The Melvins are a sludge metal band that formed in Montesano, Washington, U… Read Full Bio ↴The Melvins are a sludge metal band that formed in Montesano, Washington, United States in 1983. The band currently consists of Buzz Osborne (vocals, guitar), Steven Shane McDonald (bass), and Dale Crover (drums). Osborne is the only remaining original member, although Crover has been a member since early in the band's career.

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 protegés, 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 Fantômas in The Fantômas 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.

EyeFlys
Melvins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I lay like you
I feel good sin
I'm blind like you
In such pieces
That's the mood
Touch lain clothes
The rings you bear
And that's good sense, so

Don't blaze lo rays
The rings you bear
And that's good
Senshun through
At your may-pole
Take me crazy
Do it right
Do it right
Cool
Do it right

Right
Right

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Melvins' song EyeFlys can be interpreted in many different ways, as is typical of their experimental, eccentric style. However, a possible interpretation is that the song is about losing oneself in pleasure, whether it be physical, emotional, or mental. The repetition of "I lay like you/I'm blind like you" could suggest a sense of surrendering to someone else, perhaps a lover or a drug, and feeling good in that state. The reference to "good sense" could be a connotation for the feeling of euphoria that comes from indulging in pleasure, while "don't blaze lo rays" could be an indication of not wanting to break that feeling of bliss. The verse "At your may-pole/Take me crazy/Do it right/Cool/Do it right/Right/Right" could be a reference to traditional May Day celebrations, where dancing around a maypole signifies the beginning of summer, youth, and fertility. In this context, it could be interpreted as surrendering oneself to the natural pleasures of life and enjoying them to the fullest. The repetition of "Do it right" at the end reinforces this idea of being in the moment and experiencing pleasure to its fullest.

Line by Line Meaning

I lay like you
I understand you and can relate to your situation

I feel good sin
I feel pleasure and satisfaction from doing things that are considered 'bad' or sinful

I'm blind like you
I am just as oblivious to the truth or reality as you are

In such pieces
In a state of fragmentation and disarray

That's the mood
That's how I'm feeling currently

Touch lain clothes
Explore and engage with something that has already been contaminated by someone else

The rings you bear
The burdens or responsibilities that you carry

And that's good sense, so
It's reasonable and logical to carry such burdens or responsibilities

Don't blaze lo rays
Don't overindulge or consume too much of one thing

The rings you bear
The burdens or responsibilities that you carry

And that's good
And it's reasonable or necessary to carry them