 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. Dale Crover is also attributed as playing on the Nirvana debut album, Bleach, and on "Incesticide". In addition, Dave Grohl (ex-drummer for Nirvana) co-wrote and played drums for Isabella on Buzzo's Melvins solo album, King Buzzo.
Creepy
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you send your pictures for my wall
With a will to learn
Just wait for cheap lil' bastard burn
To hide behind the face
Must destroy disgrace
Now you know what it's like to cry
Creepy Crover
The lyrics to Melvins' song "Creepy" are certainly open to interpretation, but at their core, they seem to be addressing a certain kind of obsessive or stalkerish behavior. The opening lines suggest that the singer has received unwanted attention in the form of explicit letters and photographs, and that this behavior is not appreciated. The later lines offer a more aggressive response, with talk of destruction and the desire to wipe out this perceived "disgrace."
There is also a sense of underlying anger and frustration throughout the song. The repeated use of the word "creepy" seems to be an attempt to label and dismiss this unwanted attention, but it also hints at a feeling of discomfort or unease. The sudden shift to second person in the final line ("Creepy Crover") adds a bit of mystery, as it is not clear who or what this refers to. Taken as a whole, the lyrics suggest a desire to establish boundaries and assert oneself in the face of unwanted attention.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you write me sexy letters
You send me explicit letters expressing your desires
And you send your pictures for my wall
You also send me pictures for my personal collection
With a will to learn
You have a desire to gain knowledge
Just wait for cheap lil' bastard burn
You are waiting for someone to face consequences for their actions
To hide behind the face
You are trying to conceal your true identity
Must destroy disgrace
You want to eliminate anything that you find shameful or disgraceful
You disgrace me!!!
Your behavior is causing me embarrassment and shame
Now you know what it's like to cry
You are experiencing the same level of pain or sorrow as I have
Creepy Crover
A reference to the drummer of the band, possibly indicating that the song is directed towards him
Lyrics ÂĐ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind