From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Mike Watt Michael David Watt (born December 20, 1957 in
Portsmouth, Virginia) is an American bassist, singer and
songwriter.
He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Min-
utemen, dos, and Firehose; as of 2003, he is also the
bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art
rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many
other post-Minutemen projects.
CMJ New Music called Watt a "seminal post-punk bass
player."[2] In November 2008, Watt received the Bass Play-
er Magazine lifetime achievement award, presented by
Flea.[3]
Biography
Early career
When he was young, Watt’s family moved to San Pedro,
California, where he became good friends with D. Boon.
Watt and Boon picked up bass and guitar, respectively.
Watt was a fan of T Rex and Blue Öyster Cult, while Boon’s
exposure to rock music was limited to Creedence Clear-
water Revival, another Watt favorite.
Mike Watt, self-portrait, March 16, 2009.
The Minutemen
Background information
Main article: Minutemen (band)
Birth name Michael David Watt By the mid-1970s, Watt and Boon formed a band called
The Reactionaries with drummer George Hurley and vo-
Born December 20, 1957 (1957-12-20)
Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S. calist Martin Tamburovich. The band later became Min-
utemen with another drummer named Frank Tonche,
Origin San Pedro, California who only lasted two shows with the group; Hurley, who
Genres Punk rock, alternative rock, art rock, post- had been in the short-lived New Wave group Hey Taxi!
punk at the time Minutemen first formed, rejoined Watt and
Boon. After signing with SST Records in 1980, Minutemen
Instruments Bass (thudstaff), vocals (spiel)
began touring constantly, releasing a number of albums
Years active 1979–present along the way. Their music was based on the speed,
Labels Columbia, SST, New Alliance, Kill Rock Stars, brevity and intensity of punk, but included elements of
Clenchedwrench jazz, folk, and funk.
In 1984, Watt met Black Flag bassist Kira Roessler dur-
Associated The Minutemen, Firehose, Ciccone Youth,
acts Dos, Banyan, The Reactionaries,
ing a Black Flag/Minutemen tour. They soon became ro-
Bootstrappers, Hellride, J Mascis and the mantically involved, and subsequently began collaborat-
Fog, The Stooges, Porno for Pyros, The Black ing on songs, including material on Minutemen’s final al-
Gang, The Secondmen, Unknown bum 3-Way Tie (For Last). They also formed a two-bass duo,
Instructors, Funanori, The Clubber Lang Dos, and have since recorded and released three records.
Gang, Floored By Four
Minutemen ended tragically on December 22, 1985,
Website www.mikewatt.com when Boon was killed in an automobile accident while
driving to Arizona with his girlfriend. Their fifth full-
Notable instruments
length album, 3-Way Tie (For Last) had already been sched-
1968 Fender Telecaster Bass[1] Gibson EB-3 uled for release at the time of the accident. In the docu-
mentary film We Jam Econo, Watt mentioned that the last
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mike Watt
time he saw Boon, he had received lyrics for 10 songs metaphor for both Watt’s family history (the album has
from critic and songwriter Richard Meltzer for a planned a picture of his father in his Navy uniform on the cover)
collaboration with Minutemen. Minutemen were also and the Minutemen. The album, which was critically well
planning to record a triple album with the working title 3 received, features a trio of musicians including Nels Cline
Dudes, 6 Sides, 3 Studio, 3 Live as way to counteract bootleg- on guitar, and Watt as the only singer.
gers. [4] Watt went on to play in such groups as Banyan (with
Stephen Perkins and Nels Cline) and Hellride, a sometime
Firehose live outfit that plays cover versions of Stooges songs.
Main article: Firehose (band) He also played in The Wylde Ratttz with Sonic Youth’s
After Boon’s death, Watt was profoundly depressed; he Thurston Moore and The Stooges’ Ron Asheton, record-
and Hurley initially intended to quit music altogether. ing a song for the film Velvet Goldmine. Watt also recorded
Sonic Youth invited Watt to hang out with them in New a bass line to send to the Pennsylvania space-folk band
York in 1986; they recorded a cover of Madonna’s The Clubber Lang Gang for their record Now Here This, on
"Burnin’ Up" (with additional guitars by Greg Ginn) on the track "For the Broken People".
the first Ciccone Youth EP, and Watt played bass for two
songs on the Sonic Youth album Evol. Watt cites this peri- Illness, recovery and The Stooges
od as critical in inspiring his post-Minutemen career say- In January 2000, Watt fell ill with an infection of his per-
ing, "The first thing I did was Thurston asked me to play ineum,[6] forcing him into emergency surgery and nine
bass on Evol. That was a big highlight, man. Like, ’What, weeks of bedrest in his San Pedro apartment. Initially
you want me to play without D. Boon?’" [5] unable to play his bass, he rebuilt his strength with in-
Subsequently, Ed Crawford, a Minutemen fan who tense woodshedding and practice as well as live club gigs
drove to San Pedro from Ohio, persuaded the Watt/Hur- where he performed sets of Stooges covers with Hellride
ley rhythm section to continue playing music. Firehose in California and with J Mascis and Dinosaur Jr. drummer
was formed soon after. After three releases on SST, Fire- Murph in New York under the name Hellride East.
hose was signed to Columbia Records by A&R man Jim In 2000, Mascis asked Watt to participate in a world
Dunbar. Shortly after the release of 1993’s Mr. Machinery tour behind Mascis’ first post-Dinosaur Jr. release, J Mas-
Operator, the band decided to call it quits. cis and the Fog’s More Light. At several of the shows,
Watt and Kira married in 1987, but their marriage fell Asheton joined Mascis and Watt onstage, wherein the
apart not long after Firehose’s break-up. However, both group would play entire sets of Stooges songs. Watt and
their friendship and Dos have remained intact; they even Mascis later joined Asheton and his brother, Stooges
recorded their third album, Justamente Tres, not long after drummer Scott Asheton, for a one-time-only perfor-
their divorce. mance at a Belgian festival under the name Asheton,
Watt.
Asheton, Mascis & Watt In 2001, Watt was one of several
Solo career bassists invited to participate in the sessions for Gov’t
After working with Firehose, Watt began a solo career. Mule’s The Deep End, partly on the recommendation of
His first album, Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, featured appearan- Primus’ Les Claypool. Watt and Gov’t Mule recorded a
ces from dozens of musicians (many were Watt’s peers cover version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s "Effigy"
from the 1980s SST era), including Henry Rollins, Eddie for the album. The sessions were immortalized in the
Vedder, J Mascis, Carla Bozulich, Evan Dando, members documentary feature film Rising Low.
of Sonic Youth, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frank Black, Nir- In 2002, Watt, along with Pete Yorn and members of
vana, Soul Asylum, Jane’s Addiction, the Beastie Boys and The Hives, backed Iggy Pop for a short set of Stooges
the Screaming Trees. The album and its supporting tour songs at that year’s Shortlist Music Prize ceremony, after
were Watt’s first taste of mainstream fame, when Vedder which Watt was asked to play bass in the reunited
and Dave Grohl of Nirvana were part of his touring group. Stooges lineup in 2003. The reunited Stooges played their
After Vedder returned to his Pearl Jam commitments and first show in almost 20 years at the Coachella Valley Mu-
Grohl began working with his new band Foo Fighters, sic and Arts Festival in May 2003.
Watt formed his only four-piece touring group to date, In 2003, Watt’s first book, Spiels Of A Minuteman, was
The Crew Of The Flying Saucer, featuring guitarist Nels released by the Quebec book publisher L’Oie De Cravan.
Cline and two drummers. The book, printed in both English and French, contains
In 1996, Watt contributed bass lines to two songs on all of Watt’s song lyrics from the Minutemen era as well
Porno for Pyros’ second album, Good God’s Urge. He subse- as the tour journal he wrote during the Minutemen’s on-
quently ended up being the bassist for the tour that fol- ly European tour with Black Flag, essays by former SST
lowed the release of the album. co-owner Joe Carducci, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore,
In 1997, Watt released Contemplating the Engine Room, and Blue Öyster Cult lyricist and longtime Watt hero
a punk rock song cycle using naval life as an extended Richard Meltzer, and illustrations by Raymond Pettibon
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mike Watt
that had been used in all of the Minutemen’s album art- dio album since 1973’s Raw Power. The album was released
work. on March 6, 2007, and much of Watt’s 2007 was devoted
to Stooges duties, including the band’s first full-length
The Secondman’s Middle Stand U.S. tour since the band’s reformation.[10]
Main article: The Secondman’s Middle Stand In November 2006, Watt revealed to Pitchfork Media
Watt’s third solo album The Secondman’s Middle Stand, in- that he contributed his bass skills to six tracks on My
spired by both his 2000 illness and one of his favorite December, the third album by American Idol singer Kelly
books, Dante’s The Divine Comedy, was released in 2004; Clarkson, a studio assignment that he took at the in-
one reviewer writes that the album is a "harrowing, fun- vitation of his "old friend", producer/engineer David
ny, and genuinely moving stuff from a true American Kahne.[11]
original.".[7] For the first time since the Minutemen, Watt Watt also worked on two other projects during this
recorded the album with an "all-Pedro band", Mike Watt time period: Funanori, a musical collaboration with Kaori
& The Secondmen, consisting of organist Pete Mazich Tsuchida, guitarist of The Go! Team, on shamisen and
and drummer Jerry Trebotic, along with former that dog. other instruments, and Pelicanman (named after the
vocalist Petra Haden. closing track on The Secondman’s Middle Stand) with Petra
While promoting and touring behind The Secondman’s Haden.[12] The first three songs recorded by Watt and
Middle Stand, Watt announced plans for future recordin- Tsuchida as Funanori were released on a split EP with
gs, stating that he intended to record as frequently as he Tokyo band LITE in the summer of 2007 by Transduction
did in the Minutemen days for as long as he could.[8] Records. Watt also contributed a cover of Blue Öyster
Watt would part amicably with Columbia/Sony BMG Cult’s "Burning For You", recorded with Haden, Nels
in 2005, after 14 years as both a solo artist and as one- Cline, Money Mark Nishita, and Red Hot Chili Peppers
third of Firehose. drummer Chad Smith, to the all-star compilation album
Guilt by Association, released in August by the independent
The Unknown Instructors label Engine Room Recordings.
On June 9, 2007, Watt was the live narrator for the
Main article: Unknown Instructors
silent movie Brand Upon the Brain! at the Egyptian Theatre
In 2005, another side project featuring Watt came to light
in Hollywood, California.
with the announced September 20 release of The Way
Things Work, an album of improvised music under the
group name, the Unknown Instructors with George Hur-
Hyphenated-Man and clenchedwrench la-
ley, Saccharine Trust’s Joe Baiza and Jack Brewer, and bel
poet/saxophonist Dan McGuire. A month after the al- Watt reunited with the final Black Gang lineup of Nels
bum’s release, the Unknown Instructors recorded a sec- Cline and Bob Lee to record a new album, tentatively ti-
ond album, The Master’s Voice, with Pere Ubu frontman tled My Shibun No Hi, in 2008. No release date has yet been
David Thomas and artist Raymond Pettibon joining the set for the album.[13]
core quartet of Watt, Hurley, McGuire and Baiza. A third Continuing his exploration of both improvised music
album with the same lineup, Funland, was released in and the Japanese independent music scene, Watt, along
2009 and features a cover version of Captain Beefheart’s with Nels Cline and producer Kramer, formed Brother’s
"Frownland" (from the Trout Mask Replica album). Sister’s Daughter with mi-gu members Shimizu "Shim-
Watt would further his interest in improvised music my" Hirotaka and Yuko Araki to do a two-week tour of
by forming a trio, Los Pumpkinheads, with former Beast- the country in late 2008 and record an album afterward.
ie Boys keyboardist Money Mark and Caroline Bermudez. The album was mixed bown by Hirotake but has not lined
On December 14, 2005, the McNally-Smith College of up a label or release date yet.
Music in Saint Paul, Minnesota announced the formation Watt and Cline teamed up in New York to form
of the Mike Watt Bass Guitar Scholarship, which is to be Floored By Four with ex-Cibo Matto keyboardist Yuka
awarded annually to a bass major starting in the Fall of Honda and Lounge Lizards drummer Dougie Boune. The
2006.[9] group debuted at Central Park Summerstage on August
In March 2006, Watt took part in the performance at 1, and recorded their first self-titled album right after-
Disney Hall, Los Angeles, of Glenn Branca’s "Hallucina- ward.[14] The album was released in late September 2010
tion City" Symphony #13. on Sean Lennon’s Chimera Music label. Honda would lat-
er rejoin Watt and Cline for a second Brother’s Sister’s
The Weirdness Daughter tour and album session in Japan [15] (Cline and
Main article: The Weirdness Honda became romantically involved - and subsequently
In October 2006, Watt joined the rest of The Stooges at engaged to be married - during the course of these pro-
producer Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio Studio in Chica- jects[14]).
go, Illinois to record The Weirdness, the first Stooges stu-
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mike Watt
Watt is interviewed in the 2009 documentary film • 1995: The Crew of the Flying Saucer: Nels Cline -
Live House, about the underground music scene in Japan. guitar, vocals; Vince Meghrouni - drums, sax, vocals;
In late November 2009, Watt traveled to Italy to tour Michael Preussner - drums
and record at the invitation of Italian guitarist Stefano • 1997-1999: The Black Gang: Nels Cline or Joe Baiza -
Pilia. The project band, Il Sogno Del Marinaio, did a short guitar, vocals; Stephen Hodges or Bob Lee - drums;
six-date tour, after which recording for an as-yet untitled Steve Reed - sound mixing and backing vocals
album took place. • 1999-2000: The Pair of Pliers: Tom Watson - guitar,
Watt recorded his first post-Columbia solo album, drums, vocals; Vince Meghrouni - drums, harmonica,
Hyphenated-man, in two sessions 13 months apart, with flute, sax, vocals
The Missingmen at Studio G, the New York studio of for- • 2000-2001: The Jom and Terry Show: Tom Watson -
mer Pere Ubu bassist Tony Maimone. Hypnenated-man guitar, percussion, vocals; Jerry Trebotic - drums
consists of 30 short songs inspired by the paintings of • 2001–present: George Hurley and Mike Watt: George
Hieronymus Bosch.[8] The first session for the album took Hurley - drums, vocals.
place during a planned break in Watt’s Spring 2009 tour, • 2002–present: The Real Oh My: Nels Cline - guitar,
during which, in a deliberate move, only the drum and Kevin Fitzgerald - drums
guitar tracks were completed. Watt overdubbed his vocal • 2002–present: The Secondmen: Pete Mazich -
and bass tracks with Maimone in June 2010. The album Hammond B3 organ, vocals; Jerry Trebotic - drums;
was released in Japan by Parabolic Records on October Petra Haden - vocals (studio only, 2004); Paul
6, 2010, and Watt undertook his first tour of the country Roessler - organ, vocals (when Mazich is unavailable
as a solo artist in support of it (before his work with to tour)
Brother’s Sister’s Daughter, he previously toured there as • 2005–present: The Missingmen: Tom Watson - guitar,
a sideman with J Mascis and as one-fifth of The Stooges). vocals; Raul Morales - drums.
A release of the album for the rest of the world took
place on Watt’s newly established clenchedwrench label
on March 1, 2011, with an accompanying 51-date US/
Discography
Canadian tour occurring between March 10 and April • Minutemen
30.[16] • Firehose
Watt will also be using his clenchedwrench label to • Dos
put out some other long-awaited recording projects from • 1986 Dos (New Alliance)
the stockpile he has accumulated over the past few years, • 1989 Numero Dos (12" EP) (New Alliance)
starting with the fourth Dos album and the Il Sogno Del • 1989 Uno Con Dos (CD) (New Alliance)
Marinaio album. Watt chose to start clenchedwrench af- • 1996 Justamente Tres (CD) (Kill Rock Stars)
ter returning from his Japanese Hyphenated-man tour be- • 2011 Dos y Dos (CD, LP) (Clenchedwrench)
cause "I’ve got so many proj[ect]s in the pipeline... and • The Stooges
I want no hiccups with getting them out, so up goes my • 2004 Live In Detroit (DVD) (Creem/MVD)
own freak flag flying."[17] • 2005 "You Better Run" on The Songs Of Junior
Kimbrough (Fat Possum)
The Watt from Pedro Show • 2005 Telluric Chaos (Skydog)
When he is not on tour, Watt hosts a regular internet ra- • 2007 The Weirdness (Virgin)
dio show, The Watt from Pedro Show, a continuation of a
program Watt had first done on a low-power FM station Solo albums
in the late 1990s. The program became so popular with All solo albums were released on Columbia except where
Watt’s fans that the website’s host temporarily forced the noted:
show offline on weekdays until a sponsor or other solu- • 1995 Ball-Hog or Tugboat?
tion could be found. On January 10, 2006, The Watt from • 1997 Contemplating the Engine Room
Pedro Show became available as a podcast. • 2004 The Secondman’s Middle Stand
• 2010/2011 Hyphenated-man (Parabolica Records
[Japan])/(clenchedwrench [elsewhere])
Watt’s post-Firehose bands • The clenchwrench release uses a different cover
In all of these groups, Watt is the band leader and handles vo- artwork than the Japanese issue.
cals and bass.
• 1995: unnamed band with Eddie Vedder - guitar, Promotional videos
vocals; Dave Grohl - guitar, drums, vocals; William • As a solo artist
Goldsmith - drums, Pat Smear - guitar (these shows • 1995 "Big Train" - directed by Spike Jonze
were billed just as Mike Watt shows)
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mike Watt
• 1995 "Piss-Bottle Man" - directed by Roman [9] "Bass Guitar Scholarship Programs at McNally
Coppola Smith College of Music | Mike Watt Scholarship".
• 1997 "Liberty Calls" - directed by Spike Jonze Mcnallysmith.edu. http://mcnallysmith.edu/
• 2004 "Tied A Reed ’Round My Waist" - directed mikewatt.html. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
by Lance Bangs [10] Mike Watt. "Iggy + The Stooges on tour in the US -
• 2004 "Drove up from Pedro" - directed by Mike April 2007". Hootpage.com.
Muscarella http://www.hootpage.com/
• 2004 "Beltsandedman" - directed by Mike hoot_stoogestourdiary2007b.html. Retrieved
Muscarella 2011-09-14.
• 2004 "Burstedman" - directed by Mike Muscarella [11] Mike Watt Guests on Kelly Clarkson Record |
• 2004 "Pelicanman" - directed by Mike Muscarella Pitchfork
• with Sonic Youth [12] Pitchfork: Mike Watt Collab Fever: Petra Haden, Go!
• 1990 "My Friend Goo" - cameo appearance Team’s Kaori
• 1991 "100%" - brief cameo appearance [13] "Minutemen Discography: Rumoured Releases and
• with Sublime Future Projects". Idiot-dog.com. 2011-08-27.
• 1996 "Wrong Way" - Watt portrays a convenience http://idiot-dog.com/music/minutemen/
store clerk indexr.html#z8. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
• with Good Charlotte [14] ^ Jim Fusilli (October 5, 2010), "With Floored by
• 2003 "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" - Watt Four, Rock Nomads Unite for a Fleeting Tune", The
portrays a jury foreman Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/article/
• with Cobra Verde SB10001424052748703859204575526452687024886.html,
• 2003 "Riot Industry" - Watt as "The Man In The retrieved January 25, 2011
Flannel Bathrobe". [15] Mark Huddle (December 21, 2010), "Interview:
Mike Watt", Verbicide,
Footnotes http://www.verbicidemagazine.com/2010/12/21/
interview-mike-watt/, retrieved January 25, 2011
[1] Roberts, Jim (2001). How the Fender Bass Changed the [16] Mike Watt (December 28, 2010), "North American
World. Hal Leonard. p. 160. ISBN 9780879306304. Hyphenated-Man Tour", Mike Watt’s Hoot Page,
http://books.google.com/ http://www.mikewatt.com/hoot_hyphenated-
books?id=lmQqRoOLgosC&pg=PA160. Retrieved 25 man-na2011.html, retrieved January 25, 2011
March 2010. [17] Mike Watt (January 21, 2011), "Iggy & The Stooges
[2] "Rev. of Mike Watt, Ball-Hog or Tugboat?". CMJ New in New Zealand and Australia January & February
Music: p. 5. December 1994. 2011 (tour diary)", Mike Watt’s Hoot Page,
http://books.google.com/ http://www.mikewatt.com/hoot_stooges-
books?id=GC0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA5. Retrieved 26 wattdiary2011a.html, retrieved January 26, 2011
March 2010.
[3] Leigh, Bill (2008). "Welcome to Bass Player LIVE!".
Bass Player Magazine.
References
[4] "Earpollution profiles - mike watt [page 2] - issue • Tour journals and interview links from Mike Watt’s
2.Ø8, august 2ØØØ". Earpollution.com. Hoot Page
http://www.earpollution.com/vol2/aug00/ • Michael Azerrad, Our Band Could Be Your Life
profiles/mikewatt/mikewatt2.html. Retrieved • Mike Watt, Spiels Of A Minuteman’, L’Oie de Cravan, ISBN
2011-09-14. 2-922399-20-6
[5] "Mike Watt interview on Crasier Frane". • Various, All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to
Crasierfrane.com. 2010-06-14. Rock, Pop, and Soul, ISBN 0-87930-653-X
http://crasierfrane.com/interviews/mike-watt. • Rough Guides, The Rough Guide to Rock (pg. 374), ISBN
Retrieved 2011-09-14. 1-84353-105-4
[6] Kelly, Jennifer (2004). "Mike Watt: To Hell and
Back". Splendid. http://www.splendidezine.com/
features/watt/. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
External links
[7] allmusic ((( The Secondman’s Middle Stand > • Official website
Review ))) • Watt video page by Mike Muscarella
[8] ^ "Econo 101". Bassplayer.com. • Trouser Press entry
http://www.bassplayer.com/article/econo-101/ • Interview with Splendidezine
Apr-07/26360. Retrieved 2011-09-14. • Interview on groundcontrolmag.com
• Interview with Crasier Frane
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mike Watt
• Interview with L.A. Record Date of birth December 20, 1957
• Interview with Artist Connection Podcast
Place of birth Portsmouth, Virginia, United
Persondata States
Name Watt, Mike Date of death
Alternative Watt, Michael David Place of death
names
Short description Musician, songwriter
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Watt&oldid=458495146"
Categories:
• Mike Watt
• 1957 births
• American punk rock bass guitarists
• American male singers
• American punk rock singers
• Songwriters from Virginia
• Dos members
• Firehose members
• Porno for Pyros members
• The Minutemen members
• The Stooges members
• Unknown Instructors members
• The Reactionaries members
• The Bootstrappers members
• Living people
• Musicians from Virginia
• American podcasters
• SST Records artists
• Columbia Records artists
• Kill Rock Stars artists
• New Alliance Records artists
• People from Portsmouth, Virginia
This page was last modified on 1 November 2011 at 17:51. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-
ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of
the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.Contact us
Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers Mobile view
6