I got another great bite the other day while trolling the web with my ego feeds. Amidst the endless social networking pages (“Now Playing: Backwater”), reviewer hype (“original drummer Derrick Bostrom declined to participate”) and right wing rants against so-called lapdogs of the “liberal media,” I found another effort by a generous fan. Once again, I am saved by my energetic constituency from having to expend any effort.
The European cassette-only “Bethel” compilation dates back from 1983, and traces its origin to an offer to contribute to a collection of “industrial” artists. Since the Meat Puppets were busy mining country and classic rock at the time, we were somewhat unsure of our place alongside of such artists as Boyd Rice, Foetus and Nurse With Wound. But I dutifully snipped a few minutes from a warm-up noise jam from one of our home rehearsals and sent it in. At one point, Curt says, “I blow my nose in your soup.” After the recording cuts off, entirely by accident, the next thing on the tape is my voice saying, “I think I’ll have a bowl of soup.” Impressed by the odd serendipity, I left it on the submission. Unfortunately, the compilers didn’t catch on, and faded the track out before my spoken line. Disappointed, I listened to “Bethel” once then threw it into the archives. There were to be better Pups noise jams over the years, and this one had little to recommend it.
But fans have clamored for this track ever since I included it in my band discography. Thanks to Cranio and his “The Thing On The Doorstep” blog, I can cross that one off my list. And now that you’ve heard it, so can you. One interesting item of note: my copy came in a thin cardboard box with skeletons riding bikes printed on it. Cranio’s copy appears to have come in standard cassette packaging with a teal cover.
Hey,thanks for the heads up!I somehow managed to find “Soup” on Soulseek awhile back(not the whole tape just that song),but it’ll be cool to have the whole comp to listen to while cleaning the house………..Looks pretty weird.
Ironically,today I was handed two brochures on the local college campuss…buy a big mac and get a free ear tug from Robin and Leonard,or oppose chicken beaks from getting cut off……I like music too.
Thanks for the blog monitor site! Much fun, and a nice way to waste time!
It’s a great blogger tool, too!
Thanks again for the heads-up Derrick! I wonder if anyone will upload those live tracks on that Basic Sampler cassette and any other weird stuff.
That track is exactly as you describe it. I like it though for what it is.
Hi Derrick,
don’t know where to post this Meat Puppets related news bite, so I just use this space: German TV station “DSF” (i.e. “German Sports TV”") uses a looped version of the intro to “We Don’t Exist” as a major “jingle”, leading to soccer news… Just in case you don’t know…
Best, Alex (old MP fanatic)
An hour of searching failed to show me this song…I will press on until I find the address. All the clips are cut off!
We Don’t Exist, that is
Thanks for another rarity, Bostrom! I shall add it to my iTunes, along with both versions of the album art. Unrelated to the above, I was curious as to whether or not you, being a survivor of the hardcore scene, own a copy of the rare Lexicon Devil 7″ by the Germs. I was also wondering what my chances are of finding a VINYL of the 2nd MP record. I can find a pressing of almost any other record, but not that one! Any chances of you setting up a MP store on eBay? Thanks, thanks, and thanks!
Hey cheeseplant
MP2 on ebay
I just downloaded the No Joke! demos. Pretty awesome! I love Buckaroo, and am trying to master it now.
awww, man!
i hate links to right-wing wacko’s.
Talk about crack addiction. I just can’t help but read those things and wonder how people like that make it through their day.
of course it’s only worse because I actually work for Six Apart…so my job is actually to support their spewage…
hey, i started a group to try and get the meat puppets to play a uk date. spread the word etc
peace
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6175736853&ref=mf
mr. bostrom, found this really old jam of ‘plateau/aurora borealis/new gods’ from ’83 on the youtube. it’s nasty. please enjoy, because i most definitely have.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4gD4fcvfF-w
Hey Derrick, I’ve finally taken your advice, and formed a Meat Puppets tab site on Freewebs. I’m hoping for some help in this daunting task. Other than what is (was) posted here for tabs, I need submissions. Check it out, and If you have a submission, go to http://www1.freewebs.com/meatpuppetstabs/ and add it to the forums, and I’ll add it to the site! Thanks, Gavin
Gavin — Good luck, and feel free to put up what’s here!
Thanks
Haha…They added a “Everybody Hurts” cover to their Myspace…it’s the horribly good Meat Puppets you just can’t resist!
hey Derrick, just found this site and wanted to say ‘touché’! no wait, i wanted to say ‘bravo’!
i’m sure you’ve heard this forever, but i was crazy into you guys in the early ’80′s, saw you here in new york a bunch of times. you remember a show at Peppermint Lounge where Cris smashed his bass and you walked off the stage? Curt kept playing, Cris came out on drums, knocked them over.
those shows were of the best of i’ve ever seen, inspiring me to go and do my own thing (which ultimately left me broke and homeless – shoulda gone to college). i recently dug up Up On The Sun and II, rediscovering all the beautiful original expression that is all things Meat.
glad this is here.
Drew
Viva Meat Puppets. an hug of Brazilian fans
Hello to the man who rocks harder than anyone with wooden spoons and who gave me so much crap when I met him in the 80′s but i miss ya anyway. listen, i left la to take care of my dad and since my variety of spinal diseases I am on hold for now. since i can go where i want Im gonna stay in austin for a year. Nope dont wanna get in touch with curt still got that number Meaty if you know what i mean. before i left la i saw the newer newer pups and man i was shocked at how great cris was i think i even told him first thing how happy i was that he was alive. shows arent the same and not as good without you but im spliting in a few weeks and could you send me his email or phone. No clue where it is. I think i want to buy another painting from you as well i adore the other so if youre still doing it, let me know how much k? man I miss you but its good to know youre still stroking your ego and whatever else you can get you spoons on…if ya know what i mean..xo – Ms. p. aka plfoerster@att.net..aka my space – maddogandglory.
Chris & Curt – Great to see you guys back to making music. As far as those “lost years” go Curt, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Personally, I spent a couple of decades lost in the darkness. I wish I had not. But then again, when I came to, I was 20 years younger! All that matters is right now because that’s all we really have. God Bless. Joe