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.

Steve Instant Newman
Melvins Lyrics

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Open the pain
To my short glass ear
Infected in
Too much intensive

Dis-invite
Dis, dis-invite
Dis-invite

When eating alone
They think you're talking alone

Dis-invite

Dis, you dis-invite
Dis-invite

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Steve Instant Newman" by Melvins are fairly enigmatic, but they seem to revolve around the theme of isolation and disconnection. The opening lines "Open the pain, to my short glass ear, infected in, too much intensive" suggest a sense of vulnerability and desperation, as if the singer is pleading for a way to release their pain or burden. They may feel overwhelmed by the intensity of their emotions, which may be getting in the way of their ability to connect with others.

The chorus, which repeats the phrase "dis-invite" several times, seems to suggest that the singer is actively pushing people away. This could be because they feel rejected or misunderstood, or because they are afraid of being hurt or disappointed. The final lines "When eating alone, they think you're talking alone" seem to reinforce the idea that the singer is feeling disconnected from others and is struggling to bridge that gap. It's possible that the song is exploring the various ways in which we distance ourselves from others, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and the consequences of that distance on our emotional wellbeing.

Line by Line Meaning

Open the pain
Expose the hurt

To my short glass ear
For me to hear clearly

Infected in
Contaminated within

Too much intensive
Overwhelmingly intense

Dis-invite
Reject the invitation

Dis, dis-invite
Repeatedly decline the offer

When eating alone
While dining solo

They think you're talking alone
People might assume you're speaking to no one

Dis-invite
Decline the invitation

Dis, you dis-invite
You persistently refuse to attend

Dis-invite
Reject the offer to participate