The Meat Puppets did a lot of upgrading in 1987. We bought new equipment, new vehicles, even a new practice space. We also started buying new costumes. Of course, Cris’ girlfriend had been dressing up her Puppet as early as 1984. But I resisted for the most part (though even I succumbed to the pressure of a goth girlfriend for a couple of months). But while in London in 1987, I willingly visited the famed tourist traps at Carnaby Street and threw down per diem money on some unfortunate fashion choices.
The evidence is obvious on the East Coast Rocker cover. The ridiculous unflattering red pants display both my package (what there is of it) and that part of me uncrammable into the waistline. (The clashing flowery shirt was a gift from Mrs. Kirkwood, who was so proud that her boys were finally traveling across the ocean). The gold shirt on the Option cover was another London purchase. (Perhaps it will come as no surprise to learn that the timing of our 1987 trip to Europe coincided with the rise to fame of a certain Axel Rose and his ilk).
Soon the word got out among the photographing community that the Meat Puppets were willing to play dress-up. Suddenly, budgets for photo sessions began to balloon ominously as “stylists” appeared, along with racks and racks full of their thrift store trash. Even worse, they began demanding that we pose in the buff. It took years to undo the damage of the late eighties and early nineties and finally get back into my own threads. Though nothing I ever wore became quite as cool as a “Hi How Are You” tee shirt, I quite fancied my “I Love It When They Boo” sweatshirt, or my “Lutherans 86: In Love With Life” and my “An Appropriate Education For Everyone” tees. Eventually, after a brief flirtation with “Don’t Mess With Texas,” I settled in for the remainder of my career with a few carefully chosen Superman insignias.
Derrick, your clothes/demeanor in the East Coast Rocker magazine cover are absolutely priceless. If you could crop the Kirkwoods out of the picture, blow that up and put “DERRICK BOSTROM” in huge lettering at the bottom and sell it as a poster I think you could make a pretty penny.
In an unrelated line of questioning, when are you going to pull your head out of the sand and go join the brothers Meat for a real Puppets reunion? 8D
I was also a fan of the “Boo” sweatshirt. It made me laugh. Several of these photo shoots (incl. “Boo”) ended up as the basis for covers and liner notes of the Puppets bootleg CDs I saw in various now-defunct record stores in the 90s.
Hopefully not too tangential (as it involves MP and rock mags but not fashion): recently an old friend foisted a bunch of late-80s guitar mags on me. One of them had a photo foldout showing 100 players’ choices of guitar picks and a blurb about each one. Sure enough, among the picks belonging to the Brian Mays and The Edges and the Billy Gibbonses was a well-worn pick belonging to an SST-era Curt Kirkwood. While I’d rather not let Guitar Player curate my record collection, I thought their recognition of MP’s guitar sound was pretty neat.
Thanks Blair! It’s clear YOUR head’s not in the sand!
The January 1988 MUSICIAN has some great Kirkwood/Spandex photos (from the EC ROOCKER photoshoot), although you guys weren’t on the cover. A great article too, the one by Gina Arnold.
Interesting note: I bought the Jan ’88 MUSICIAN mag off ebay. The seller mentioned it was “previously owned by a famous family.”
I ignored this and bought it cheap ($8). It arrived with the original address sticker “FRIEDMAN Piccadilly Road Great Neck, NY.”
A google of this name & address wasn’t a pleasant surprise.
Very cool … thanks Bostrom!
John,
Interesting. I assume Curt’s pick (pictured in the mag) was a quarter? And Billy Gibson’s a Mexican Peso?
I hear Brian May played with a coin as well. I don’t know about The Edge. Occasionally, I play with a quarter myself, which I enjoy.
I once heard a story about Curt needing a pick at a early show, and asking the fine folks at the small Arizona venue if any of them could spare a quarter. As the tale went, the band was showered with coins for the remainder of the performance.
There was another Guitar Player pick poster that displayed Curt’s pick. It was a plastic monster toy.
Awesome!
My apologies, but that should read Billy Gibbons’.
My only explanation, other than sheer mindlessness, is that I was thinking about Curt’s Les Paul at the time.
It certainly had nothing to do with subliminal musings of Debbie Gibson.
In the foldout poster, the Brian May pick was a British sixpence and the Billy Gibbons pick was a quarter that was partially elongated into an egg shape. I don’t remember Edge’s. I seem to think it was one of those big triangular ones, or maybe just a nondescript one.
Curt’s was a plain-jane Fender pick, I think, but the blurb said he would use “a quarter or whatever else was around” (or words to that effect).
I tried a quarter when I was younger after first reading about MP and ZZ. I like a little point to it though. I have a heavy gauge brass one that handles similarly, I guess. Have yet to try a monster toy. Maybe this weekend.
Hey, could you do a page on Meat Puppets equipment? I can tell by the meat puppets 2 thing that you played a ludwig. and curt les paul,and etc.. but besides that stuff such as what year was Curt’s les paul? etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc
James- here is a link to a great site that has many old MP articles posted:
http://www.geocities.com/meatpups/
Go to “Articles” on the menu and then check out the Guitar Player features. It’s a shame the cartoons that Curt drew for the ’87 article were not reproduced but that’s a small complaint. It’s a great site.
I recall seeing a photo somewhere of you guys backstage during the Monsters era. You had on this awesome colorful lightning-bolt shirt, Cris was wearing an outfit that looked similar to the Beatles’ outfits from the Sgt. Pepper’s album, and Curt had on some weird kind of striped dress thing. Curt was also holding a Fender Telecaster, which is weird when you consider the fact that he was practically married to his Les Pauls. Did he ever use this guitar in the studio?
“Huevos” was actually recorded with the Telecaster.
Hey Derrick! While searching for videos of you guys and other bands i like and i found excellent videos of Swimming Ground, one for New Gods, Light, Sam, and more and i was wondering if you could make a page for them and describe each one
There are a lot of things left to add to this site, and — time permitting — I ought to get around to them some day.
hey guys, i’m so happy that you’re getting back together. Well, minus Derick. What’s up with that, Mr. Bostrom? I’m sure you have your serious and/or groovy reasons. In any case, please come to New York and I’ll be there to join in the celebration. The names Bliumis… Ben Bliumis. I know you didn’t ask, but if you remember my name and want me to sing backup on a song with you guys live, I’d be glad to do it. No, seriously, I will, and I won’t even charge ya. I’m that kinda guy. ::big smiley face:: HOPE TO HEAR/SEE YOU SOON! -007
I can vouch for Ben Bliumus as an honorary Meat Puppet. He might bring a slight Damo Suzuki influence to the table…
Hm. might this be Tim of the Horv-ish variety? I don’t have your contact info anymore, but i’d love to hear from you. Write me sometime–hope you see this. email: bb112@bard.edu -ben
Derrick,
First of all, I am a long time Meat Puppets fan, I own all the SST stuff on vinyl (even the “In a Car 7″) and I had a copy AMUCK which I lost somewhere along the way.
“Meat Puppets II” and “Up on the Sun” are still two of my all time favorite albums.
Now my point: As a teenager in the early 80′s I recall listening to those two albums in particular and looking at the great band photos inside. I particularly recall loving how absolutley normal you looked in those photos. No long hair, no flashy clothes. Just a dude standing next to two dudes with longish hair. (I think I might also be thinking of the “Huevos” band photo.)
Then when “Monster” came out I remember noticing how your hair was longer and you had bleached it. I recall being bummed out to see that band photo. I’m not sure exactly why.
Anyway,
I heard that Chris has been clean for a while and is going to be getting back together with Kurt. That’s good to hear that Chris has been able to stay clean. That always made me sad to read about that stuff.
I am not going to pester you with the ol’ “Dude why aren’t you getting back together with the Kirkwood brothers?” I’m sure you are sick of hearing that and it should be none of our business.
Best wishes with all that you’re doing.
-Stephen
Howdy!I just wanted to let everyone know that I am letting all of my Meat Puppets shows out.I saw them about a hundred times in the Phoenix area but,didn’t start taping them until ’90.I want to really say thank you to the band for always putting on such great shows and,wanted to say thanks to Dave’O’ for always helping me with mic stands when needed.If any one is interested my shows will be posted as ‘flac’files on dime-a-dozen and,some are posted on the traders den.I really would love everyone interested in these to get them.Of all the live shows I taped[about 15 years] the Meat Puppets shows are my personal favorites and,in my book the Pup’s are the best!Thank you!
I thought your pictures in Musician magazine were cool. Meat Puppets and their toys. you guys “glammed” out.!! I think it was late eighties I think I still have it.
I couldn’t believe this site turned up when I researched the officiating quote “You have to love it when they boo.”
Saw the Meat Puppets at a small club in Ann Arbor in the late eighties. I assume they were touring in support of “Huevos” as that’s the album my buddy and I ended up purchasing the next day. I think we’d won tickets through a local radio station. One of the guys from the Violent Femmes was one of the opening acts, having gone solo. I want to say the other band was the Groovy Biscuits or something like that.
Anyhow, we were blown away by the band and their songs. Great night was had by all in attendance.
Just felt like sharing.
Peace!
Hi, I love the guitar sound of the song “Backwater”, what effects pedals did you guys use for that? I read that one pedal Cris uses was an “OCD” but I looked up a demo video of that and it didn’t quite sound like on that song. Aslo I enjoy the songs “Evil Love”, and “Things”. Sincerely, Ben Mcloughlin