Mar/Apr 1999

Has Mr Bungle finally got over the 'Mike Patton's other band tag?
No. The world of commerce won't let that happen. As long as MOST of the fans know what the real deal is, I don't really mind these things... meaning I've gotten used to it.

How did you feel about this comparison? Was it hard to distance Mr Bungle from that reputation?
Disco Volante helped. But of course that was all because of John Zorn's influence on Mike Patton, right? You really can't win. Mr. Bungle - the invisible band.

Is it true that Mike Patton only joined FNM, if Mr Bungle got a contract with Warner?
Not exactly, but there were feelings to that effect. Blackmail? Yes, probably. Still, we survive on that label somehow. It's working out well.

What was the experience on recording with FNM on 'King For A Day..'?
Uh, a "growing" one.

Why did you leave FNM?
I quit mostly because they were not being straight with the money part of it at all. I really didn't feel like spending years of my life on the phone with their lawyers and accountants while the band acted like they personally had nothing to do with any of the dirty business (which was basically the legalistic "hazing" of new "band members"). It was too sick. I understood later why Mike wasn't so excited about me joining - WHO under the those circumstances WOULD want a friend to join? It put him in a weird position. Imagine! So I quit. I could have stomached the music, but all that OTHER shit... fuck it. It was very easy to walk away from.

It took five years between 'Mr Bungle' and 'Disco Volante', why is there such a big gap between releases?
Scheduling conflicts. FNM tours. This gap is due to shorten now, of course.

Mr Bungle are currently in the studio now, how is the recording going?
Absolutely great (I'm supposed to say that - actually IT FUCKING SUCKS). This is our most elaborate production by far...

Is the album to be a double album full of covers?
No covers.

John Zorn overlooked the recording of 'Mr Bungle', what was working with him like?
Great! He's got great ears, and he was a musician we respected with a good feel for the studio at a time when we were pretty clueless about recording. He was only there for the mix - those tones were pretty lame to begin with. He really saved our asses.

'Disco Volante' is considered an album more influenced by Zorn yet he wasn't involved with the album at all, is there an explanation?
Yes, in the form of a question: why is it considerd influenced by Zorn? Techno Allah? Chemical Marriage? After School Special? Mowskwoz? There's ONE song with a Jazzbo break in it... but where is there ONE song that changes "genre" more than three times on that album? I think most people who really follow what we do realize this. But for the rest, last year it was Zappa we were compared to (WRONG!), this year it's Zorn, next year it will be Kenny-fucking-G for all I care! Zorn is our friend for sure, but so you know, I personally would'nt want to be a part of his NY school thing.

What is the meaning behind 'Desert Search For Techno Allah'?
People who work to gain access to Haqiqat can meet and inspire each other without having to spend money flying around (or buying albums). The song is a decleration of the freedom, the ultimate freedom that lies hidden and buried beneath the blind shackles of Law, and it is an invitation to all to share in that freedom. Moreover, it is a serious warning to the foolish soul who would dare conspire against the joyous unfolding of the Ultimate Judgement that is connected with this freedom.

Is 'Everybody I Went To High School With Is Dead' in relation to Mike and Tevor's high school days?
Trevor wrote it. Trevor, Mike and I all went to the same school. It's a true story. Ask anyone from Eureka Ca.

Who is singing on the 'Secret Song', Trevor or Mike?
Both. Or as we would say in Eureka, "bolth".

Explain the controversy surrounding 'Quote Unquote's original title...
Scientology has a TONS of money, is based in LA, and is THE crackpot cult organization of the last two decades. Many people involved in the entertainment industry are involved with it in some way. They have very broad and iron-fisted PR. People are afraid of them. We tried to call a song "Travolta", and he is one of their big fishes. Warner balked. The rest is predictable...

Why did you create Secret Chiefs 3 instead of sending Mr Bungle down that path?
Mr. Bungle has it's own identity - and I like the effect produced by it's always-evolving combinations. The Secret Chiefs 3 is way WAY too specific for a democratic structure - it's like a very sharp knife - it would cut a band environment like Mr. Bungle's to shreds.

You toured Australia with Secret Chiefs 3 last year, how was that?
Amazingly great... except for the one REALLY BAD show at Bar Broadway in Sydney. We hope to come back as soon as possible!

You said in an interview last year that you were unhappy with your touring buddies, Atari Teenage Riot, why was that?
Not because of the music, but because of the pretentious rhetoric they are so fond of... I think I'm just disgusted overall when people complain about "society" in their music, especially when they are as upwardly-mobile and self-promoting as ATR. The art itself is the "revolution". If it does not meet the qualification "art for the revolution" beyond just yelling about one of the eight billion social injustices in the world, it is just more lame propaganda (however true) used to cover up the fact that the "art" in question is typical at best. In fact, any "art" that uses the "role" of the artist to voice a political platform in deference to honing in on and perfecting a more effective medium of transmission is "counter-revolutionary" in my book.

Is Secret Chiefs 3 to release anything soon?
Yes! A "live" CD in Spring, and a Music For Obsessive Dance CD in Fall.