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.
Hog Leg
Melvins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rap a tee take a man and send my own
Just then my harr harr
Take a send and tell it take no dess
Hog Leg-and hog
Force fed and maybe stand up stairs
She's maybe my one choice
The lyrics to Melvins's song Hog Leg are incredibly obscure and open to interpretation. It seems like the song is discussing someone, possibly the singer themselves, who is attempting to make sense of the world around them. The line "Like Stee Moanin' Ludlow" is particularly confusing, but could possibly refer to the poet Sterlin A. Brown, who lived in a town called Ludlow and was known for his blues-like poetry. The next line, "Rap a tee take a man and send my own," is also difficult to decipher, but could refer to the singer attempting to take control of their own destiny.
The next two lines, "Just then my harr harr/take a send and tell it take no dess," continue to be mysterious. It's possible that "harr harr" is some sort of shorthand for laughter or an exclamation of excitement, while "take no dess" could be a reference to not taking anything for granted. The final stanza is slightly clearer, with the repetition of "Hog Leg" being a reference to a gun or a weapon of some sort. The lines "Force fed and maybe stand up stairs/She's maybe my one choice" could be about feeling forced to resort to violence, while "Spins nice like a compass pointing North" could refer to the satisfaction of finally having control over a situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Like Stee Moanin' Ludlow
Similar to the sorrowful moaning of 'Stee Moanin' Ludlow', a deep and mournful sound.
Rap a tee take a man and send my own
To take a firm grip on something with raw strength and send it flying.
Just then my harr harr
At that moment, a sudden burst of laughter and joy.
Take a send and tell it take no dess
To deliver a message with the utmost urgency and seriousness.
Hog Leg-and hog
A large, powerful firearm or weapon.
Force fed and maybe stand up stairs
Being overpowered and compelled to do something difficult or challenging.
She's maybe my one choice
She may be the only option or solution available.
Spins nice like a compass pointing North.
It moves smoothly and predictably, like a compass always pointing towards the north.
Contributed by James K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.