NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Mike Watt

Michael David Watt (born December 20, 1957 in Portsmouth, Virginia) is a bass guitarist, singer and songwriter, best-known for co-founding the punk rock bands The Minutemen and fIREHOSE; as of 2003, he is also the bassist for the reunited Iggy Pop & The Stooges. He is also a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (580x661, 235 KB)Mike Watt, live at the Khyber, Philadelphia, PA, October 29, 2004. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... The terms alternative rock and alternative music were coined in the 1980s to describe punk rock-inspired bands which didnt fit into the mainstream genres of the time. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Columbia Records is the oldest continually used brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888. ... SST Records is a Lawndale, California based independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by Black Flag founder/guitarist Greg Ginn. ... New Alliance Records was the label founded by The Minutemens D. Boon and Mike Watt after the example of Black Flags SST Records. ... The new KRS logo by Sarah Utter on a KRS sweatshirt. ... December 20 is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Portsmouth (pronounced Port-smith) is an independent city located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. ... Martin EB18 Bass Guitar in flight case The electric bass guitar (also called an electric bass, or simply a bass) an electrically-amplified string instrument similar in appearance to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer-scale neck and four strings tuned an octave lower in pitch... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... The Minutemen were a punk rock band from San Pedro, California comprising singer/guitarist D. Boon, singer/bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley. ... Indoor firehose A firehose is a thick, high-pressure hose used to carry water or other fire retardant (such as foam) to a fire to extinguish it. ... // Events January - following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. ... The Stooges is a rock music band that first existed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... Art rock is a sub-genre of rock music that is characterized by ambitious lyrical themes and melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic experimentation, often extending beyond standard pop song forms and toward influences in jazz, classical, or the avant-garde. ... Jazz is an original American musical art form originating around the early 1920s in New Orleans, rooted in Western music technique and theory, and is marked by the profound cultural contributions of African Americans. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Improvisation is the act of making something up as it is performed. ... Banyan is an art rock band with heavy jazz and punk influence, based in Los Angeles, California. ...

Though Watt has not had much mainstream success or visibility, he is often cited as a key figure in the development of American alternative rock; The Red Hot Chili Peppers dedicated their hugely successful Blood Sugar Sex Magik to Watt. Throughout his career he has been known for his inventive, melodic playing; his basslines are often quite distinctive. The terms alternative rock and alternative music were coined in the 1980s to describe punk rock-inspired bands which didnt fit into the mainstream genres of the time. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the fifth album by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, released in September of 1991 (see 1991 in music) and written and recorded at a mansion in Laurel Canyon, now owned by the albums producer Rick Rubin and known also as Damie Mathematique of Philosophical...

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 Clearwater Revival, another Watt favorite. San Pedro is a community within Los Angeles, California, annexed in 1909 and a major seaport of the area. ... D. Boon, born Dennes Dale Boon (April 1, 1958 - December 22, 1985) was the guitarist and lead singer of punk rock group The Minutemen. ... Famous Bolans cover photo by Ringo Starr for the album The Slider, 1972 T. Rex (originally known as Tyrannosaurus Rex), was a British rock band fronted by Marc Bolan. ... Blue Ã–yster Cult is a psychedelic/heavy metal band probably best known for two songs: their 1976 single (Dont Fear) The Reaper from the album Agents of Fortune (also featured in the cult movie Halloween, and in Stephen Kings novel The Stand), and their 1981 single Burnin for... Creedence Clearwater Revival album cover Creedence Clearwater Revival, frequently referred to as CCR or simply Creedence, was an American rock band, fronted by John Fogerty. ...

Watt and Boon were initially rather ignorant of music; they didn't know bass guitars were different from guitars, and Watt simply removed two strings from a guitar to emulate a bass. When he acquired a bass guitar, he lamented that the instrument was rarely prominent in rock music, but has cited John Entwistle, Geezer Butler, Gene Simmons, and Richard Hell as influences. Entwhistle's prominent basslines--at once bouncy, muscular, propulsive, and melodic--seem to have been a strong influence on Watt Rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars, a bass guitar, and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, trumpet, and trombone are common in some styles, however, horns have been omitted from newer subgenres of rock music since... John Alec Entwistle (October 9, 1944 â€“ June 27, 2002) was the bass guitar player for The Who. ... Geezer Butler Geezer Butler (born 17 July 1949 in Aston , Birmingham, England) is the long time bassist for the hard rock band Black Sabbath. ... Gene Simmons as he appeared on his 1978 solo album. ... Richard Hell (born October 2, 1949) is the stage name of Richard Meyers, an American singer, songwriter and writer, probably best-known as frontman for the early punk band Richard Hell and the Voidoids. ...

Years later, Watt would view the dearth of prominent rock bassists differently, saying that the lack of role models left him free to develop his own approach to playing bass guitar.

The Minutemen

By the mid-1970s, Watt and Boon formed a band called The Reactionaries with drummer George Hurley and vocalist Martin Tamburovich. The band later became The Minutemen (named after the 1960s reactionary group) with another drummer named Frank Tonche, who only lasted two shows with the group; Hurley, who had been in a short-lived new wave group at the time the Minutemen first formed, rejoined Watt and Boon. After signing with SST Records in 1980, The Minutemen began touring constantly, releasing a number of albums along the way. Their music was based on the speed, brevity and intensity of punk, but included elements of jazz, folk, and funk. The Reactionaries, 1978. ... George Hurley(b. ... The Minutemen were a punk rock band from San Pedro, California comprising singer/guitarist D. Boon, singer/bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley. ... Frank Tonche was the original drummer for The Minutemen. ... SST Records is a Lawndale, California based independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by Black Flag founder/guitarist Greg Ginn. ... Jazz is an original American musical art form originating around the early 1920s in New Orleans, rooted in Western music technique and theory, and is marked by the profound cultural contributions of African Americans. ... Folk Music, in the original sense of the term, is music by and of the common people. ... Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e. ...

In 1984, Watt met Black Flag bassist Kira Roessler during a Black Flag/Minutemen tour. They soon became romantically involved, and subsequently began collaborating on songs. They formed a two-bass duo, Dos, and have since recorded and released three records so far. Kira Roessler (b. ... Dos (Mike Watt, left, and Kira Roessler), San Pedro, CA, 1996. ...

The Minutemen ended tragically in December 1985, when Boon was killed in a traffic accident. Their fifth full-length album, 3-Way Tie (For Last) had already been scheduled for release at the time of the accident. 3-Way Tie (For Last) was the fourth and final full-length album recorded by The Minutemen. ...

fIREHOSE

After Boon's death, Watt was profoundly depressed; he and Hurley initially intended to quit music altogether. Sonic Youth invited Watt to hang out with them in New York in 1986; they recorded an outstanding cover of Madonna's "Burnin' Up" (with additional guitars by Greg Ginn) on the first Ciccone Youth EP, and Watt played bass for two songs on the Sonic Youth album EVOL. Sonic Youth is a rock group formed in New York City in 1981. ... Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone[1] (born August 16, 1958) is an American pop singer, dancer, songwriter, producer, actress, and author. ... Ciccone Youth is an experimental band which was formed in 1986. ... An extended play or EP, is the name given to vinyl records or CDs which are too long to qualify as singles but too short to qualify as albums. ... EVOL is a Sonic Youth album, released in 1986. ...

Subsequently, one Ed Crawford, a Minutemen fan who drove to San Pedro from Ohio, persuaded the Watt/Hurley rhythm section to continue playing music. fIREHOSE was formed soon after. After three releases on SST, fIREHOSE signed with major label Columbia Records. Their music often sounded much like that of The Minutemen, though the songs became longer and more traditionally structured (generally, verse-chorus-verse). Shortly after the release of 1993's Mr. Machinery Operator, the band decided to call it quits. Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus (largest metropolitan area is Cleveland) Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 34th 116,096 kmÂ² 355 km 355 km 8. ... Rhythm section refers to the musicians whose primary jobs in a jazz or popular music band or ensemble is to establish the rhythm of a song or musical piece, often via repeated riffs or ostinati. ... Indoor firehose A firehose is a thick, high-pressure hose used to carry water or other fire retardant (such as foam) to a fire to extinguish it. ... Columbia Records is the oldest continually used brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888. ...

Watt and Kira married in 1989, but their marriage fell apart not long after fIREHOSE's break-up. However, both their friendship and Dos have remained intact; they even recorded their third album "Justamente Tres" not long after their divorce.

Solo career

After working with fIREHOSE, Watt began a solo career. His first album, Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, featured appearances from literally dozens of well known musicians (many were Watt's peers from the 1980's SST era), including Henry Rollins, J Mascis, members of Sonic Youth, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frank Black, Nirvana, Soul Asylum, Jane's Addiction, the Beastie Boys, and Screaming Trees. Though he was already revered by many musicians and fans as the founding father of alternative rock, the album and its supporting tour were Watt's first taste of mainstream attention and fame, when Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Dave Grohl of Nirvana were part of his touring group. After Vedder returned to his Pearl Jam commitments and Grohl began working with his new band Foo Fighters, Watt formed his only four-piece touring group to date, The Crew Of The Flying Saucer, featuring guitarist Nels Cline and two drummers. Ball-Hog Or Tugboat? is the debut solo album by former Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist, songwriter and vocalist Mike Watt. ... Henry Rollins (born February 13, 1961) is an American rock music singer and songwriter; hes also been active as a storyteller, author, actor, poet, comedian, and radio and tv personality. ... Sonic Youth is a rock group formed in New York City in 1981. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For the TV series character, see Millennium (TV series). ... Nirvana was a popular American rock band from Aberdeen, Washington. ... Soul Asylum is an alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983, is perhaps best known for their song Runaway Train. The group was an outgrowth of a previous band, Loud Fast Rules, formed in 1981 by guitarist Dan Murphy, bassist Karl Mueller, and drummer Dave Pirner. ... Janes Addiction was an American band, named in reference to Jane Bainter, a (now ex-) heroin addict who was a housemate of the band. ... The Beastie Boys are an American hip hop group from New York City: Brooklyn and Manhattan. ... Screaming Trees was a musical group considered part of the grunge music movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... The terms alternative rock and alternative music were coined in the 1980s to describe punk rock-inspired bands which didnt fit into the mainstream genres of the time. ... Eddie Vedder Eddie Vedder (born Edward Louis Seversen III on 23 December 1964) is the lead singer and lyricist for the band Pearl Jam. ... Pearl Jam (formed in 1990 in Seattle, Washington) are a rock band considered one of the most popular and influential artists of their decade. ... David Eric Grohl (born January 14, 1969, in Warren, Ohio) is an American rock musician. ... Pearl Jam (formed in 1990 in Seattle, Washington) are a rock band considered one of the most popular and influential artists of their decade. ... Foo Fighters is a rock group formed by musician Dave Grohl in 1995. ... The Crew Of The Flying Saucer was former The Minutemen/fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watts second touring band, formed to continue touring behind his first solo album, 1995s Ball-Hog or Tugboat?. The band consisted of, along with Watt on bass and vocals, guitarist Nels Cline and two drummers... Nels and his Jazzmaster. ...

In 1996, Watt contributed bass lines to two songs on Porno For Pyros' second album Good God's Urge. He subsequently ended up being the bassist for the tour that followed the release of the album, sparking a friendship with lead singer Perry Farrell in the process. (Porno's drummer, Stephen Perkins, had already worked with and befriended Watt during the Ball-Hog Or Tugboat? sessions.) In November of that year, he created and established his own official homepage, Mike Watt's Hoot Page, initially using his personal Internet Service Provider's free web space until bandwidth demands spurred him to move the site to its own domain name and server. Porno for Pyros is a US musical group and was Perry Farrells and Stephen Perkins next project after their former band Janes Addiction. ... Perry Farrell (born Perry Bernstein in New York City on March 29, 1959) is a musician particularly noted for his varied and founding role in alternative rock during the late 1980s and 1990s. ... Stephen Andrew Perkins (born September 13, 1967 in Los Angeles, California) is a Jewish-American musician and songwriter. ... An Internet service provider (ISP, also called Internet access provider) is a business or organization that offers users access to the Internet and related services. ... Bandwidth is a measure of frequency range, measured in hertz, of a function of a frequency variable. ...

In 1997, Watt released Contemplating the Engine Room, a sort of punk rock song cycle using naval life as an extended metaphor for both Watt's family history (the album has a picture of his father in his Navy uniform on the cover) and the Minutemen. The album, which was critically well received, features a trio of musicians including Nels Cline on guitar, and Watt as the only singer. A punkrock opera by minutemen vetran Mike Watt the tracks are: In The Engine Room Red Bluff The Bluejackets Manual Pedro Bound! The Boilerman Black Gang Coffee Topsiders No One Says Old Man Fireman Hurley Liberty Calls! In The Bunk Room/Navy Wife Crossing The Equator Breaking The Choke Hold... Nels and his Jazzmaster. ...

Watt went on to play in such groups as Banyan (with Stephen Perkins and Nels Cline) and Hellride, a sometime live outfit that plays cover versions of Stooges songs. He also played in The Wylde Rattz, recording a song for the film Velvet Goldmine. Banyan is an art rock band with heavy jazz and punk influence, based in Los Angeles, California. ... Hellride, 2001: L to R: Mike Watt, Stephen Perkins, Peter DiStefano Hellride is a side project live band featuring former Minutemen and FIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt, former Janes Addiction and Porno For Pyros drummer Stephen Perkins, and former Porno For Pyros guitarist Peter DeStefano. ... Not to be confused with The Three Stooges. ... Velvet Goldmine (1998) is a film directed and co-written by Todd Haynes. ...

Illness, recovery, The Stooges, and The Secondman's Middle Stand

In January of 2000, Watt fell ill with an infection of his perineum, forcing the punk legend into emergency surgery and nine weeks of bedrest in his San Pedro apartment. Initially unable to play his bass right away, he rebuilt his strength with intense woodshedding and practice as well as live club gigs where he performed sets of Stooges covers with Hellride in California and with J Mascis and Dinosaur Jr. drummer Murph in New York under the name Hellride East. The Secondmans Middle Stand is Mike Watts third solo album and the first full-length recording that he has made under his own name since the release of Contemplating The Engine Room in 1997. ... The muscles of the male perineum In anatomy, the perineum is the region between the genital area and the anus in both sexes. ... Dinosaur Jr is an American indie rock band. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

In 2000, Watt was asked by J Mascis to participate in a world tour behind Mascis' first post-Dinosaur Jr. release, J Mascis and the Fog's More Light. At several of the shows, Mascis and Watt were joined onstage by Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton, wherein the group would play entire sets of Stooges classics. Watt and Mascis later joined Asheton and his brother, Stooges drummer Scott Asheton, for a one-time-only performance of Stooges classics at a Belgian festival under the name Asheton, Asheton, Mascis & Watt. In 2001, Watt was one of several bassists invited to participate in the sessions for Gov't Mule's The Deep End album, partly on the recommendation of Primus' Les Claypool. Watt and Gov't Mule recorded a cover version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Effigy" for the album. The sessions were immortalized in the documentary feature film Rising Low. J Mascis And The Fog is the post-Dinosaur Jr. ... Not to be confused with The Three Stooges. ... -1... Govt Mule is a southern rock band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project, but has taken on a life of its own. ... The Deep End can refer to a number of things including: The Deep End (album) The Deep End (film) The Deep End (novel) by Fredric Brown This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... Primus is a rock band formed in California in the mid-1980s. ... Leslie Les Edward Claypool is a bassist and lead singer, best known for his work with the alternative rock band Primus. ... Creedence Clearwater Revival album cover Creedence Clearwater Revival, frequently referred to as CCR or simply Creedence, was an American rock band, fronted by John Fogerty. ... Rising Low Rising Low is Mike Gordons second feature film - a documentary based around the life and death of Govt Mule bassist Allen Woody and the making of a double-disc tribute album featruing a host of legendary bass players. ...

In 2002 Watt, along with Pete Yorn and members of The Hives, backed Iggy Pop for a short set of Stooges classics at that year's Shortlist Awards ceremony. The performance, along with Watt's past performance history with the Asheton brothers and a successful recording session Iggy and the Ashetons had partaken in for Iggy's Skull Ring album, led to Watt's being enlisted to fill the bass slot in the reunited Stooges lineup in 2003. The reunited Stooges played their first show in almost 20 years at the Coachella Festival in May of 2003. Also in 2002, Watt was invited by pop-punk band Good Charlotte to make a cameo appearance in their music video for "Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous". He portrays a jury foreman in the video and even has a short speaking part. Album Cover for Pete Yorns Musicforthemorningafter Pete Yorn (b. ... The Hives, from L to R: Dr. Matt Destruction, Nicolaus Arson, Howlin Pelle Almqvist, Chris Dangerous, Vigilante Carlstroem The Hives are a garage rock or (more accurately) garage punk band from Fagersta, Sweden that emerged in the US and the UK in the early 2000s. ... James Newell Osterberg, Jr. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... 2005 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual event held at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California featuring musical performances by a number of artists on different stages, showings of independent films, and a number of displays of contemporary art. ... 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December - â†’ A timeline of events in the news for May, 2003. ... Good Charlotte is a punk pop band from Annapolis, Maryland that was formed in 1994 by Joel and Benji Madden. ...

In 2003 Watt's first book, Spiels Of A Minutemen, was released by the Quebec, Canada book publisher L'ole De Cravan. The book, printed in both English and French, contains all of Watt's song lyrics from the Minutemen era as well as the tour journal he wrote during the Minutemen's only European tour with Black Flag, essays by former SST co-owner Joe Carducci, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, and Blue Öyster Cult lyricist and longtime Watt hero Richard Meltzer, and illustrations by Raymond Pettibon that had been used in all of the Minutemen's album artwork. Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Official languages French Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Parliamentary representation - House seat - Senate seats 75 24 Area Total â€¢ Land â€¢ Water (% of total) Ranked 2nd 1,542,056 kmÂ² 1,183,128 kmÂ² 176,928... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Lyrics are the words in songs. ... Black Flag was a hardcore band formed in 1976 in southern California, largely as the brainchild of Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes. ... Thurston Moore Thurston Joseph Moore (born July 25, 1958) is an American musician best known as a singer and lead guitarist for Sonic Youth. ... Blue Ã–yster Cult is a psychedelic/heavy metal band probably best known for two songs: their 1976 single (Dont Fear) The Reaper from the album Agents of Fortune (also featured in the cult movie Halloween, and in Stephen Kings novel The Stand), and their 1981 single Burnin for... Richard Meltzer was one of the earliest rock music critics. ... Raymond Pettibon (born 1957) is an artist known for his comic-like drawings with disturbing, ironic or ambiguous captions. ...

Also in 2003, Watt made his second music video appearahce in as many years, appearing in the video for Cobra Verde's song "Riot Industry" (along with Rudy Ray Moore and George Wendt). Watt himself would describe his part in the video as such: "I play an "Idle American" and end up doing a "Fred Sanford" when I can't get what I want on the television - I collapse to the deck with a heart attack!" Watt became smitten enough with the song that he included it in the encore set for his 2004 tour. Rudy Ray Moore (born March 17, 1937 in Fort Smith, Arkansas) is an African-American comedian, singer, film actor, and film producer. ... George Wendt George Robert Wendt (born October 17, 1948) is an American actor best known for the role of Norm Peterson on the long-running television show Cheers (1982-1993). ... American Idol: The Search for a Superstar, commonly known as simply American Idol, is an American television show. ... Foxx on The Dean Martin Shows Dean Martin Celebrity Roast Redd Foxx (born John Elroy Sanford, December 9, 1922, died October 11, 1991) was an American comedian best known for his starring role on the television sitcom Sanford and Son. ...

Watt's third solo album The Secondman's Middle Stand, inspired by both his 2000 illness and one of his favorite books, Dante's The Divine Comedy, was released in 2004; one reviewer writes that the album is a "harrowing, funny, and genuinely moving stuff from a true American original." [1]. For the first time since the Minutemen, Watt recorded the album with an "all-Pedro band", Mike Watt & The Secondmen, consisting of organist Pete Mazich and drummer Jerry Trebotic, along with former That Dog vocalist Petra Haden. The Secondmans Middle Stand is Mike Watts third solo album and the first full-length recording that he has made under his own name since the release of Contemplating The Engine Room in 1997. ... Dante shown holding a copy of The Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, with the spheres of Heaven above, in Michelinos fresco. ... Mike Watt & The Secondmen in the control room of Karma Studios in San Pedro, CA during the sessions for The Secondmans Middle Stand: (L to R) Petra Haden, Pete Mazich, Mike Watt, Jerry Trebotic. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... Petra Haden Petra Haden (born New York City, October 11, 1971) is an American violinist and singer. ...

While promoting and touring behind The Secondman's Middle Stand, Watt announced plans for his next two solo albums, stating that he intended to record as frequently as he did in the Minutemen days for as long as he could. The first album, set to begin recording in the summer of 2006 with guitarist Tom Watson and drummer Raul Morales, will contain about 40 short songs, many of which are said by Watt to be inspired by the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch. The second album will be similar in execution to Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, only with Watt recording with unknown and lesser-known musicians in various locales. Hieronymus Bosch; alleged portrait (around 1560) Hieronymus Bosch, also Jeroen Bosch, Jerome Bosch,(c. ...

In 2005, another side project featuring Watt came to light 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 Hurley, Saccharine Trust's Joe Baiza and Jack Brewer, and poet/saxophonist Dan McGuire. A month after the album's release, the Unknown Instructors recorded a second album, this time with Pere Ubu frontman David Thomas joining in. Watt would further his interest in improvised music by forming a trio, Los Pumpkinheads, with former Beastie Boys keyboardist Money Mark. September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... The Way Things Work is the debut album by American improvisational band Unknown Instructors, featuring Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE, The Stooges, Dos, Banyan), George Hurley (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE, Red Krayola), Joe Baiza (Saccharine Trust, Universal Congress Of), Jack Brewer (Saccharine Trust), and poet Dan McGuire. ... Front cover of the first Unknown Instructors album, The Way Things Work. The Unknown Instructors are an all-star improvisational rock outfit that features the former rhythm section of The Minutemen and fIREHOSE, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley; Saccharine Trust members, guitarist Joe Baiza and vocalist Jack Brewer... Jack Brewer is a National Football League Defensive Back for the Philadelphia Eagles. ... Dangerous Dan McGuire is an American professional wrestler. ... Pere Ubu are an experimental rock music group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. ... David Thomas (born 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. ... The Beastie Boys are an American hip hop group from New York City: Brooklyn and Manhattan. ... Money Mark is a producer and musician who has collaborated with the Beastie Boys from America many times, and his album Push the button was well received by the music press. ...

He is also set to participate in the first full-length studio album by the Stooges since Raw Power in 1973, Both Rick Rubin and Steve Albini have been mentioned as likely candidates to be producer for the album. Raw Power is a 1973 (see 1973 in music) album by blues-rock/punk rock band The Stooges, fronted by future rock star Iggy Pop. ... Frederick Jay Rubin (born 1963) is a Jewish-American record producer best known for his work in rap and heavy metal. ... Steve Albini Steve Albini (born July 22, 1962, Pasadena, California) is an influential singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. ...

On December 14, 2005, the McNally-Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota announced the formation of the Mike Watt Bass Guitar Scholarship, which is to be awarded annually to a bass major starting in the Fall of 2006.[2] December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

When he is not on tour, Watt hosts an weekly internet radio show, The Watt From Pedro Show. The program became so popular with Watt's fans that the website's host temporairily forced the show offline on weekdays until a sponsor or other solution could be found. On January 10, 2006, The Watt From Pedro Show became available as a podcast.

Watt's Post-fIREHOSE Bands

Eddie Vedder Eddie Vedder (born Edward Louis Seversen III on 23 December 1964) is the lead singer and lyricist for the band Pearl Jam. ... David Eric Grohl (born January 14, 1969, in Warren, Ohio) is an American rock musician. ... The Crew Of The Flying Saucer was former The Minutemen/fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watts second touring band, formed to continue touring behind his first solo album, 1995s Ball-Hog or Tugboat?. The band consisted of, along with Watt on bass and vocals, guitarist Nels Cline and two drummers... Nels and his Jazzmaster. ... Mike Watt & The Black Gang, publicity pic for their fall 1997 tour. ... Nels and his Jazzmaster. ... Bob Lee can refer to a number of different people. ... Steve Reed is a bass guitarist, singer, and soundman that have worked with several Los Angeles-area bands over the past two decades. ... The Pair Of Pliers is Mike Watts second-longest running project band. ... There are at least four notable people called Tom Watson Tom Watson, the golfer Tom Watson, manager of Liverpool F.C. from 1896 to 1915 Tom Watson, the British politician Thomas E. Watson, the American Populist leader This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that... The Jom And Terry Show was the backup band led by American punk legend Mike Watt (formerly of The Minutemen and fiREHOSE) for tours of the USA and Canada in 2001 and 2002. ... There are at least four notable people called Tom Watson Tom Watson, the golfer Tom Watson, manager of Liverpool F.C. from 1896 to 1915 Tom Watson, the British politician Thomas E. Watson, the American Populist leader This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that... Jerry Trebotic is an American drummer, best known for his longtime association with veteran punk bassist/songwriter Mike Watt, with whom he has toured in the project bands The Jom and Terry Show and The Secondmen. ... George Hurley (behind drum kit) and Mike Watt, Camber Sands, England, 2004. ... George Hurley(b. ... The Real Oh My is a side project band featuring Minutemen/fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt, Geraldine Fibbers/Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, and Circle Jerks drummer Kevin Fitzgerald. ... Nels and his Jazzmaster. ... Dr. Kevin T. Fitzgerald, a native of Denver, Colorado, is a veterinarian at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital. ... Mike Watt & The Secondmen in the control room of Karma Studios in San Pedro, CA during the sessions for The Secondmans Middle Stand: (L to R) Petra Haden, Pete Mazich, Mike Watt, Jerry Trebotic. ... Peter Mazich (b. ... Jerry Trebotic is an American drummer, best known for his longtime association with veteran punk bassist/songwriter Mike Watt, with whom he has toured in the project bands The Jom and Terry Show and The Secondmen. ... Raul Morales, sometimes known as just Rawl, has been one of San Pedros most prolific drummers from the 1990s to present. ... Petra Haden Petra Haden (born New York City, October 11, 1971) is an American violinist and singer. ... The Missingmen are a punk rock trio formed by Minutemen/fIREHOSE/Stooges bassist Mike Watt to record the followup to his 2004 album The Secondmans Middle Stand. ... There are at least four notable people called Tom Watson Tom Watson, the golfer Tom Watson, manager of Liverpool F.C. from 1896 to 1915 Tom Watson, the British politician Thomas E. Watson, the American Populist leader This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that... Raul Morales, sometimes known as just Rawl, has been one of San Pedros most prolific drummers from the 1990s to present. ...

Watt's Most Frequent Collaborators

These individuals have collaborated with Watt the most, both live and in the studio.

Nels and his Jazzmaster. ... Petra Haden Petra Haden (born New York City, October 11, 1971) is an American violinist and singer. ... J Mascis. ... Peter Mazich (b. ... Thurston Moore Thurston Joseph Moore (born July 25, 1958) is an American musician best known as a singer and lead guitarist for Sonic Youth. ... Stephen Andrew Perkins (born September 13, 1967 in Los Angeles, California) is a Jewish-American musician and songwriter. ... Lee Ranaldo at Ilosaarirock 2003 Lee Ranaldo (b. ... Kira Roessler (b. ... Jerry Trebotic is an American drummer, best known for his longtime association with veteran punk bassist/songwriter Mike Watt, with whom he has toured in the project bands The Jom and Terry Show and The Secondmen. ...

Equipment

Basses

Watt has vaulted primarily between Gibson and Fender basses for most of his career. He does not do compensated endorsements for any particular guitar brand as of November 2005, usually preferring to buy used basses that he discovers in instrument stores, pawn shops or via classified ads. Watt frequently modifies his basses by adding active electronics, and for luck and inspiration he likes to put pictures of favorite people and/or things on his basses. Gibson Guitar Corporation is one of the worlds best-known manufacturers of acoustic and electric guitars. ... The Fender logo, often called the spaghetti logo. ... Modern pawnbroker storefront A Pawnbroker is a person who offers loans to individuals who use their personal property as collateral. ...

He initially started with a mid-60's Gibson EB-3 bass; he switched to a Fender Precision Bass in 1982, feeling that the Gibson was causing him to play too many notes at the time; his first Fender P-Bass was purchased from former Fear bassist Derf Scratch; the bass, which Scratch used on Fear's classic debut album The Record, would also end up being heard on the second Minutemen album, What Makes a Man Start Fires?. Fear is a punk rock band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 1977 and still performs. ... Derf Fred Scratch is best known as the original bass guitarist for, and former member of the punk rock band Fear. ... The Record may refer to: The Record (Bergen County), a daily newspaper in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States The Kitchener-Waterloo Record, a daily newspaper in Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada The Record (Sherbrooke), a daily newspaper based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada serving Quebecs Eastern Townships The Record (Stockton... What Makes a Man Start Fires? is the second full-length album and fifth release overall by influential punk/alternative power trio The Minutemen. ...

Around 1984 he found a Fender Telecaster bass, which became his main bass for the last two years of the Minutemen's existence as well as much of fIREHOSE's; the bass had pictures of Kira and of Watt's favorite singer, Madonna, on the instrument. Close to the end of fIREHOSE's collective life he started using a late 60's Gibson Thunderbird bass; this ended up being his main bass after the white Telecaster was stolen from his apartment sometime in 1995. Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone[1] (born August 16, 1958) is an American pop singer, dancer, songwriter, producer, actress, and author. ...

After his recovery from the emergency surgery on his perineum, Watt semi-retired the Thunderbird (he did use it again for his first ever gig with the Stooges at the 2003 Coachella Festival), and switched back to his Gibson EB-3 bass, citing the short scale as being easier on his hands after not touching a bass for the entire time he recovered from surgery; he decorated the bass with photographs of his deceased best friend and Minutemen bandmate D. Boon and longtime hero, jazz legend John Coltrane. This has been his primary bass for live performances but he has also used the bass to record his contributions with Gov't Mule, The Stooges (in their Live In Detroit DVD and a live album recorded in Tokyo), and on J Mascis' December 2000 John Peel radio session. Watt feared that he would have to temporairily shelve the bass in July 2005 when a crack was discovered in its headstock during a 2005 Stooges European tour; fortunately, he was able to have the instrument repaired in time for the next leg of the tour. // Events January - following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. ... 2005 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual event held at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California featuring musical performances by a number of artists on different stages, showings of independent films, and a number of displays of contemporary art. ... D. Boon, born Dennes Dale Boon (April 1, 1958 - December 22, 1985) was the guitarist and lead singer of punk rock group The Minutemen. ... John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 â€“ July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. ... Autobiography John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE (30 August 1939 â€“ 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was a British disc jockey, radio presenter, and journalist. ... Ongoing events â€¢ 2005 Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes â€¢ 2005 Maharashtra floods â€¢ 2005 Gujarat Flood â€¢ Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan â€¢ Fuel prices â€¢ Gomery Comm. ...

In late 2004 he acquired a second EB-3 bass as an alternate instrument for live gigs. He initiated the bass during Dos' annual Christmas benefit show, and first used it extensively during a brief six-date spin on the 2005 Vans Warped Tour. Warped Tour is a touring punk/ska music and extreme sports festival. ...

Over the past few years, he has also started to acquire some custom-made instruments, including basses made by guitar craftsmen Tim Thelen, Mark Garza and Darrin Huff. On "The Secondman's Middle Stand" Watt initially recorded the basic tracks with a Telecaster-style bass built by Tim Thelen, but later recut the basslines with a Moon Larry Graham model bass, which he also used on a 1998 European tour. A yellow Telecaster-style shortscale bass built by Garza and nicknamed "The Bananaplower" can be seen in the "Tied A Reed 'Round My Waist" video and heard on Banyan's Live At Perkins' Palace CD. The Secondmans Middle Stand is Mike Watts third solo album and the first full-length recording that he has made under his own name since the release of Contemplating The Engine Room in 1997. ... Larry Graham on the cover of his 1981 LP Just Be My Lady. ...

Two of his many basses feature autographs: a budget-line Alembic bass he acquired during the early fIREHOSE days and later had spraypainted green features the autograph of Los Angeles Lakers star basketball player James Worthy, and a mid-70's hollow body Gibson Les Paul Signature Bass features, appropriately, Les Paul's signature with the salutation, "Keep on pickin'". The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. ... James Ager Worthy (b. ... The Gibson Les Paul signature model is among the most recognized solid-body electric guitar designs. ... Les Paul (born June 9, 1915) is best known as a guitarist, and as one of the most important figures in the development of modern electric instruments and recording techniques. ...

Amplification

Not much is known about what amplification Watt preferred in the Minutemen days. Pictures (including those in Double Nickels On The Dime's gatefold sleeve) have him using Ampeg SVT amps. In 1985 Watt switched to a Gallien-Krueger amplifier driving Cerwin-Vega speaker cabinets; a photo of this rig can be seen on the back cover of fIREHOSE's Ragin' Full-On].

During his time with J Mascis and The Fog, Watt played through Marshall amps at the direction of Mascis.

For his solo works and with Banyan, Watt uses Eden amplification, for which he is an endorsing artist. When he performs with the Stooges, he usually plays through gear rented by the promoter according to the band's contract rider - usually two Ampeg SVT amplifiers and cabinets.

Accessories

Watt uses and endorses D'Addario strings. He previously endorsed DW strings during his early solo career, and mentioned being a Rotosound user in a fIREHOSE newsletter around the time of Flyin' The Flannel. During his stint with J Mascis and The Fog he used Dean Markey strings on occasion since Mascis was an endorser of that brand and thus could obtain bass strings for Watt free of charge.

Watt rarely uses effect pedals in the studio (two notable instances pre-2004 were a DigiTech Whammy Pedal on Dos' "'Till The Blood Ran" (Justamente Tres) and an envelope filter on "Tell 'Em Boy" (Ball-Hog or Tugboat?), and until 2004 never used them in live performance. On The Secondman's Middle Stand he used the Whammy Pedal and a variety of distortion units and other stompbox effects to help illustrate the album's storyline. For the tours in 2004 and 2005 behind The Secondman's Middle Stand Watt used a Boss pedal board with four different effects and a Korg stompbox tuner. Ball-Hog Or Tugboat? is the debut solo album by former Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist, songwriter and vocalist Mike Watt. ... The Secondmans Middle Stand is Mike Watts third solo album and the first full-length recording that he has made under his own name since the release of Contemplating The Engine Room in 1997. ... A distortion is the alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. ... The TS9 Tubescreamer from Ibanez, a popular stomp box adding vacuum tube-like distortion to the output signal from electric instruments. ... The Secondmans Middle Stand is Mike Watts third solo album and the first full-length recording that he has made under his own name since the release of Contemplating The Engine Room in 1997. ...

Computers

Watt has been a longtime Apple Computer user, subtle Apple evangelist, and outspoken critic of Microsoft products. Newsletters he used to publish during the fIREHOSE days were done on an early Macintosh; he currently uses a self-upgraded Power Mac G4 at home and a PowerBook G4 when on tour[3], both to maintain contacts with friends and fans and maintain the Hoot Page. With the digital recording software ProTools installed, the Power Mac G4 also doubles as Watt's home studio for recording song demos as well as Dos' fourth, as yet untitled album. Apple Computer, Inc. ... An Apple evangelist, also known as Mac evangelist, Macintosh evangelist, and Mac advocate is a promoter of the Apple Macintosh platform. ... Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT, SEHK: 4338) is an international computer technology corporation with 2005 global annual sales of close to $40 billion USD and about 64,000 employees in 85 countries and regions which develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices. ... The first Macintosh computer, introduced in 1984, upgraded to a 512K Fat Mac. The Macintosh, or Mac, line of personal computers is designed, developed, manufactured, and marketed by Apple Computer. ... The Power Mac G4 was a series of personal computers made by Apple. ... The PowerBook G4 is a series of notebook computers manufactured by Apple Computer. ... Categories: Stub | Audio editors | Musical software ...

Discography

The Minutemen were a punk rock band from San Pedro, California comprising singer/guitarist D. Boon, singer/bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley. ... Indoor firehose A firehose is a thick, high-pressure hose used to carry water or other fire retardant (such as foam) to a fire to extinguish it. ... Dos (Mike Watt, left, and Kira Roessler), San Pedro, CA, 1996. ... New Alliance Records was the label founded by The Minutemens D. Boon and Mike Watt after the example of Black Flags SST Records. ... An extended play or EP, is the name given to vinyl records or CDs which are too long to qualify as singles but too short to qualify as albums. ... New Alliance Records was the label founded by The Minutemens D. Boon and Mike Watt after the example of Black Flags SST Records. ... New Alliance Records was the label founded by The Minutemens D. Boon and Mike Watt after the example of Black Flags SST Records. ... The new KRS logo by Sarah Utter on a KRS sweatshirt. ...

Solo albums

Ball-Hog Or Tugboat? is the debut solo album by former Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist, songwriter and vocalist Mike Watt. ... A punkrock opera by minutemen vetran Mike Watt the tracks are: In The Engine Room Red Bluff The Bluejackets Manual Pedro Bound! The Boilerman Black Gang Coffee Topsiders No One Says Old Man Fireman Hurley Liberty Calls! In The Bunk Room/Navy Wife Crossing The Equator Breaking The Choke Hold... The Secondmans Middle Stand is Mike Watts third solo album and the first full-length recording that he has made under his own name since the release of Contemplating The Engine Room in 1997. ...

Non-solo recorded appearances

The Stooges is a rock music band that first existed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... CREEM, Americas Only Rock n Roll Magazine, was a monthly rock n roll publication started in 1969 by Barry Kramer and founding editor Tony Reay. ... Modern emblem of Russian MVD The Ministerstvo Vnutrennikh Del (MVD) (ÐœÐ¸Ð½Ð¸ÑÑ‚ÐµÑ€ÑÑ‚Ð²Ð¾ Ð²Ð½ÑƒÑ‚Ñ€ÐµÐ½Ð½Ð¸Ñ… Ð´ÐµÐ») was the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the imperial Russia, late USSR, and still bears the same name in the Russian Federation. ... Fat Possum Records is a record label operating out of Oxford, Mississippi. ... Front cover of the first Unknown Instructors album, The Way Things Work. The Unknown Instructors are an all-star improvisational rock outfit that features the former rhythm section of The Minutemen and fIREHOSE, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley; Saccharine Trust members, guitarist Joe Baiza and vocalist Jack Brewer... The Way Things Work is the debut album by American improvisational band Unknown Instructors, featuring Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE, The Stooges, Dos, Banyan), George Hurley (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE, Red Krayola), Joe Baiza (Saccharine Trust, Universal Congress Of), Jack Brewer (Saccharine Trust), and poet Dan McGuire. ... J Mascis And The Fog is the post-Dinosaur Jr. ... Strange Fruit Records is an independent record label in the United Kingdom. ... Govt Mule is a southern rock band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project, but has taken on a life of its own. ... After the death of founding member and bassist Allen Woody, Govt Mule considered breaking up. ... According To Our Records (or ATO Records) was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band, Coran Capshaw, Chris Tezeli, and Michael McDonald. ... Rising Low Rising Low is Mike Gordons second feature film - a documentary based around the life and death of Govt Mule bassist Allen Woody and the making of a double-disc tribute album featruing a host of legendary bass players. ... According To Our Records (or ATO Records) was founded in early 2000 by Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band, Coran Capshaw, Chris Tezeli, and Michael McDonald. ... Petra Haden Petra Haden (born New York City, October 11, 1971) is an American violinist and singer. ... Stephen Andrew Perkins (born September 13, 1967 in Los Angeles, California) is a Jewish-American musician and songwriter. ... Capricorn Records was launched by Phil Walden in 1969 in Macon, Georgia (with offices in Atlanta). ... Sonic Youth is a rock group formed in New York City in 1981. ... EVOL is a Sonic Youth album, released in 1986. ... SST Records is a Lawndale, California based independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by Black Flag founder/guitarist Greg Ginn. ... Geffen Records DARPA Grand Challenge ... Daydream Nation is one of the most highly regarded albums by alternative rock band Sonic Youth. ... Geffen Records DARPA Grand Challenge ... Thurston Moore Thurston Joseph Moore (born July 25, 1958) is an American musician best known as a singer and lead guitarist for Sonic Youth. ... The Whitey Album is a 1988 album by Ciccone Youth, a side project of Sonic Youth. ... Ciccone Youth is an experimental band which was formed in 1986. ... Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone[1] (born August 16, 1958) is an American pop singer, dancer, songwriter, producer, actress, and author. ... Porno for Pyros is a US musical group and was Perry Farrells and Stephen Perkins next project after their former band Janes Addiction. ... Good Gods Urge is the second and final album by Porno for Pyros. ... Warner Brothers Records is a record label which was launched on March 19, 1958 by Warner Bros. ... SST Records is a Lawndale, California based independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by Black Flag founder/guitarist Greg Ginn. ... Mike Watt & The Black Gang, publicity pic for their fall 1997 tour. ... The new KRS logo by Sarah Utter on a KRS sweatshirt. ... Nels and his Jazzmaster. ... Bob Lee can refer to a number of different people. ... The new KRS logo by Sarah Utter on a KRS sweatshirt. ... Bootstrappers is the eponymous, and only, release by the one-time ensemble of avant-garde guitarist Elliott Sharp and the Minutemen/fIREHOSE rhythm section of bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley. ... New Alliance Records was the label founded by The Minutemens D. Boon and Mike Watt after the example of Black Flags SST Records. ... Multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Stanard Q. Stan Ridgway (born April 5, 1954 in Barstow, California) was the original lead singer for the band Wall of Voodoo, singing on their debut EP and first two albums, including the hit song Mexican Radio. Ridgway left the band in 1983, shortly after the... I.R.S. Records was started in the US in 1979 by Miles Copeland (the older brother of Stewart Copeland, drummer of The Police). ...

Contents

Biography

Early career

The Minutemen

fIREHOSE

Solo career

Illness, recovery, The Stooges, and The Secondman's Middle Stand

Watt's Post-fIREHOSE Bands

Watt's Most Frequent Collaborators

Equipment

Basses

Amplification

Accessories

Computers

Discography

Solo albums

Non-solo recorded appearances

See also

References

External links

Contents

Biography GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Early career

The Minutemen

fIREHOSE

Solo career

Illness, recovery, The Stooges, and The Secondman's Middle Stand

Watt's Post-fIREHOSE Bands

Watt's Most Frequent Collaborators

Equipment

Basses

Amplification

Accessories

Computers

Discography

Solo albums

Non-solo recorded appearances

See also

References

External links

Biography